Hi. I have a lot of low back pain, and I'm thrilled to have found out about the Ghokhale method! I have pain when sleeping, and the stretchlying and side-stretch lying have helped. I had ordered and returned the full size chair after finding that the backrest was too high for me. I received the petite chair last night, and it fits my 5'2" frame a lot better. I was very excited to try it this morning, and I set myself up and sat for about an hour while I was on the computer. I have watched Esther's tutorial 3 times, read the stretchsit chapter, and even watched that section on her DVD. I feel confident that I understand the technique, and I made sure that my arms were at the right height and angle next to my table. After sitting for awhile, I found I had drastically increased my low back pain. Do I need to work into this gradually, or maybe strengthen my inner corset first? I really want this to work. Thank you.
Pain free chair
May 7, 2021 - 1:13pm | 4 posts
#1
Pain free chair
2 hours 15 min ago
10/29/2013 - 4:01pm
Hello,
I am so glad you found out about the Gokhale Method and congratulations on getting the GM Chair! The fact that stretchlying is giving you some relief tells me you are on the right track- so well done!
Learning to Stretchsit can be a little tricky even with the video tutorials and the DVD. Without actually seeing you (you can always send us a photograph, sideview is the best), here are my recommendations:
1) Check that your bum isn't so far back in the seat that it arches your back.
2) The tricky part is lengthening one's back and maintaining that length while you hinge back and reattach to the backrest of the chair. It is easy to inadvertently tense up the back in the process and instead of the lengthening it, end up with a sway. That's one possibility for the increased back pain.
3) Another possibility is that you did the Stretchsitting correctly but lengthened your back a little too much. If that's the case, cut back on length and coax your back into new length gently and gradually.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Aurelia
Gokhale Method Teacher, Chicago
3 years 6 months ago
04/05/2021 - 3:54pm
Hi Aurelia,
Thank you so much for your response. Is there any way I can send you photos privately? I had called when I ordered the regular chair to see if it was the right size, and it wasn't. I had to tense my legs and lower back to hold myself against the backrest which was directly under my shoulder blades. So, I called to ask if that was correct, and I was told I needed the petite chair. But now, it appears the backrest is too low. It looks in my photos like it's completely in my lumbar area, and I think that's wrong, but I'm not totally sure about that. It was expensive to return the first chair, and I'm really hoping this new one will work, so I would love for you to see my photos.
2 hours 15 min ago
10/29/2013 - 4:01pm
Hello,
I think that the chair you have should work. As long as you sit well and use the backrest of the chair to traction your back, it doesn't matter if the backrest is a little lower or a little higher- you will get traction in the lumbar area.
One tip for the photos: blurring the face works very well! As long as the shape of the spine is visible- it is good enough.
Best,
Aurelia Vaicekauskas
Gokhale Method Teacher, Chicago, ILL