These exercises can help relieve back pain, help you sit up a little straighter and more.

Your postural muscles consist mainly of yourabdomen, glutes and back.

Think of them as the scaffolding that holds your joints together.

Shot of a young woman using a laptop while doing glute bridge exercises at home

Getty Images / LaylaBird

Your perception of how you stand and the reality of how you stand can be very different.

Is your head over your shoulders, or do you just assume that it is?

Is your rib cage upright or does it sag forward?

Here are three exercises to help you get started:

1.

Pull your elbows behind your waist and squeeze your elbows in closer toward each other.

Keep your neck long, your chest open and your shoulders down.

I love that planks can be done anywhereno gym membership, personal trainer or special equipment required!

Open your legs to hip-width apart and lift your hips to the height of your ribs.

Actively pull your abdominal muscles up and in toward your spine and exhale sharply.

Lastly, pull your shoulders down and flatten your back.

Glute Bridges

Your abs and glutes work as a team to hold your pelvis in good alignment.

This exercise improves the alignment of your hips and pelvis by strengthening and activating your glutes.

The result is less back pain and better posture.

Lie down on your back and bend your knees.

Place your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart and parallel.

Relax your back so that your hips can move freely.

As you lift and lower your glutes, keep your mid ribs pressed into the floor.

Doing these three simple exercises consistently over time can significantly reduce your risk of injury and pain.

So carve out a few minutes each day and commit to making it a daily practice!