The back is held up by a series of muscles called the interspinalis and the erector spine muscles.

As you work out more, the spine will adjust itself more, and when it does, you will become more relaxed and be able to move more (while maintaining your posture). It is not just because of posture, either – you become more efficient and more graceful with a firmer spine.

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Now let’s talk about posture for a bit. The word ‘posture’ is a Greek word, meaning ‘to stand.’ It is about a particular way in which the human body is lined up, which is not about sitting, standing or reclining. Humans sit, stand and recline because it is the most ergonomically efficient position. (Note: these positions are not the same: sitting is more comfortable and requires less energy than standing or reclining. On the other hand, reclining can be quite nice.) The human spine, like the human digestive system, makes a series of curves. The vertebrae on the front of the spine go up to the top of the head (the skull).

This is not to say that the head and the top of the back are fixed in space. But our heads are held up by a series of muscles called trapezius. And while the head swings forward in a very smooth plane, when we turn our heads a little, the weight of the brain presses down, pressing against the interspinalis. There are other muscles which help to hold the head up (the trapezius and the pectoralis, for example, you also need to include these muscles in your jump rope workout routine.