04/20/2026
Have you ever just taken a moment to check how you're standing? "Stand up straight! Suck in your gut!" Was a phrase I heard a lot growing up (despite never really having "a gut" as a kid, all humans have stomach rolls when we slouch) but as an autistic person, I never knew what standing straight actually meant, so I overshot it, to be as literal as possible, without ever knowing that it still wasn't right because I'm hypermobile too.
Had I known anything about posture, or even been given any guidance without seeking answers on my own, I could have saved myself years of painful over-corrections leading to poor joint health. Even after learning to not lock your knees while standing, "keeping a slight bend" meant nothing to me. "But if I bend my knees, my quads get so tired!" I was 38 when I finally learned what real postural alignment felt like. Before I learned it's about stacking the joints, not straining any specific muscles, but about letting the skeleton of your body support you.
Regardless, this is your call to check your postural alignment » Ears over shoulders over ankles.
Until next time, take care of yourself ❣️