AHS19

Come learn how to sit like your ancestors did! Sitting posture in ancestral populations shows substantial differences from sitting in modern populations. The Gokhale Method uses the term "stacksitting" to describe one common ancestral sitting form that allows for a healthy alignment of vertebrae and reduced pressure on spinal discs. Join Esther Gokhale, creator of the Gokhale Method, to experience this practical technique and the traditional wisdom behind it, confirmed by scientific research.

We examined three types of sitting using the SpineTracker™ wearable device to measure spine shape and sEMG to measure electrical activity in the upper trapezius and mid-back muscles. Based on measured sEMG activity, all positions were equivalent regarding muscular activity in the trapezius. In the mid-back, arched sitting recruited substantially more muscular activity than slouched sitting and stacksitting. Based on SpineTracker measurement, stacksitting results in a significantly straighter shape in the lumbar spine than do arched and slouched sitting. We conclude that arching tenses back muscles and loads spinal discs, slumping provides beneficial muscular relaxation, while stacksitting provides both muscular relaxation and reduced loading on the spinal discs.

Learn how to use ancestral wisdom to spare your back and improve your long-term health and functionality!