Power Poses
Hold an expansive posture for 2 minutes to lower cortisol and boost confidence.
Why it works
The Science of Power Poses
Power posing is based on research into how body posture affects hormones and confidence. Standing in an expansive, open posture for as little as two minutes can shift your psychological state.
While the original hormonal claims have been debated, subsequent research consistently shows that expansive postures improve feelings of confidence and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
The mechanism works through interoception — your brain reads signals from your body to determine how you feel. An open, expansive posture sends signals of safety and dominance, while a closed posture signals threat.
Research: Cuddy et al. (2018), Psychological Science; Carney et al. (2015), updated review