Comments on: How to Improve Your Posture

By: Kent

Kent — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:29:31 +0000

The best book I ever saw about good posture and natural balance was actually a martial arts book: Tim Cartmell’s “Principles, Analysis, and Application of Effortless Combat Throws.” The first 50 pages are devoted entirely to proper, natural balance–because “effortless throwing” is all about first maintaining proper balance and disrupting your opponent’s. THEN you can throw anybody.

By: neil

neil — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:40:48 +0000

Marc, I am glad to see posture getting such needed attention. I’ve always thought that your pictures seemed to show you with your shoulders rounded and not back and your abs contracted instead of relaxed. Maybe you were trying to emphasize the abs in those shirtless poses or maybe you are trying to get some individual training with Myra. Thanks for all of the great info.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:29:24 +0000

My posture has improved a lot recently. My wife pinches me every time I’m not standing or sitting up straight! Hurts but works!

By: JoeD

JoeD — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:05:51 +0000

Another big thanks for this post!

I was persevering with Dreyer’s “Chi Walking” thinking the back pain was unrelated or was due to imperfect technique. But, a week of practicing Gokhale’s “Glidewalking” has eliminated the pains and the chiropractor visits. Gokhales’s advice is remarkably different in terms of pelvic position, body lean, toe action, arm position, etc.

Evidently, posture advice, walking advice, etc., is just another part of the sorry greed-based health care system disinformation story.

Sometimes, it is tough to detect the authors/experts caught in the CW commode, and thanks to Mark for featuring some of those who are not, like Gokhale.

By: Shari Feuz

Shari Feuz — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:37:34 +0000

Thank you for this post on posture and introducing me to the Gokhale method. I often write about this topic and this method is brand new to me. The concept of a J-Spine is foreign to me as a kinesiologist and your post/Esther’s work has stimulated a number of conversations with my colleagues in chiropractic, physiotherapy, kinesiology, active release therapy and athletic therapy. We actually try to correct ‘daffy duck’ syndrome. I look forward to connecting with you as I explore this topic further.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:44:43 +0000

Hello everyone! How fantastic to have a discussion going on about such an overlooked yet vastly important topic: Posture. As a 23 year old female without previous back pain, I had never given my posture a second thought. Yet as soon I discovered the Gokhale Method, I have felt relief that I hadn’t thought possible.

Or drop by the EG Wellness Center in Palo Alto. Group and private classes are offered to reform your posture with hands-on training! Many patients say that the Gokhale Method has changed their lives!!

Check out Esther’s book reviews, they speak for themselves: http://www.amazon.com/Steps-Pain-Free-Back-Solutions-Shoulder/product-reviews/0979303605/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

By: Muscle Imbalances | Mark's Daily Apple

Muscle Imbalances | Mark's Daily Apple — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:52:57 +0000

[...] Muscle imbalances can manifest with devastating consequences. Take lordosis, an abnormal inward curve of the spine, which is sometimes caused by weak hamstrings. Heavy squatters who focus solely on the quads without engaging the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings) often fall prey to lordosis of the spine. In fact, squats that ignore half of the lower body aren’t technically even squats; they are fundamentally flawed free-standing quad presses. Continue to overwork your quads without including your hamstrings, and you’ll probably end up with poor posture. [...]

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:59:48 +0000

It is hard to visualise this. The following might be of use to someone…I stand by it

I’ve been practicing tai chi for 5 years which has an emphasis on posture to be stable, light-footed and bio-mechanically efficient. Generally: feet parallel, don’t lock knees, extend the back (flatten) by sinking the tail bone and extending the neck up like someone is holding you behind the ears. Shoulders down.

We liken the spine and pelvis to a soup ladel which sounds familiar to your ‘J’. The abs should be relaxed – there are core muscles inside that pull the front of the hip level.

People lock their knees to be taller, then have to crank the torso backwards to straighten up, and then crank the neck forwards to see straight again – it’s very unstable and incites many problems. Like the arms, the legs have a natural bend (obviously the legs are bent a lot more when we are practicing tai chi ‘form’ moves than just standing around).

By: ronda

ronda — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:57:48 +0000

Ive seen that before, do you have alot of back pain? You might want to seek out a massage therapist,one with neuromuscular training,go to nmtmidwest.com to check out
Doug Nelson’s web site.

By: ronda

ronda — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:51:29 +0000

The key to using a lift in the shoe is don’t just lift the heel you need to lift the whole foot. And your body will adapt to inequity but not always in a good way. My daughter has a LLD and her body has developed rotoscoliosis because of it. The key to posture is in the pelvis but you want the sacrum and SI joints to bear the weight because thats how we are designed, and the eyes will always seek out the horizon, the brain will figure out a way to do this any way possible, this can cause a lot of muscular inequity,resulting in pain. I believe strengthing core muscles is the most important way to relieve back pn.