5 Ways To Change Your Body Language To Boost Confidence And Bust Stress

How many times were you told by your parents or teacher to sit up straight or smile? Turns out, they might have been on to something — research shows that taking on certain postures and facial expressions can change how others perceive you, how you yourself feel, and even levels of certain chemicals in the body.

"The body and mind is an entire feedback system and you can use it to your advantage," nonverbal communication expert Elena Svetieva, PhD, a research fellow at the Catolica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics, tells Yahoo Health. "Changing your posture, for example, by sitting up and leaning back can trigger off an entire set of associations in your mind about powerful people and the kind of qualities they have."

Want to give it a try? Click here are five postures, poses, and expressions that can help you feel more powerful, less stressed, and more at ease.