Power Posing – Mindset & Embodiment
Often without noticing we use idioms which refer to parts of the body, e.g. to straighten up or show some backbone.
“Stomach in, chest out, straight back” – that’s how we want to impress others especially when it looks different from the inside, e.g. when giving a presentation which makes us more than nervous.
Amy Cuddy: Power Posing
But do we know that we also influence ourselves? The social psychologist Amy Cuddy from Harvard Business School has found out that we can actually change feelings we have about our own status through the positions we take with your bodies. According to her research people have higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol after just two minutes of power posing.
Mindset & Embodiment
I do it myself but not in the sense of power posing, as demonstrated in the video, but by opening myself up: I roll my shoulders back and stretch my chest: That’s how I widen myself as insecurity and anxiety leave you with a feeling of restriction and they block your thinking – something very powerful to be aware of (Mindset). I make sure that my feet are grounded and I breathe deeply in and out.
According to Amy Cuddy two minutes are enough, I, personally, don’t pay attention to the time but more to my body feeling: What does it feel like when I have a feeling of restriction opposed to a feeling of width? I call it my “pseudo-progressive muscle relaxation”.
Do it the way it feels good for you, do it again and again, at work, in your free time, and be aware of the pleasant feeling it leaves you with compared to before – discover the power and width in your body and love it. When you practise regularly, you can more easily connect to your inner strength (Embodiment).
How Embodiment Helped Me – My Personal Experience
A few years ago, I successfully treated a bursitis that had significantly restricted my mobility—something even skilled specialists couldn’t help with—using embodiment techniques.
In between – without taking extra time
With regular practice, you can check in with your posture and realign yourself throughout the day – for example, during meetings or while working at your computer. It’s subtle, no one will notice. But you stay open, present, and do something good for yourself and your posture at the same time.
In the mood for more lightness and a calmer mindset?
In my blog post “The Yes, and Principle for More Composure”, I share personal experiences and offer practical suggestions to help you discover new ways of thinking and acting. By the way, the “Yes, and” principle comes from improvisation – finding creative solutions on the spot, without preparation.
In summary:
- Posture matters (Power Posing) – relaxed shoulders, open chest
- Pseudo-progressive muscle relaxation – consciously sensing tension and release → Embodiment
- During the exercises: adopting an inner attitude of openness & trust
→ Mindset
Mindset & Embodiment play a key role in resilience—the ability to navigate challenging situations and crises.
Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy, who teaches at Harvard Business School, gave a TED Talk on Power Posing. She also shares a very personal and intense experience. I find her TED Talk absolutely powerful.
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