Ready. Set. Pose!

In 2010, American social psychologists Dana Carney, Amy Cuddy, and Andy Yapp conducted a research study that found adopting specific postures associated with high status can help generate a sense of 'power.' This led to the emergence of what we now know as the 'power pose'!

How can you do it?

Picture by Andres Ramos on vecteezy.com

Your power pose can vary from a yogic sun salutation, where both arms and hands are stretched wide and raised upwards, to a 'Superman' pose with clenched fists simulating flight, or even the iconic 'hands on hips, legs apart' pose like Wonder Woman. Alternatively, you can go for a classic power pose that's recognized by both humans and chimps, by spreading your arms wide.

While it's been suggested that power posing may increase levels of hormones like testosterone and trigger the release of happiness-inducing chemicals such as serotonin, scientific evidence for this is not definitive. Nevertheless, what is undeniable is the real impact of how a 'felt sense of power' can influence us.

Why not give it a shot? Choose and hold a power pose for two minutes before an interaction that typically induces anxiety. Purposefully opening up your body in this way may help reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being. Did it work for you? How did you feel compared to normal?