Stretchsitting versus Stacksitting

Hi Joan, 

Great question.  Stretchsitting is great when you aren't moving around a lot and you have a chair with an upright back rest that does not lean back.  You can put your back in traction for potentially many hours per day whilst staying very relaxed.  Driving and using a computer, for example, are excellent times to Stretchsit.

Stacksitting works well when you have a chair that cannot cooperate for Stretchsitting (deep seat pans, reclining office chairs, higher chairs or stools).  Or, you are participating in an activity that is less sedentary (working on a project, needing to bend forward or side to side).  Using a wedge or a chair that already slopes downward, you can tip your pelvis forward and essentially "stack" your vertebrae to help you remain upright and mostly relaxed.  For many people this is a very comfortable option for sitting.  For some, Stacksitting is too challenging at first since there might be a lot of muscle tension in the back/neck/pelvis that prevents the body from remaining upright and relaxed.  A wedge is very helpful, but it may be a good idea to Stretchsit first and then move slowly into Stacksitting as your pelvis shifts and your back muscles relax and lengthen.

I hope this is helpful to you!

Warmly, 

Charlene Hannibal

Gokhale Method Teacher, Bay Area, CA