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Jennifer Sharpe demonstrates an exercise she calls the bridge that helps develop back muscles, abs and triceps.

Looking at today's standard of heath you would never know that we came from a species of what we would now call "bodybuilders." But it is true. We started out as thick beings, even the women, because the state of our bodies depended on our survival. Even today we are all athletes.

We need to re-think how we carry ourselves, lift objects, sit and eat. All these activities increase our health if we use proper form. It takes a healthy body to maintain life and the health of your body that will improve the quality of your life. Do you find that you are lagging during the day? Do you wake up tired? Do you feel like something is missing? Then add exercise during the week — start with 20 minutes, three times per week.

Realigning your posture will give you more energy and alertness throughout your day.

A balanced posture is defined when the earlobe, tip of the shoul-der, hip joint and outside bump of the ankle — called the malleolus — all line up on a plumb line. The center of the knee is slightly in front of that line.

At the side view you should see the ear, shoulder, hip and ankle bone all line up.

At the front view you want to see the nose line up with the middle of the chest, the waist of your pants even and the feet placed on either side of the middle of the imaginary line from the nose to floor.

The female body is subject to more stress and strain than that of a male's, due to a woman's physical make-up. This explains why women wake up feeling like their bodies are in a general state of discomfort.

But both sexes need to watch body alignment because pain for anyone is mentally stressful, debilitating and lowers your quality of life.

Jennifer Sharpe owns JS Health & Fitness; call her at 523-4833.