rusthouding

Rusthouding is a Dutch term that describes a rest or resting posture—a neutral, relaxed body position designed to minimize unnecessary muscular effort and support comfort during prolonged sitting, standing, or movement. The concept is used in fields such as ergonomics, physiotherapy, sports, and mindfulness to promote ease and reduce strain.

In practice, rusthouding involves aligning the head so it sits comfortably over the spine with the chin level, drawing the shoulders down and back slightly without clamping or tensing. The spine should maintain its natural curves, the pelvis in a neutral position, and the hips and knees supported. The feet are typically flat on the floor. The jaw is relaxed, the tongue resting lightly on the palate, and breathing is calm and mainly through the nose, often with a gentle diaphragmatic rhythm. The idea is to sustain a poised but relaxed state that can be held for extended periods without inducing fatigue.

Applications and variations of rusthouding appear in ergonomic guidelines for desk work, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and movement practices such as dance or martial arts. In these contexts it serves as a baseline or starting point for comfortable alignment before introducing breathing, tension release, or movement. Variants exist for standing and seated positions, and individual adjustments are common to accommodate differences in height, spine shape, and flexibility. Etymology-wise, rusthouding combines rust (rest) and houding (posture). Related concepts include neutral spine, ergonomic posture, and relaxed jaw and shoulder tension awareness.