“I Thought I Just Needed to Sit Up Straighter” – My Journey to Actually Fixing My Posture

Written by someone who thought posture was just about standing tall—but learned it’s way more complicated (and way more interesting).

Let’s be real: I reached out to The Body Lab because I was tired of feeling like the human equivalent of a crooked question mark.

Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw slouched shoulders, a forward head, and a spine that had clearly forgotten how to do its job. I’d tried the usual suspects—YouTube posture workouts, a couple of yoga classes, and yelling at myself to “stand up straight!” (Spoiler: that last one didn’t work.)

So I sent a message to Riccardo at The Body Lab to ask:

“Do you help with posture? And if so, what’s the actual process?”

His reply was eye-opening—and surprisingly non-clinical. It wasn’t full of jargon or fluffy promises. Instead, it laid out a clear, evidence-based process that made me feel like I’d finally found someone who gets it.

Let me walk you through what I learned—and what actually happens when you decide to stop guessing and start fixing your posture.

Step 1:

The Initial Assessment

(aka The Posture Detective Work)

Riccardo kicked things off with a 60-minute assessment, which isn’t just “stand here while I judge your spine.” It was a full-body movement audit.

We looked at how I stood, walked, moved, and where I was overcompensating. There was even a 3D joint mechanics check (yes, it sounds fancy—and it is). He watched how my joints were doing their thing—or not—and we chatted through all the places where my body felt stuck, stiff, or just plain weird.

And instead of focusing only on the “slouch,” Riccardo was more interested in why my posture looked like that in the first place.

Spoiler alert: the answer wasn’t weak core muscles or bad habits alone—it had more to do with how I move throughout the day.

Step 2:

A Personalised Plan That Didn’t Suck

Here’s where it got good: rather than sending me off with a sheet of generic stretches or telling me to “just sit properly,” Riccardo put together a personalised movement plan.

This included:

• Targeted mobility drills (hello hips and ankles, I’ve been ignoring you)

• Tips on what I should stop doing (turns out, my habit of crossing my legs while working was wreaking havoc)

• Easy, sustainable things I could do at home

• A reminder that posture isn’t about perfection—it’s about how your whole body moves and supports itself

It was refreshing to be seen as a whole person, not just a misbehaving spine.

Step 3:

Follow-Up Sessions (aka The Tune-Ups)

I was nervous these would be repetitive or feel like “just more physio,” but they weren’t.

The follow-ups were 45-minute sessions that progressed based on how my body responded. We adjusted exercises, added new drills, and even dove deeper into how my feet and walking style were influencing my posture. (Yes, feet. Who knew?)

Riccardo recommended 3–5 sessions for most people, which felt realistic—not like I was signing up for a lifelong subscription to posture school.

Optional Upgrade:

The Super Sleuth Gait & Foot Pressure Analysis

This bit isn’t for everyone—but for chronic issues (like mine), Riccardo offers an advanced gait analysis and foot pressure mapping. If your posture problems are long-standing or come with weird compensations (like hip pain, or one shoulder that refuses to chill), this deeper dive can show exactly what your feet are doing wrong, and how that travels up the chain.

We decided to do it—and it revealed that my left foot was basically freelancing during gait. No wonder my pelvis was cranky.

The Best Part? It Actually Makes Sense

This process wasn’t about magic wands or trendy devices. It was practical, hands-on, and rooted in how the body really works.

Riccardo doesn’t believe in quick fixes or posture gadgets. He helps you understand your body, retrain it to move well, and gives you the tools to keep it that way. I walked out (pun intended) with more awareness, better posture, and actual strategies I could stick with.

So… Was It Worth It?
Absolutely.

If you’re someone who:

• Is sick of being told to “just stand up straight”

• Feels like your posture is affecting your movement, confidence, or comfort

• Wants to understand what’s actually going on—not just mask the symptoms

…then this is the kind of help you need.

It’s not just about posture. It’s about learning how your body works and how to get it working better.

Ready to Feel Straighter, Stronger, and Less Like a Shrimp?

I’d recommend starting with the initial assessment and going from there. If nothing else, it’ll open your eyes to how beautifully complex (and fixable) your posture really is.

Book a session or jump on a free phone call with Riccardo at The Body Lab.

Trust me—your spine will thank you.

This article is based on real client experiences and written by Riccardo Galeotti to help you understand what posture rehab at The Body Lab is really like.