I always try to pay attention to the synchronicity that goes on in my life; the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear related in some way but I have no idea how or why. So when I had a client recently tell me about the power pose, and then I came across a TED Talk talking about the same thing, AND I realized that if I forced myself to smile (rather than looking like I’m dying) during a high intensity Zumba class I get a burst of energy.  I had to investigate further to see how they were all connected.

Famous TEDTalk psychologist Amy Cuddy speaks about the psychological-physiological connection between body posture and non-verbal communication and confidence, self-esteem, and perception

What did I find out?

That the power of nonverbal communication not only on has an effect on how people perceive us but it also strongly affects how we perceive ourselves. And that the power pose, aka Greek goddess pose, is a great tool to help harness that power.

What is the power pose?

The power pose is simply holding one’s body in an expansive, “high-power” position; arms open and out or on waist, chest high, legs spread apart.

Check out these pictures of Greek goddesses and how they are all depicted in this pose. Whether this was done on purpose or not in the art, there is no question that these woman are all illustrated in this pose.

Photo credit: Google images

What does this pose do to our bodies on a physiological level?

Research has shown that holding this position for as little as two minutes a day actually stimulates higher levels of testosterone (the hormone linked to power and dominance in the animal and human worlds) and lower levels of cortisol (the “stress” hormone that can, over time, cause impaired immune functioning, hypertension, and memory loss when elevated).

How does this pose help us psychologically?

The power pose leads to increased feelings of power and a greater tolerance for risk. As a result we can “pose” our way to more confidence and a higher self-esteem, even when we don’t necessarily have the thoughts at that time to back it up.

How is all of this related to my Zumba class?

It’s just another example of how nonverbal cues affect one’s own perception and thoughts. Even though I felt like calling it quits during my workout, by smiling, I was able to counteract those thoughts hormonally and actually induce a burst of energy!

Why is the title of this post called the Greek Goddess Pose?

It seemed most fitting considering that the majority of you reading this are most likely Greek AND I always try and stay true to my roots.

If you’re a female reading this, you too, should practice the Greek goddess pose.

By taking 2 minutes out of your busy day, every day, to practice this pose, you can experience the benefits associated with it as well!

The reality is, whether we call this the power pose or Greek goddess pose, we are all powerful strong confident women and sometimes we just need to strike a pose to remind ourselves of that.

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