"Sit up straight" and "Don't slouch". Oh if only we listened to that advice. Sadly, these days, the decks are stacked against our achieving that one simple instruction. Many of us have jobs where we are sitting, often staring at a computer, using a phone and looking down at our desks. When we are not at our desks, we are traveling, carrying heavy bags, looking at our tablets or phones or sitting on couches or chairs very poorly designed to support an upright posture.
So, you say, what is the problem with that? Our bodies are designed to function in an upright position, our shoulders back, head up straight, chest open, breathing fully and effortlessly. When we slouch, we stretch those muscles in our shoulders and the back of our neck, our mid back and low back unnaturally for long periods of time. We start to restrict our breathing and put pressure on nerves where there should be none. What's worse is that our bodies in an effort to keep us from exerting ourselves, begins to build connective tissue around our muscles reshaping our bodies so that these unnatural positions become our natural state. Now when we try to straighten up, it is either difficult or impossible, so we continue to slump and the body continues to build that connective tissue, etc, etc. In short, we feel stiff and in pain trying to get up or look up or go up steps...
I have heard people say "Oh I am just getting older". We are all getting older, but we don't need to be so restricted. If you are at a computer, adjust your workstation so that you are looking straight ahead at the computer screen, the keyboard at a comfortable height and use a headset for the phone. Set a timer on your computer that reminds you to stand, move all your muscles, look up, close your eyes and breathe deeply. You should do this every half hour or so. I am not talking about a full on stretching routine, just move your body so it doesn't start making that seated posture a permanent one.
Last but not least, "Your face will freeze like that". OK, so if you make a face it won't necessarily freeze like that, but as we have discussed, your body will start to build tissue around muscles to make your posture effortless. This being said, if you are constantly sitting for instance, over the course of time (not as long as you might think), you will start finding it challenging to stand up straight (your hips will stiffen up). If you are constantly looking down at your phone, you guessed it, your neck won't straighten up as easily as it should. Over time, this really starts to make you hunched over, affects the way you walk and causes a whole host of discomforts and pains. This is prevented as easily as keeping movement in your muscles as much as possible.
Massage can get you moving a little easier, but to get the most benefit from massage, afterward, you should keep moving and stretching. Let your body know that you are still using all your muscles and you don't need it to start restricting your movement.