The other day I happened to notice a bunch of sixth-graders standing around my daughters' schoolyard. Boy, did they look cool. With slouched shoulders, jutting hips, and necks hanging forward, they were the quintessence of today's cool. Not a single one stood erect.

But then, why should they? Not when the posture of their elders is so generally atrocious. Everywhere I go, I see adults who resemble rag dolls, and I have to stop myself from yelling out, "Stand up straight!"

Think about it. The first thing you notice about people is not their eyes, not their hair, not even their clothes. It's their posture. And it screams messages about who they are. Someone who stands erect gives off an aura of pride and self-confidence (think of Cary Grant), while someone who slumps and stoops looks like she's ashamed to be taking up space.

Yet cosmetics aren't the best reason to improve your posture. Health is. As far as I'm concerned, posture has to be considered the most overlooked aspect of fitness. What begins as merely an unsightly stance or carriage can lead to authentic health problems if not corrected.

To check your posture, stand sideways in front of a full-length mirror. Your back should be in a straight plane. Imagine a plumb line from the back of your head that touches, in turn, your shoulders, hips, knees and ankles.