I have a confession to make. For years I talked about the four pillars of health — nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress — and left out something important: posture. I hadn’t thought much about posture since the days when Mama cajoled me to “stand up straight.” Then I met Esther Gokhale, the guru of painfree living through better posture and the author of 8 Steps for a Painfree Back.

We Can Overcome Good Design

As a young mother, Esther had a herniated disc and subsequent surgery. When the same problem returned, she sought a new solution. She studied indigenous populations to find cultures without back problems, from remote villages in West Africa to the mountains in Ecuador. It turns out the S-shaped spine of Americans is not found in indigenous tribes. These cultures have J-shaped spines similar to children or Greek statues. Esther calls it “good design” which we can overcome through excess weight, sedentary lifestyle and day-to-day habits like hunching over electronic devices. Our counter-parts with J-shaped spines don’t have back pain even though they may spend 9 hours a day on their feet, bent over to gather water chestnuts.

Poor Posture Promotes Health Issues

Poor posture is associated with all types of chronic pain including back, neck, shoulder and jaw. It exacerbates arthritis, reduces circulation, and can make us fatigued and moody. With all these consequences, it is natural to wonder if a lifetime of bad posture can be reversed. YES, according to Esther.

“We are marvelously designed creatures. If we respect our natural design, our bodies heal spontaneously, and we can function well for close to a century. We have inherent grace and strength, and are made to live pain-free into old age.”

— Esther Gokhale

Learn About Painfree Living

On May 27th, from 1-1:45 pm PDT, Esther will challenge our assumptions about posture and aging via a free webinar. She will share practical ways to preserve our joints, our balance, our upright appearance, and our emotional health. Be prepared to learn, to move, and have fun doing so.