I want to share my experience with others who might be weighing the pros and cons of private online vs. group or private in-person classes. I knew I wanted a hands-on experience but was hesitant to make the commitment— an intensive weekend class with Doreen Giles would require a three-hour drive from my home plus a two-night hotel stay. COVID concerns made us both shy away from a group class.
My private in-person session with Doreen was a transformative experience. Not only did I receive expert guidance in the Gokhale Elements tailored to my understanding and needs, but I was able to ask questions as soon as they occurred to me. Having Doreen’s gentle hands-on corrections made a huge difference in my being able to grasp the subtleties of the Method. Doreen quickly determined which cues helped me and repeated them often. I hear them in my head when I sit and when I lie down!
In addition, Doreen was both generous and flexible with our sessions. Lessons never felt rushed. A special bonus was being able to use my own pillow for stretch lying lessons. Plus, she helped me correctly set up my stretchsit cushion in my car. Thanks to this, my back and legs were blissfully comfortable on my three-hour return trip home.
If you are within driving distance of a Gokhale instructor, do look into scheduling private in-person session(s) and bringing your own pillow(s) and car with a stretchsit cushion. Your body will thank you!