Whether you’re driving, sitting at your computer, in a meeting, on the couch, in the kitchen…

Bringing awareness to how you’re using your body in any given moment is insightful, empowering and absolutely transformational.

By being mindful of your physical experience, and practicing the habits below, you can begin to experience greater levels of strength, balance, serenity and wellness…

1.  Breathe Consciously

Conscious breathing is something yogis have practiced for centuries… they say that only 10% of yoga is the posture, and 90% is the breath. And when it comes to your body, breathing deeply can very well be the “one action that causes all others to fall into place.”

When you focus energy on your breath, you cause a meditative effect that permeates your entire being, automatically aligning the individual parts of your body into one holistically centered whole. Diaphragmatic breathing (or “belly breathing”) also cleanses the blood, massages internal organs, and elevates your mood.

Try this: expand your breath to five counts inhale, five counts exhale, while relaxing and softening your body. Smooth all the “kinks” out of your breath and get it as fluid as possible. Practice this for just 5 minutes and notice the incredible difference in your mind, body and emotions!

2.  Practice Positive Posture

When most people hear “good posture” they immediately jolt upward, sitting as straight as they can for a few moments until they get sore and sink back into a hunch. But in order to make positive posture last, we have to understand how it works…

The majority of our daily activities cause us to look downward, and as a result most people carry their head and neck too far forward and their shoulders drawn inward into the chest.

Proper body alignment helps relieve muscle tension, increase circulation, and strengthen confidence.

So here’s a simple rule you can follow: Align your ears, shoulders and hips… and activate your lower belly so you’re not dumping forward.

Know that positive posture is a practice, not something that will happen all at once. In fact, forcing “good posture” before your frame is ready can put strain on your body and do more harm than good. Remember that your body changes from day to day… be gentle and patient with it.

3.  Get (a) Hard Core

If your core is weak, nothing else can be strong. Strengthening your core and improving your posture go hand in hand. They both encourage the elongation and alignment of the central body, allowing proper energy flow and relieving pressure from potentially overused extremities.

When the core is weak we tend to overcompensate with other areas of the body to pick up the slack. Often times this can mean putting too much pressure on our upper body, causing tension and strain on our chest, shoulders, arms and neck (sound familiar?).

Strengthening your core will allow every other area of your body to operate at an optimal level, and slim up your tummy in the process.

4.  Resist Gravity

Does your body sometimes feel like it’s carrying the weight of the world? That’s because it is!

Gravity is constantly pulling us down, compressing our bodies over time. So naturally, the way to resist is to extend UPWARD. Extension is key to countering gravity, and using the natural ‘weight of the world’ to get fit is a fantastic way to strengthen your body anytime, anywhere.

Start paying attention to the moments when gravity is getting the best of you… when you just want to slouch over and give in to the weight. Counter it with a collective effort from every part of your body. Use your muscles and imagine pulling your entire being upward. Try to make strengthening and lengthening a habit.

5.  Learn Your Body Language

One of the single most important habits you can implement is simply listening to your body.

Pay attention to how things make you feel, and where you feel them. When you’re stressed, where is the stress located? In your chest? Your stomach? Your neck and throat? Where does your anger appear?

Direct your focus to these areas and try to connect with the physical sensations our emotions offer us. They are signals, and as we plug into them we unlock new parts of ourselves and our consciousness.

Target your awareness and listen to your body. It will always point you in the direction toward strengthening, healing and evolving.

What are some of YOUR conscious body habits?  Share what you’ve learned with the Lifebook Community by commenting below!