I have a friend who is planning on having surgery soon. His doctor says his knees are shot. I'd like to suggest the Gokhale method to him, but I am having a hard time imagining that anything but surgery could help when the knees are worn so badly. Is there a way of determining the chances that this method could be helpful to him. We are in OKC and the nearest teacher is in Austin which is about a six hour drive.
Thank you,
Becky Schaller
9 hours 55 min ago
09/05/2014 - 6:51am
Hello Becky - Every weight-bearing joint can be helped or hindered by the way we align ourselves as we use our bodies. The Gokhale Method helps us align and move our bodies in such a way that the muscles are used more appropriately and thus joints are spared, from the feet on up. This can often alleviate pain and prevent further damage. I think if your friend goes ahead with the surgery and learns the Gokhale Method, it will not only help him recover efficiently but also serve him very well in the long run as he develops healthy alignment and movement habits.
Whether he is learning the method before or after surgery, he can use his pain/comfort as a guide. If something he's trying is hurting, then he should do it more moderately or just not do that at all. If he finds that the method gives him relief, great!
If he wants to take the Foundations Course, perhaps he could travel to a city where a teacher is presenting an "intensive," where the 6 lessons are scheduled over a weekend or over a few consecutive days. Maybe he has friends or relatives in a city where one of these types of courses is scheduled and he can make it a fun trip. Another possibility is that many of our teachers will teach via Skype to students who cannot get to a live class. A third option is to request that a teacher come to your town and have a class there - you can request this on the website.
You are a good friend to be looking out for this person's best interests! If he wants to learn about the Gokhale Method, the website is full of information, videos and testimonials that he can check out. A practical advantage of the method is that it's meant to be incorporated into your everyday life as you stand, sit, lie down, bend, walk, work, and play.
Thanks for writing -
Doreen Giles
Gokhale Method Teacher
2 years 2 months ago
07/13/2017 - 7:53pm
Doreen, thanks for your reply. For some reason, I hadn't noticed the phrase "every weight-bearing joint" before. Your response gives me more confidence to tell my friend more about this and what it can do for him, his knees, and the rest of his body.
I am actually working on getting a teacher to come to Oklahoma City. I am making flyers and talking to people. I'm hoping we'll soon have enough people who want to take the course. So few people around here have heard of this method that I need to start from scratch to teach them about it. So far, it seems the course is promoting itself.
I will tell my friend about the other options you named.
9 hours 55 min ago
09/05/2014 - 6:51am
That's great news, Becky! Have you spoken with the main office yet? They will undoubtedly have tips and support for you.
Are you aware of the free one-hour workshops that are offered online periodically? You could perhaps let people know about these or even get some folks together to "attend" one of them and increase interest in the course that way. Here's where they are listed: http://gokhalemethod.com/classes-services/free-classes.
Thanks for your efforts to promote this wonderful method!
Doreen