In nature, symmetry is everywhere, and often thought to be a marker of beauty and perfection. But as we all know, perfection doesn’t exist – especially not in the human body, where asymmetry is not just normal, but inbuilt.

According to research, we are born asymmetrical, with most of us having one foot larger than the other, ears that are higher or further forward on one side (once you’ve seen it, you’ll wonder how you didn’t notice it before) or a natural hip hike on one side. And while all of this is normal, when our skeleton gets really out of whack (after having a baby, for example), it can cause pain and discomfort.

“Our alignment is how our body – for example, shoulders, hips and knees, line up with each other,” explains Penny Weston, a personal trainer and founder of wellness platform Made on Demand. “When our alignment is good, it ensures the force distribution around the body is right, it reduces the strain on our spine, improves posture, helps the body move more freely and helps to prevent injury and pain.”

10 moves to help realign your body, including pigeon pose and single-leg raises