How to Begin Straighten Up? Seven Simple Steps for Implementation:
1. As a Project Coordinator for Straighten Up America, you will receive a “Straighten
Up” Implementation Kit from the Delphi Panel for Straighten Up. This kit will
include: downloadable web links for the exercises and lifestyle recommendations,
exercise pamphlets, mirror decals, introductory articles and public service
announcements.
2. To begin thoroughly familiarize yourself with the program and start to practice the
Posture Pod daily in order to improve your own spinal health, posture and core
stabilization. (Make sure that the activities are appropriate for you and not
contraindicated by disorders which prohibit exercise and movement of your spinal
column and other joints.) Then, leading by example, we recommend that you perform
the exercises with key leaders in your organization or campus community. Though
the activities are fun and health-enhancing, you should still make sure that any
participants do not have disorders that contraindicate spinal movements and stretches.
Identify individuals who show interest and enthusiasm for presenting the program and
training others. Teach through interaction and ask frequent questions regarding the
names and order of the exercises. Make training sessions an enjoyable interactive
learning game.
3. Next where appropriate incorporate “Straighten Up” links on your web site and email
the digital elements of the Implementation Kit to your members/alumni for
incorporation in their offices or organizations.
4. Any of the individuals that you contact, who wish to teach the exercises, must first
thoroughly familiarize themselves with “Straighten Up” and begin to practice the
exercises daily. We recommend beginning by doing the Posture Pod/Flying Friends
daily before or after brushing teeth. This takes 30-40 seconds.
5. Once proficient, practitioners, health educators and fitness experts will then educate
and motivate their patients/students/clients and their communities (including schools,
corporations, faith congregations and civic organizations) to improve their spinal
health through consistent practice of “Straighten Up”. You may wish to identify key
individuals in your area who can help to present and integrate “Straighten Up” in your
school system. The concept here is teaching our children spinal exercises for early
habituation and health promotion. “Straighten Up” fits extremely well in physical
education classes and also in didactic classes as a reward or break. At PTA meetings
you can present it in a great forum to educate parents.
6. In the practice setting, after screening patients for disabilities, and ruling out disorders
which could prevent practice of the exercises, doctors will demonstrate and teach
regular practice of the Posture Pod for initial habituation. Then they will slowly add
other exercises. Doctors will screen individuals carefully to make sure the exercises
are appropriate for them, taking particular precautions with individuals, who have
disorders which limit exercise or activity and the elderly.
7. By educating patients, students and communities to improve their spinal health and
enhance the quality of their lives, doctors, health educators and other fitness experts
will strengthen their position as leaders in health promotion and wellness. Everyone
will benefit through the process of implementing “Straighten Up”.
Making It Real: What’s Crucial?
We believe that there is a tremendous window of opportunity at this time in the arena of
spinal health promotion and wellness. By improving our own spinal health behaviors and
quality if life, we will be able to empower our patients/students/clients and our
communities in improved spinal health and an enhanced quality of life.
“Straighten Up” will be successful to the degree that we practice the program ourselves
and communicate it with enthusiasm to others. Just as the dental profession led the public
in establishing daily patient-active dental care practices, it is our time to lead the public in
daily patient-active spinal health practices. The good news is that “Straighten Up” is fun
and health promoting. The whole exercise set takes only two or three minutes to perform
and the Posture Pod takes 30-40 seconds. Still success will require commitment on all of
our parts. Health habits do not change easily.
Working together we have the opportunity to make a positive impact on our society for
generations to come. That is the vision for “Straighten Up”. Let’s make it real together.
It’s our vision and our future. It takes all of us.