Maintaining Good Posture in a Remote Mining Camp
Maintaining Good Posture in a Remote Mining Camp
Cooking up great meals for hungry miners in a remote camp can be very rewarding, especially after we discover it’s often the highlight of their day! However, we are unlikely to find a five star kitchen when we arrive.
It’s more likely to be squeezed in a container, so what you see is what you get. It may not be quite what you might have chosen, but you could get used to it when you learn to adapt to what somebody else chose.
This article is about adapting yourself, and your posture to your kitchen. After all, the body, mind, and soul (and good cooking) are all interlinked, and you need the right mix to perform at your best.
Let’s Dive Into Posture for Starters
Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while we are standing, lying, or sitting down. We start with a design disadvantage, because our spines are unsupported by strong muscles between our lower chests and hips.
Ligaments, tendons and muscles work alongside our bones to hold us in position while we stand. It all takes a little bit of work, and so we can sag like raw pastry if we drop our guard, which is bad news for our spines. The sagging puts pressure on the discs and joints, and the next morning we wake with a sore back. More than that, it starts to damage those structures making working more unpleasant over time!
Chefs are at the receiving end of this problem. However, there are practical things we can do to alleviate this as we explore in this post. But first, why should we bother instead of complaining although nobody really listens?
And Now for the Mains: Bad Posture Has Long Term Consequences
Holding a good posture with straight back, and firm shoulders creates an impression of a person in control of their lives. It’s a great icebreaker, your posture speaks before you do!
A good posture helps us stand, sit, walk and lie in ways that put less strain on our spines, and other body parts
Correct alignment helps us use our muscles and joints correctly. This avoids damaging joint surfaces leading to degenerative arthritis and joint pain.
Our muscles and ligaments work as they should, helping us avoid injuries, muscle fatigue, and muscle strain. Believe it or not, we feel better and smile more when we have better posture!
If we don’t follow our own advice, we could end up in chronic pain. However, this could be avoidable with healthy posture.
What is healthy posture then?
Good posture is holding your body in positions that help you avoid pain, injuries, and other health problems. The underlying key is the position of your spine.
Your spine has three natural curves, at your neck, your middle back, and your lower back respectively. These keep your vertebrae flexible, so they can move like a well-oiled machine with plenty of spring!
You are off to a good start when standing upright if you maintain these curves by (a) holding your head above your shoulders, and (b) holding the tops of your shoulders over your hips. This may seem artificial at first, but you’ll soon get used to it and you will definitely benefit.
How do I know when my posture is bad?
It’s easiest to explain with these seven examples. Your posture is bad:
When you slouch in a chair with your hips pushed forward
If you stick your bottom out when standing, curving your lower spine
If you stand with a flat back with your head and shoulders forward
When you stand on one leg with the other one relaxed (unless you swap often)
When you hunch over your computer, or smartphone texting
If you poke your chin forward to read a screen
When you stand with relaxed, rounded shoulders preparing meals
Let’s Pause For a Moment: Why is Improving Posture a Pain
The way we hold our bodies is a habit or a series of them rather. Much of our everyday behaviour is a conditioned response to familiar situations. We slouch in chairs out of conditioned habits, and habits, like smoking are difficult to give up.
We can stop slouching, sloping shoulders, standing on one leg and the rest of them by taking back control. We do so by becoming mindful of our bodies in the moment we are in, and actively considering and correcting our posture.
Those changed positions become second nature after a while. Until one day we realise they have become the new normal, and our back has not ached for a long time.
Enjoying Just Deserts: The Benefits of Maintaining Good Posture
If we look good, we feel good, and we feel good about ourselves. Especially when our new, confident posture starts attracting admiring glances. But you are not only putting less stress on your bones and joints. And you are not just strengthening your crucial core muscles either.
When you stand upright with your spine holding its three natural curves, your lungs can open more fully and you can take in more oxygen. More oxygen improves your mood and energy levels, but you are not only just achieving that.
More oxygen in your bloodstream increases neural activity in your brain, meaning you can think faster and more creatively too. You’ll be amazed the effect good posture could make to your culinary skills and future career!
Posture Tips and Tricks for Chefs in Remote Mining Camps
If we were to follow this theory to its logical conclusion, then chefs should do their work in one of these two positions:
Standing upright with a relaxed spine, and arms and hands falling naturally to the task
Seated upright with good back support, and the work surface in a position so we don’t have to lean forward
If we heard you are muttering ‘kitchens don’t work that way’ then we are both on the same page. But we can make kitchens work better for us if we tune our working environment in these ways.
Avoid stretching up, and reaching down by putting frequently-used tools and materials conveniently nearby
Plan your work so you batch stretching movements at the start of a session, when you can concentrate on them
Remember to use the correct lifting and lowering methods. Bend your knees, brace your core and straighten your spine!
Hold your shoulders back, and your tummy in with relaxed knees when standing for long periods
Stand on both feet with weight evenly distributed. Try to avoid sudden movements
“When you cook under pressure you trade perfection” (Gordon Ramsay). Never allow the pressure of the moment to convince you to ignore pain and tiredness. Be proactive by applying these tips. And you could be cooking for pleasure (and good money) for the rest of your life.