Find your primal posture and sit without back pain: Esther Gokhale at TEDxStanford

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[kerryobrien]

I am a bodywork and movement instructor. Have been following Esther for years now. Her work is so simple, and so ground breaking. We've normalized hideous posture, then go to doctors for back and neck pain. Try it. You'll like it.

[IBiancoNeve]

This lady's method has literally saved my spine.

[DavidRichardsDC]

As a chiropractor I know that she is basically right about this. It has always been interesting to me that back pain is nearly ubiquitous in the west. Yet, it has been know by researchers for some time that back pain is actually quite rare in all remaining indigenous cultures. Most people have assumed the problem is that we sit too much and walk too little. While that is probably true, it is not the whole story. A developing theory is that of the "J" spine which she mentions in this video. Our textbooks teach that the "S" spine is normal, but it may actually be the source of our pain. The "S" spine has these dramatic reciprocating curves in each region, sacral, then lumbar, then thoracic, then cervical. New research suggests that these indigenous peoples have these curves but to a much lesser degree, other than the sacral curve which is fused in place at an early age. So, their spines curve up from the sacrum and rise like a tower from there. It is a fascinating thing.

[Haassan]

Oh man, I bet she is the best and nicest and most honest mom ever. Look at those facial expression that could cure even the most cynical man. And listen to her tone, so easy to the ear, you cannot help but listen.

[StarkeyTV]

Perhaps these issues are really just a reflection of our lost ability to truly be present in the moment. To actually FEEL our bodies. Our society nowadays has lost the ability to even be aware of our bodies, so many people just slump into a seat and think nothing of it as they are too busy watching a screen, until they experience pain - and by that time they're so far into poor posture they have no idea how to fix it because it has unknowingly become their 'norm'... We really need to re-learn how to move again, and that involves being present in our bodies to know when we're moving or sitting in a way that is not right, BEFORE it caused pain.

[claytosrepublic]

Holy Cow - I tried it while watching this video; and the pain in my back is GONE!!

[patrickwhite]

Esther Gokale changed my life. Her strategies made me pain-free after years of trying various medical treatments to no avail.

[amambo]

good advice I'm a professional driver so I drive long hours and yes it works.

[vds]

As soon as I did this, I can feel my shoulders relax into a posterior position, my abs and even my quads tighten while sitting. I can also feel much more pressure on my right buttock... I have a functional limb length discrepancy and I have always slouched towards my left buttock. Fantastic stuff

[lawrenceearle]

My solution is to learn not to do the things that cause bad posture, rather than trying to add new effort to a muscular system that is already imbalanced. This is what one does in Alexander Technique lessons.

[arthurbissolotti]

Oh my freaking back! Listen to her, ppl, that's good advice! I miss the days when my back was good and pain free. 15 years of "sitting on my tail" for work ruined my spine.

[richellelemon]

Throughout the years, my own practices and observances have taught me proper posture is the only way to optimal health. A healthy spine is everything 😊

[carpalaid]

Esther Gokhale's tips are incredibly helpful! Thank you for sharing this! If we may add, proper posture also helps reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

[ArthurPonzarelli]

Turn your chair around and sit backwards like a rebel.

[Spittin_Sax]

I've been trying to get comfortable sitting on the floor and as soon as she said "imagine they have tails" I thought about having a tail, not wanting to sit on it, moved my pelvis accordingly, and criss cross on the floor became 10x more comfortable

[CountAbel]

I have figured out a very simple method to finding your ideal posture, whether standing or sitting. This method may sound a tad crude, but I encourage anyone brave enough to try this.

Long story short, a few months ago I started suffering from immense pelvic pain, which I could also feel in my lower back. Years of bad sitting posture can of course cause this, but in my case it was also stress related, so there really was no quick fix. After a week of daily pain and constipation, and the stretching exercises doing nothing at all, I decided to try something a little bit different: butt plugs. My theory was, that if I instinctively tighten myself all the time, the best way to address this would be to create a constant counter-pressure, which in time would teach my pelvis to stay relaxed all the time.

This all may sound like a stretch (pun intended), but my theory actually worked perfectly. Not only is my body more relaxed now, but the plugs actually reveal all the unnecessary muscle tension, whatever it is your doing. Whether it's bad sitting posture, or stiff walking, your body feels it as a tension in your anus. I've watched countless videos on Alexander Technique without ever understanding, what intuitive body movement is supposed to be like, but with a plug you don't even need intuition, you're just simply learning to move around without causing any pain in your anus. In a week or two I already noticed my posture changing into what I saw in this video.

Pretty much everyone suffers from a tight pelvic floor nowadays, so I encourage anyone to try this (or other measures) to eliminate these issues. What many people don't necessarily know, is that a lot of the mental turmoil people go through (stress, neuroses, anxiety), also has a physical component to it, mainly a tight pelvis. Fixing the physical symptoms is, at least in my opinion, way more efficient than just going to a therapist, because you're actually changing the way you experience your body.

[stavrost]

Keep your chest UP
Thats it, all fixed...forward head, round shoulders, round back...all. So keep than in mind and eventually your posture will feel natural

[cringirl]

This works! I am so very grateful for this! I changed to this way of sitting a couple of days ago and the extreme pain that I had is gone! GONE! I'm amazed.
I recently began working as a share driver and would feel as if I were handicapped every time I stood up outside of the car. The pain slowed me down considerably and I couldn't quickly move to help my riders with luggage. or to refuel. It was discouraging, I felt so old and unattractive, and uncomfortable. I was trying to help myself by tucking my pelvis and tightening my abdominals. Apparently that was all wrong.
Luckily I saw this talk. The next day I purchased a support that is meant for the lumbar back at the dollar store. I push it up so that it sits higher and I let that curve in my back happen, and voila!
The difference is truly life changing. Yes, my tummy sticks out more, but who cares! My back doesn't hurt!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[raindropsofhope]

Her technique has certainly helped me and I have plenty of back issues.

[tihvzcc]

the most important way is knowing how to release the tension at the pelvis girdles from the front forward back to downward and the imbalance between two sides ( the bulging of the ligerment binding the sides together).