relaxing

Over the years, I have often shown students with recliners that they can get a compression-relieving stretch in their lower back as the backrest slides away from the seat (assuming the mechanism is designed advantageously). This is something you might like to try out for yourself. 

The benefits of gentle back traction

We developed our Stretchsit® Cushion and our Gokhale® Pain-Free Chair with incorporated “sticky” nubs that give the same advantages of gentle traction to the back. The unique design of the nubs teases apart all the lumbar vertebrae, easing compression in the lower spine, and taking the pressure off the spinal nerves, discs, and bones. Stretchsitting can now be done virtually anywhere, and has provided a healing breakthrough for thousands of back pain sufferers, making comfortable, therapeutic sitting available in the car, the office, and the home. You can watch our free introductory video on stretchsitting here.

Our Stretchsit Cushion has made travel comfortable again for thousands of people.

A natural advantage of reclining over upright sitting is that the change in angle reduces weight on the spinal discs, nerves, and bones, especially at the “bottom of the heap.” No wonder so many people of all ages find it so comfortable. And it is super relaxing!

We instinctively recline to relax more completely. Image from Pexels

An executive chair with three healthy sitting options

We wanted our recently launched Gokhale® Executive Chair to offer all the benefits of the healthy sitting positions that we teach in our Gokhale® Foundations course, one-day Gokhale® Immersion course, and our online Gokhale® Elements course. Its comprehensive design enables you to stretchsit against its adjustable backrest, to perch perfectly to stacksit at your keyboard, or to recline and reset your entire spine. In the photographs below you can see these three healthy sitting positions in action in the office.

Not only can you stretchsit perfectly against the adjustable backrest, but it also has shoulder cutaways to allow you to posteriorly align your shoulders. 

The downward slope at the front of the seat tips your pelvis gently forward, allowing your vertebrae to stack easily and your back muscles to relax. The resulting freedom allows a gentle spinal massage with every breath. 

 
The multi-adjustable headrest can give precise cervical alignment and support. Recline and reset your spine to take calls, think outside the box, or simply enjoy the feeling. 

Materials and craftsmanship

This chair is handcrafted to order from the highest quality Italian leather, chosen for both durability and breathability. It is upholstered with high-resilience foam to remain as comfortable and supportive over the years as on day one. 

We think you’ll agree that our executive chair is altogether the perfect package!

On receiving her chair, Gokhale Elements alumna Katie Stringer wrote:

Thank you all so much. I received my Gokhale Method chair today. I want you to know that this is by far the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in. I am beyond thankful to have found you and your wonderful method.

A special opportunity to learn healthy sitting

Learning our well-honed Gokhale Method techniques for healthy sitting will give you optimal results from your Gokhale Executive Chair. We are delighted to offer, with each chair purchased between December 1 and December 26, a complimentary 25-minute personal consultation (worth $99) with one of our expert teachers.

During this session, you or the happy recipient of the chair will learn:

• How to use the chair's features for effective stretchsitting at your desk
• Optimal settings for restorative stretchreclining
• How to lengthen your neck
• Custom adjustments for your body and needs

This video demonstrates how the chair’s features improve your alignment.

People at their desks the world over need our executive chair! It is currently available with free shipping within the US and Canada. If you live elsewhere, please contact Customer Support at [email protected], +1 844 777 0440 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon–Sat, US PST), who will be pleased to help you.

Best next action steps 

If you would like help with your stretchsitting and stretchreclining, get started by booking a consultation, online or in person, with one of our teachers.

You are also invited to sign up below to join any one of our upcoming FREE Online Workshops…
 

As the season turns and the colors around us are changing, leaves begin to float off their branches.  Just as our environment is settling in, we too can ground our bodies, using gravity as our guide.  The ability to relax downwards is an essential part of feeling comfortable within your body.  Here are some ways you can fall into your natural posture:

Nesting the Pelvis

Help your pelvis navigate its way home. While standing, take a little zigzag squat. Imagine you are about to sit down on a chair located behind you (not just directly under you) and let the pelvis fall forward. Feel your pelvis dropping between the legs, as though it is “nesting.” As your stand up out of your squat, see if you can retain that relaxed sensation in the front of the pelvis. This is an excellent way to let gravity help you antevert, or “tip” your pelvis forward.

The problems associated with a tucked pelvis, explained in an excerpt from our DVD

Esther's son, Nathan White, showing a
relaxed pelvis, rib cage and shoulder
position in spite of a challenging reach.

Releasing the rib cage

Ideally, the front of the ribs want to be flush with the contour of your torso. However, the ribcage may feel “seized” by a tight set of low back muscles which pull your back into a swayed position. The low back muscles need to release so the ribcage can drop forward, which can be challenging for some. We often need a little help from our rib anchor muscles (the internal obliques) which harness the ribcage into place. As your rib anchor strengthens, your low back is given a reprieve. Try placing two fists at the base of your ribs, below your chest, and gently push in and down. As much as you can, consciously try and relax the low back. Then, as your remove your fists, see if you can maintain the settled ribcage position.

Young man from Burkina Faso
showing healthy, settled shoulder posture. 

Settle the shoulders

Continue to roll your shoulders. Remember, a little forward, a little up, a lot back, and relax. When you create a homebound pathway for the shoulders, there is a nice little niche for them to settle down and back. So, don’t forget to relax after your roll-you might be surprised that your shoulders will often drop down even further.

Young girl in Otavalo,Ecuador,
showing relaxed, settled lower
jaw position.

Slacken the jaw

If you strain the neck, the lower jaw can become tense and tight. As the back of neck lengthens and the jawline angles down, gravity will coax the lower jaw forward relative to the upper jaw. This is helpful for those of us who have an "overjet" (sometimes erroneously called an overbite in colloquial English). Use your hands to adjust your head. To enhance this effect, grasp a clump of hair at the base of the neck, gently pull back and then upward, and allow the lower jaw to soften and slide slightly downward.

Wishing you the best in this season of change,

Esther

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Join us in an upcoming Free Workshop (online or in person).  

Find a Foundations Course in your area to get the full training on the Gokhale Method!  

We also offer in person or online Initial Consultations with any of our qualified Gokhale Method teachers.