(CNN) — If you’ve ever caught yourself slouching at your desk and immediately jerked your shoulders back and straightened your spine, you know the struggle. Within minutes, you’re slumped over again.

Here’s why: Rigid corrections are impossible to maintain because they treat posture like a static position to hold rather than a dynamic skill to train.

Good posture isn’t something you freeze into place — it’s a fluid, balanced and aligned state that you build with proper breathing , strength and mobility.

Why posture-correcting cues backfire

Following the age-old directives to “sit up straight” and “pull your shoulders back” might give the appearance of good posture. However, that approach is not only exhausting and ineffective but can also cause a cascade of problems.

When you force

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