It seems hard to anchor my rib cage without contracting my abdominal muscles by basically sucking in my stomach. In the book, the woman appears to not have an inner corset while sitting and her stomach muscles 'appear' relaxed. Is it okay to constantly have my abs contracted while sitting? It seems to be very comfortable now that I've gotten the basics of sitting, as most of the tension is in my abs. Will my muscles eventually start to 'remember' this position naturally so that I won't have to contract so much?
Thanks.
6 years 3 months ago
11/15/2012 - 12:51pm
Thanks for your question. There are several aspects to your question which I will answer briefly. First of all, there is a distinction to be made between the rib anchor and the inner corset. The rib anchor is used to reduce sway in your back and is accomplished by slightly hinging at the hips and rotating your ribcage forward -- like a mini crunch. It involves mainly the internal obliques.
The inner corset includes the rib anchor, but also a more extensve set of muscles in the back and abdomen. It can be engaged while sitting, but is really intended for those times when the spine is threatened. Sucking in just gets rid of air. The inner corset is all about providing bracing with our muscles to protect the spine.
As in everything, doing the Gokhale Method properly will provide muscle memory over time.
Read the book carefully, and for the visual learner you may want to consder getting our DVD. Of course the best results are gained from taking our GMF course or consulting with a Gokhale Method Teacher.
Norm Brekke, Gokhale Method Teacher, Minneapolis, MN