self confidence

I came home from my visit with the Sami with a treasured possession, my new Sami knife and sheath. I had commissioned my student and friend, Fredrik Prost, a Sami handicraftsman, to make a knife for me and he had it ready for me on my arrival in Sweden. 

My traditional Sami knife and sheath created by Fredrik Prost

Fredrik encouraged me to put it into use right away when we cut birch branches to make our “mattresses" in the lavoo (traditional tepee). I would have balked at using a thing so fine and beautiful for an activity so rough and pedestrian, but he insisted - the knife was made to be a working knife. Since my return to California, the knife has harvested okra and zucchini from my garden, trimmed apples from our tree, and cut thin slices of the dried reindeer meat Fredrik sent me home with. 

In addition to being useful, the knife uplifts me in other ways. It is easy to be present in the moment when I work with it because its beauty is so compelling. I experience the specialness of cutting a vegetable, of caring for its blade, of putting it back in its sheath. 

Cutting homegrown tomatoes and mushrooms with my Sami knife

I’ve always believed in celebrating the sacredness of everyday life, but using a beautiful object makes this easy. The knife also helps me feel connected to its maker, to the culture that created it, and to hunter gatherers, past and present. Because it is exquisite, because it has such great design (down to a little hole in the sheath for liquids to escape from), and because it represents the cultures I have learnt posture from, it inspires me to up my posture game when I handle it.

Hiphinging to cut okra with shoulders back and neck elongated

It reminds me to roll my shoulders back, to anchor my rib cage, to lengthen my neck and back, to put just a little extra muscle into my movements. It has become my teacher.  

Posture and beauty are deeply intertwined. Maintaining healthy posture is one of the surest ways to retain the natural dignity, elegance, and beauty that is our heritage. I teach my students to think of their bodies as their most important art project - this “art project” is shared every day with those around us.

Young Woman Before a Mirror, William Merritt Chase, circa 1900

Not only do people around us see us constantly, but also - whether they know it or not, whether they want it or not - they are mimicking us on a second to second basis in small, almost imperceptible ways. Sometimes I quip with my students that vanity is underrated.

Baby showing no hesitation in checking himself out in the mirror

Celebrate your beauty - beam it out! And if beautiful objects lift you, then include them in your life. Do you have a beautiful object that gives you a boost? Please tell us about it...

Warmly,
Esther

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.

Melissa White, second violinist in the
Harlem String Quartet, uses
tallstanding while performing on the
national public radio program,
"From the Top".

Do you have an important event coming up? Appearing calm and collected can be challenging at such times, especially if we are feeling anxious or nervous. Let the Gokhale Method help you glide into your next presentation, interview, or social gathering with ease and confidence. Recent studies show that maintaining an elongated spine with your shoulders rolled back allows more testosterone to flow through your body, which might be just the boost you need to not only appear, but also feel and be unfettered and focused.

An aligned structure allows your muscles to naturally relax and lengthen, which goes a long way toward feeling comfortable in your own skin. Gokhale Method students consistently report on their increased energy and improved confidence and appearance after implementing the Method in their lives. Here are a few tips to look and feel your best:

Tread Lightly

Glidewalking eliminates the excess wear and tear on your joints and can provide a smoother, more confident stride. Rather than landing heavily with each step, engage your glutes to soften the step of your forward leg. Glidewalking is a regal, stately way to make an entrance and walking with a light step will also lighten your mood!

Esther and African villagers glidewalking in Burkina Faso.

Stand Tall

Next time you find yourself in a room full of people, use tallstanding to boost your self-confidence. Place your weight over your heels, antevert your pelvis, anchor your rib cage and elongate the back of your neck. You'll feel more secure and those around you will regard your stature as confident, trustworthy and reassuring. Your positive stance will effortlessly add weight to your words.

Women suffragettes used their tall, confident stature to help convince the
public that women, as well as men, should have the right to vote.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

Just Breathe 

Begin any presentation or conversation by taking a few deep breaths. Cultivating deep breathing in your chest and back nourishes your spinal tissues and hydrates your discs. A larger lung capacity can also give you the stamina you need to withstand challenging situations or long workdays. Take 10 long, sustained, deep breaths throughout your day and notice the difference in your energy, concentration and mood.

Though she was never able to see herself in a mirror,
Helen Keller maintained her regal posture throughout her
life. Her speeches on living with disabilities inspired
the world. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

We've all got valuable contributions to make to our fellows and our planet. Here's to putting our best selves forward!

Esther

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.