At some point our lives, most of us will experience significant back pain. Some will end up having surgery. But one woman decided there had to be a better way and her methods are now being endorsed by doctors.
Esther Gokhale is one a one-woman crusade to end back pain after her own experience with a failed surgery 20 years ago.
"You lose confidence in your body. I was forced to think outside the box. I was pretty desperate," she said.
Thinking outside the box led her to visit and study other cultures where back pain is the exception.
"One key characteristic is that they have their imaginary tail behind them," she said.
She said we used to have it right.
"So you don't want to be tucking the pelvis, you want to have your behind behind you."
But sometime in the last century, Western society took a wrong turn and decided that the tucked pelvis was desirable.
"I encourage people to have a ducky butt, not a tucky butt," she said.
She's trying to undo the damage.
"If you get out of the body's way, it's amazing what kind of self-healing can happen in a short time," she said.
That's what brought some people to a recent Seattle workshop.
"I've seen it ease back pain and just strengthen hips, knees, so I really think she's onto something," said Kate Norland, physical therapist.
Esther demonstrates a simple exercise you can do at home to improve posture.
"You go a little forward, a little up and then a lot back before you relax and settle the soft tissue into their natural groove which is further back. Then even after you relax, it will stay there, whereas if you pull your shoulders back the moment you stop pulling, it just slumps forward," she explained.
The Gokhale method teaches people how to sit, stand, bend, sleep and walk the way nature intended.
Even Esther's husband benefited.
And as for her own back pain?
"Gone. 20 years. I don't have a twinge, let alone a pain. My back is very happy," she said.
One unexpected outcome of the workshop: Participants typically find that they've grown up to half an inch taller.
One-on-one classes are also available via Skype.
Gokhale Method: http://egwellness.com/instruction/gokhale_method.html
Book: 8 Steps to a Pain-free Back: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0979303605/
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