When it comes to looking after our health and trying to make the most of our looks, symmetry is something that most of us tend not to consider. Being symmetrical is nice of course, but generally it's easy to presume that we are symmetrical enough and not to give it much thought. And what can we do about it anyway?
Actually there are plenty of things that the average Joe can do to make themselves more symmetrical and there are plenty of good reasons to spend time doing just that. Read on and find out why symmetry is so important and how to make the most of it.
Symmetry and Attractiveness
First of all, facial symmetry is something that you need to consider seriously if you want to make the most of your looks. Most of us don't really think about symmetry when we judge somebody's attractiveness, but actually it registers on an unconscious level and makes a big impact on the way you perceive someone. The reason for this is that a symmetrical face suggests that that person's cells have split and divided in the correct way with no errors or mutations caused by the split. New cells are created in our body when old ones split in half through a process called ‘mitosis'. Sometimes the copied DNA in the new cell contains errors (more common as we get older) and this can lead to asymmetrical elements in our face and body. The problem is that these errors are also sometimes what lead to mutations that cause cancer – thus we have evolved to find people more attractive when they have fewer of these errors and are thus more symmetrical.
But what can you do about it if your face isn't attractive? Well actually there are a number of things. For women for instance, it's possible to use makeup in order to cover-up any asymmetry and to create the impression of being more similar on either side. The right hair cut can also do a lot to help by covering up the portion of your face that isn't as symmetrical or at least distracting away from it. Men can grow beards to aid this too.
Teeth are commonly the cause of asymmetry, so if you have bent teeth this is something to deal with quickly. A trip to the dentist can normally provide you with a solution that will help to make your face more even and more attractive.
Symmetry and Health
But symmetry isn't only important in terms of the way we look, it's also important for our health. Specifically symmetry becomes important for our health we're talking about muscular symmetry. Many people go to the gym and workout in order to make themselves look stronger and more impressive, but seldom do they consider the symmetry between muscles.
This is a big mistake though as having one peck and one small one, or quadriceps that are relatively much stronger than your hamstrings, can lead you to have accidents and also place uneven strain on your joints leading to long-lasting health complaints.
If you notice that your figure is asymmetrical then, you should make effort to identify the aspects that are lagging behind and then target them comparatively more vigorously next time you work out.
There are also certain exercises you can use in order to address a lack of symmetry in your upper body. If you bench press often for instance, then you can find yourself developing an imbalance when one arm makes more effort than the other as you press the barbell. This is a problem that can worsen over time as your stronger arm takes more and more of the brunt. The solution is to stop using the barbell and start doing dumbbell presses instead. This will force each arm to put in the exact same amount of effort in order to lift the weights – as will doing any 'uni-lateral' movement that separates your arms .
Follow these tips and you will be able to make yourself more symmetrical both in your face and in your physique – and you will find that many benefits result.
The author of this post, Karen Fernandes, is a freelance blogger who enjoys sharing her insight on health and wellness online. She is a part of the team at Cosmetic Dentistry Perth, renowned providers of dental services and tooth caps. She is an outdoor person, and she enjoys exploring new cultures and cuisines in her leisure time.