8 steps to a pain-free back : natural posture solutions for pain in the back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and foot

Nearly 90% of American adults suffer from back pain, and the number continues to climb. Why does this condition affect so many people in the industrialized world, while in some countries only 5% of adults report back pain? In a quest to find the root cause of back pain, Esther Gokhale studied at the Aplomb Institute in Paris and traveled to parts of the world where back pain is virtually unknown. Her research took her to remote Burkina Faso, rural Portugal, and fishing villages in Brazil. What she learned in each of these places has changed the lives of thousands of people. Preserved in the movements of weavers, millers, and farmers in more traditional societies is ancient body wisdom that prevents pain and enhances health. For the first time, these insights have been brought together in a step-by-step guide designed to help those suffering from back pain re-educate their bodies and regain the posture for which our bodies evolved. This book distills the Gokhale Method in self-help form for those who cannot attend a course. In eight simple lessons, with no special equipment and no tedious exercises, you will address the root cause of your pain. Whether you spend most of your day in a chair on or on your feet, you can reclaim the pain-free back you were born with. Remember when it didn't hurt? You can feel that way again! This book is 240 pages long and has 1100+ photos and illustrations. "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back is a pleasure to read and a godsend to use. The lessons are easily accessible to anyone with an hour to spare. The account of why people in modern industrial society experience chronic lower-back pain is fascinating in its own right. The photographs of people sitting, standing, and lifting in a pre-industrial world are marvelously instructive and a joy to behold. While the principles of good posture are disarmingly simple, Esther Gokhale includes a wealth of pertinent detail to guide users through the eight lessons. - David Riggs, OBE Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences, Department of English, Stanford, CA Top-level chapters: Foundations Orientation Lesson 1: Stretchsitting Lesson 2: Stretchlying on Your Back Lesson 3: Stacksitting Lesson 4: Stretchlying on Your Side Lesson 5: Using Your Inner Corset Lesson 6: Tallstanding Lesson 7: Hip-hinging Lesson 8: Glidewalking Appendix 1: Optional Exercises Appendix 2: Anatomy The long Amazon title: 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot (Remember When It Didn't Hurt) Witha fresh approach to a common problem, this self-help guide to overcoming back pain advocates adopting the natural, healthy posture of athletes, young children, and people from traditional societies theworld over. Arguing that most of what our culture has taught us about posture is misguidedeven unhealthyandexploring the current epidemic of back pain, many of the commonly cited reasons for the degeneration of spinal discs and the stress on muscles that leads to back pain are examined and debunked. The historical and anthropological roots of poor posture in Western cultures are studied as is the absence of back pain complaints in the cultures of Africa, Asia, South America, and rural Europe. Eight detailed chapters provide illustrated step-by-step instructions for making simple, powerful changes to seated, standing, and sleeping positions. No special equipment or exercise is required, and effects are often immediate. Demonstrates the Gokhale method--a technique for alleviating back pain--using eight steps, and includes illustrations, exercises, and tips on how to deal with issues that might arise while learning each step.