Be Well to Do Well: Practicing Good Posture in the Classroom 

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Originally published in TEACH Magazine, May/June 2022 Issue

By Martha Beach

Seven years ago, Kelly Krug, a high school business studies teacher with the Peel District School Board, hurt her right shoulder during a group exercise class. For weeks, Krug continued to teach and tried to take it easy as she let her shoulder heal. But she experienced a persistent tingling sensation down her arm and in her hand. Krug finally went to see a physiotherapist, who told her why her injury wasn’t healing after all that time and rest: poor posture.

How we hold our bodies throughout our daily activities plays a huge role in our overall health and wellness. No matter if we are still or moving, awareness of our posture, patterns, and even our breathing contribute to keeping our bodies healthy and happy during long days of standing or sitting in a classroom.

Krug’s physiotherapist helped bring attention to these issues. “She gave me exercises and she made me hyper conscious of my posture,” Krug says. Now, Krug lives each day with this in mind: proud chest, shoulders back and down, breathe deeply, and take movement breaks often. It’s something she even teaches her students. “In order for students and staff to do well, we have to be well,” she says. It’s the perfect recipe for a more comfortable day-to-day teaching experience.

“Teachers have a hard job—they’re on their feet all day,” says Surabhi Veitch, owner of The Passionate Physio, a Toronto-based clinic that offers virtual services worldwide. She estimates that about 20 percent of her clients are teachers (particularly those who teach in the kindergarten to Grade 6 range). They often complain of lower back, neck, and shoulder aches, largely due to physical tension, static posture, and lack of overall movement.

The good news is there are ways to ease the pain and incorporate changes into your daily routine.

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Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.

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Martha Beach
Martha Beach
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.

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