Originating from the Latin beatus and bellus, the masculine form of the word evolved to beau and its feminine form belle. Eventually the English word “Beautiful” began to be used in the 15th century. Some related terms we confer to beauty are: attractiveness, pulchritude, radiance, vitality, aliveness, blessed, happy, graceful, elegant.
Somehow we develop a relationship to our own beauty by how our light reflects back from the people in our lives. When we, even as children, are welcomed into our families and communities, our own light shines. They welcome us, we welcome the feedback, we again shine our light. Beauty, then, is a positive feedback loop of an energy exchange.
From physics we learn that energy has mass and takes up space. In order for us to create a space or conduit for energy in the body; the body must be open and have flexibility, coordination, balance, strength, and freedom of movement.
Beauty is dynamic and responsive. An attractive man or woman with a self- destructive attitude or habit will detract from their beauty. An attractive person with poor body alignment diminishes their beauty. Clumsiness and rigidity distracts the expression of beauty.
Aesthetically, we can say that a person has a beautiful nose because it is well- shaped and symmetrical. However, a nose by itself can not render beauty until you compare it with other facial features such as the eyes, mouth, and cheekbones. We can see now that beauty can also be a by-product of symmetry, balance, alignment, and movement. Great posture is therefore a vital element of true beauty.
Perhaps we have even witnessed statues which, though inanimate, display symmetry, balance and radiance in color features or posture. Maybe we remember a tree, flower or rock formation that resonates with something inside of us. We feel inspired, comforted, intrigued by this beauty. Nevertheless we are indeed affected in some way.
Again, what appeals to us as beauty has to do with the way light and energy are reflected to the eye of the beholder. The distinguishing human characteristics of beauty are symmetry, movement, character, mind, body and spirit.
Here are some of the indications for great posture and beauty for men and women: Straight toes that have balanced arches. The toes stay straight and centered even through the swing and push-off of a walking stride. The kneecaps are facing forward and the legs are straight (not bowed or knock-knees). The entire pelvis moves in a gyroscopic wave pattern – (Up – Down, Left – Right, Front – Back) to balance the weight of the upper body on its central axis when one is walking. The gyroscopic movement of the pelvis also functions to swing the legs out of each others way during the weight- transfer from Left – to – Right legs and feet.
Special Note Relative To Height and Frame size: A man’s pelvis is narrower Left – to – Right, and taller Top – to – Bottom, than a female pelvis. Hence the visual appearance of normal pelvis movement will be considerably more dramatic on a female. A man with the same gyroscopic movement is more likely to be considered “smooth”, and not “effeminate”. The waist line is perpendicular and level Front – to – Back when viewed from the side, and level Left – to – Right when viewed from the front.
For men and women, the ribcage is open and appears wide at the top, because the arms and shoulders are hanging behind the body’s midline. From the back view, the shoulder blades are about one thumb width away from the spine. The top of the chest and the top of the upper back are level Front – to – Back. Mainly for Women: From the side view, the size and weight of the front of the body, (including the front half of the head, the breasts, torso and thighs) appears to be visually balanced with the weight of the arms and, derriere. Actual size and weight do not matter. The neck appears to lead straight up from the rib cage to balance head evenly Front – to – Back. The jawbone is symmetrical Left – to – Right, in motion
The arms and pelvis swing to balance the body on a dynamic central axis. When this occurs, the head appears to be riding in space, the dynamic dance of great posture is synonymous with what makes a person, male or female, beautiful to watch, radiant with character, charm and personality. Of course, one is attracted to beauty. It is a natural instinct. It is also a natural instinct to be beautiful, feel happy and feel blessed.
Very often, the realities of living, unfortunately, cause us to distort our natural beauty and collapse our posture in order to accommodate the social, cultural and professional expectations of others.
This attitude collapse, or the expectation of it, can even occur on a grand scale. How many times have we seen people who are ethnically similar, yet culturally vastly different? Taiwan, Peoples Republic of China, or Chinese American? Barbados, West Africa or Brooklyn? France, Montreal or New Orleans?
Even in a professional or social environment, we may know someone who must express a different aspect of their personality in order to co-exist in that situation. This is not necessarily good or bad. The point is, when one’s body is flexible and fully expressive, ones inner beauty comes out.
When our family, culture, and professional expectations give us permission to express our true beauty, then our beauty can be an asset to the entire world. When we can know ourselves thoroughly and accept ourselves confidently, we can be beautiful even if only to ourselves. When our body is flexible and responsive to gravity, size, weight and movement we can have great posture.
A truly beautiful person knows and loves themselves and allows their inner beauty to be an asset to the global community, nation, community, their family, and themselves. All this leads to one point: With great posture you energize your light and let it shine wherever you go. With peace of mind you can allow your body to be free of inhibition and self-doubt.
There is something sacred about the symmetry, geometry and movement of great posture. When your chest / ribcage is open, with your shoulders back, your heart and lungs have maximum space for inspiration, and respiration. The word root “spire” of both terms may also suggest expansion of one’s capacity for spirit to enter the body and soul. Natural beauty is the measure of this capacity, created by flexibility, movement, and great posture. Finally, it is well-worth the investment of time, energy and resources to develop and restore ones beauty inside and