Answer:  If you "have it" you think everyone has it.  If you "don't have it" you think you'll never be able to achieve it.  Of course, neither are true.

So what is posture? Why do we care about it?  What can we do to improve it?

To most people, posture is the position of our bodies while we are standing or sitting.  Those are in fact examples of static posture.  The definition of posture can be further expanded by considering it in movement patterns.  Dynamic posture can be associated by our walk, our golf swing, or any other complex movement pattern.

In reality, posture is the length tension relationships of our muscles in our body and their impact of the positions of our skeletal bones.  Short tight muscles tend to pull muscles close together.  Long weak muscles tend to let bones drift apart, or, if there's a short tight antagonist muscle, allow the antagonist to pull the bones the other way.

One approach to improving a person's posture is to attempt to stretch and strengthen every muscle.  This approach fails for a variety of reasons.  First of all, most people will not have the time nor the persistence to stretch and strengthen every possible postural muscle.

Secondly, too much of a good thing is not good at all.  Think of the body as if it were a bicycle wheel. The spokes in the wheel are like the muscles and tendons in the body.  When the wheel is "true" all of the spokes in the wheel have a constant tension on them.  If one of the spokes becomes loosened it affects the tension on the other spokes around it and the wheel becomes a wobbler.  To get the wheel back to a true condition the technician must carefully tighten (strengthen) some of the spokes and loosen (stretch) others.  Using a shotgun strategy of tightening all of the spokes will eventually result in a broken wheel.

New clients at Desk Jockey Fitness are given a comprehensive postural assessment.  The first step for each and every incoming client is to address postural concerns BEFORE subjecting them to strength conditioning exercises.  Failure to correct postural problems prior to exercising will result in reinforcing the postural distortions, not improving them.

The first step towards improving anyone's posture is to be mindful of the position of our own bodies.  Are we sitting crossed legged?  Hunched over our desk?  Slouching in our chairs?  Letting our heads hang forward?  In most cases yes, but the battle is not lost.

Here are some tips anyone can use to improve their posture... because being aware of your posture is half of the battle.

1. When in your car place your head against your seat's headrest.  Those pads are not there just to prevent whiplash.  Push the back of your head against the headrest and watch your head come back over your shoulders.  At first it will feel awkward.  Over time it will become less and less awkward as your brain reprograms its definition of correct muscle tension relationships in the neck and shoulder girdle.
2. Set your watch to beep every 15 seconds.  When you hear the beep you'll know that it's time to check your own posture.  In most cases it'll mean it's time to correct your posture.  After a while you'll be able to space out the checks every 30 minutes, hourly, etc.
3. When on the phone with a friend ask them to "freeze" and check their posture.  Getting your friends involved will make them aware of their posture and they will in turn keep you on track.  Good competition will serve you both.
4. When watching television check your posture at every commercial break.  TiVo users, whenever you have to hit the fast forward button.
5. Ask your physician for a referral to a qualified physical therapist, neuromuscular therapist, Egosque practitioner, or CHEK practitioner for a postural assessment and a SHORT set of stretches and exercises to improve your posture.

Like good flexibility, good posture is not a goal but a process.  It is a process of consistently taking small steps to maintain or improve what you currently have.  In the end, you will stand taller, feel better and look better.