Fall is a busy season at the Center. New classes are starting, we are revising the materials for the Gokhale Method 101 class, and the book launch is approaching. If the season is busy for you too, be sure to take some moments to relax – and remember that improving your posture can help you do this.
 
Posture is about more than just bones and muscles. I see posture as an important pillar of health. Not only does posture support the organs and every movement the body makes, but every change in posture affects circulation, breathing, nerve function, and other systems that can help us de-stress.

Posture may even have a direct effect on our moods. In fact, researchers have determined that patients who  “stand upright, head erect, smile, and breathe deeply,” find it nearly impossible to “feel depressed.” One study of manic depressive patients even found that this routine eliminated the need for medi-cation. Of course, posture can’t make our problems go away, but it can help us cope with them. 
 
In this issue of Positive Stance you’ll find useful techniques to help you relax. You’ll learn how to read in bed without pain, review the benefits of lying down, and find an invitation to try a special Yoga class for free.

Here's to a relaxing and fun Fall.

Esther

I encountered this Burkina man taking a nap on a log. Notice his anteverted pelvis, relaxed shoulders, and lengthened spine. Anytime you lie down, this same lengthening can occur in your back if you take a moment to perform stretchlying. With a decompressed spine, you too will comfortably adapt to a surprising array of positions and surfaces.