holdning

Holdning is a Norwegian noun with two primary meanings: bodily posture and stance or attitude toward something. In everyday use, it can refer to how a person positions their body, as well as to a person’s beliefs, opinions or approach to an issue. The word is used in both physical and figurative contexts, and its meaning is typically clear from the surrounding words.

In a health and ergonomics context, holdning describes how the body is aligned when standing or sitting. A good holdning often involves a straight spine, relaxed shoulders and even weight distribution, while a poor holdning can contribute to discomfort or pain in the neck, back or shoulders. Professionals such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists assess holdning to prevent injuries and to guide exercises and posture-correcting strategies. Everyday advice commonly emphasizes regular movement, mindful alignment, and ergonomic work setups to support a healthy holdning.

In a figurative sense, holdning refers to a person’s attitude, stance or viewpoint on a matter. It can be described as positive or negative, open or closed, and it may reflect underlying values or beliefs. Expressions such as “ha en positiv holdning til endringer” or “en fast holdning i forhandlinger” illustrate its use for describing opinions, policies or approaches. The plural form holdninger is used when referring to multiple attitudes or general tendencies among people.

Overall, holdning captures both physical alignment and mental or strategic positioning, with usage depending on whether the context concerns body posture or personal and collective perspectives.