Five years ago, when I was getting to know my girlfriend, she completed a brief course with Esther. With just a few months of following the Gokhale Method, her long-term hip pain had vanished. I do miss rubbing pain relieving gel on her hip, but she is a much happier and more flexible person since adopting Esther's method. In the last few months, I developed intermittent sciatic pain and decided to give the method a try. As a registered nurse, I am impressed with Esther's deep understanding of physiology born of decades of observation and research. As a student, I'm in awe of her teaching and mentoring skills. It's important to note that the system is not just a bunch of limbering up exercises to do first thing in the morning. It's about gaining a new perspective on how you use your body in every-day tasks in harmony with its design. Over time you make certain small adjustments to the way you sit, stand, walk, and reach. Small changes, big results. I highly recommend an individual analysis before beginning the course so that your teacher can get a clearer understanding of your strengths, limitations, and goals.The courses themselves are composed of a tidy number of participants, perhaps six or eight, just right for a dinner party. Over six weekly sessions everyone gets meticulous personal attention from Esther as well as encouragement from fellow learners. It helped me to learn with a small group because I could observe others and learn from Esther's guidance to them how to modify my own habits. Even though I completed my course only recently, I've noticed my sleep quality has improved markedly. Yes, she teaches you about sleeping. What is more basic than that! And my intermittent back trouble has not recurred so far. Got a friend with a "bad back?" Point them to the Gokhale Method, You just might change their life. read more

My experience is that it is mainly about profit for Esther and the Google Method. I joined her class in person a while ago in the Bay Area. Because the class was so big, I decided to also do a (very expensive) private class with her because of my chronic low back pain. It was such useless experience, that I still think about. I didn't really realize it at the time, maybe because I was a young mom, and was still trying to figure out myself after delivery of my baby. Butshe approached the whole class with no interest or compassion at all, the things she showed me were thoughtless, and I didn't gain any new information, she never followed up with me either. Also, during the group class, she would just ask her daughter in to do the lesson instead. I think her daughter at the time was in her late teens or early 20s. Lastly, regarding her book, what I found disgraceful was her taking pictures of people during her visit in Burkina Faso as if they were early humans that we should try to emulate. read more

I completed the online Gokhale Elements course in early March 2024. I opted to wait a few months to leave this review because the incredible results were almost too good to be true. After 4 years of back pain that was increasingly interfering with my day to day activities (cooking, walking, sitting) I have been pain free since March. Everyday I am grateful for Esther Gokhale, her team and Aurelia, my online coach. Aurelia helped me change my life. She is a kind, knowledgeable and skilled teacher. These techniques have helped me change how I sit, stand, and walk- all of which have worked to end my pain. From my experience- I highly recommend the Gokhale Method. read more

I first attended Esther Gokhale's workshop 6 years ago after a friend introduced me to the method and invited me to a free introductory 1 hour workshop. During that demonstration I learned: + How the Gokhale Method works and how it's different from other modalities + How proper technique can transform sitting into a therapeutic activity + How to walk in a way that promotes good balance and strengthens leg and foot muscles + How natural posture can powerfully affect physical and mental well-being + What is the Gokhale Method Foundations course Thanks to that introduction, I went on to be able to utilize the Gokhale Method techniques following proper one-on-one instruction. You can either sign up with one of Esther's employees for a lower fee or with Esther herself for a higher fee. Both options are great, as her staff is well trained. I also purchased the Gokhale Stretchsit® Cushion for back support, which I use on the back of my chair or in the driver's seat of my car. The added benefit of the trademarked cushion enhanced the techniques that I had already learned for proper posture. (She now also offers additional products -- as well as her book that was published in 2008 -- on her website and at her workshops). After recently sustaining an injury (you can read my PT reviews here on Yelp) I decided to return to a 1 hour workshop to see if I needed a Gokhale Method refresher. I was impressed that there were MANY more people in attendance now! It seems that the word has spread! : ) Attending that workshop reinforced the foundational Gokhale Method skills that I had previously learned and my renewed faith that the method works. *Note: Sign up for the Gokhale Method e-newsletter and check out Esther Gokhale's Youtube videos. **Note: Gokhale Method now offers 1-day Pop Up Courses! read more

I cannot recommend their fundamentals course highly enough! I read the book and implemented some of the technique on my own, with great success: I no longer had back problems that affected my life, and I used the cushion to drive all day whereas I couldn't go more than an hour before without stopping to rest. But I knew my posture was still bad, and I suffered chronic tension headaches. So I finally took the intensive course, and I'm happy to say that I've seen dramatic improvement in just a couple days. On the 3rd day of class, my lower back relaxed completely for the first time in a standing position in over 20 years. Monisha was an excellent teacher, and the course has obviously been honed for years, it could not be better organized. Do not wait, invest in your posture now! Believe me you will be glad you did. read more

I thought I had great posture, especially I've been working so hard on this for years... ... years of varied PT, chiro, acupuncture, movement training... for neck, shoulders, back...these had only helped a bit, but hadn't addressed the root problem. THIS is the movement re-learning that is needed for us all. There was no way I could figure out my engrained bad habits (57 years' worth!!), much less try to fix them on my own . NOTE: Book alone was not enough for me, I needed to spend the $90 per session for hands-on help. So lucky this was in my backyard. read more

It's a total scam. They had no interest in helping me learn exercises when I attended their expensive program. And following their book caused pain. read more

I recently completed the Gokhale Method Foundations course (90 minutes per class over a six week period). I came to course after having spent the better part of a year traveling for work (i.e., lots of sitting!). I had been feeling discomfort in my back from too much sitting and not enough exercise, and came to the course to learn proper techniques to enable me to be more comfortable at work and in life; I achieved these goals, and left the course with a much greater awareness of my body's needs and knowledge of how to keep my back healthy through life. Esther taught the class herself and showed a deep and impressive knowledge of the body, an incredible dedication to her art and science, and a sincere desire to help her clients achieve healthy and pain-free lives. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in developing a higher level of awareness about their body, and especially for those who are struggling with chronic back pain issues. read more

I am posting this review just so expectations are clearly set for people. I took the class because I have two torn discs (L4-L5 and L5-S1). I was experiencing pain in my center back, hip and down my leg. Before starting I could not walk more than 10 minutes and could not do any activities. I had regular spasms in my back/hip and lots of pain in my back, hip and leg. My hope was that this class would fix the pain or at least reduce it. Outcome: - I believe I have much better posture now. - Having said that, my pain is worse than when I started the course even after making all the corrections. Strengths: - I believe they try to help fix the problem and not the symptom. Huge plus on this aspect. - The class does a much better job than Physical Therapists and doctors on getting you to actually sit right and stand better - My instructor was very nice Areas for improvement: - I believe the class can be a little too aggressive at times for people with really bad pain. They could do a better job of learning how ease someone into things. For example, they provide a stretch exercise for the leg. If you have pain down your leg like I do, this exercise can actually cause major increases in your pain level as it did for me. It took me a week of pain to connect the dots and realize this was the source of the change in my pain for that period of time. Recommendation - I think people should take the class (people should know how to sit and stand in ways that are healthy for their bodies) but please have your expectations set. It may or may not work for you. read more

NOT FOR SWAY BACK! This method may work for some people, but likely not for anyone with the problem I have, which is lordosis (sway back). I tried adapting my side sleeping position by her recommendations and was soon having excruciating back pain at night. Not until after I had seen a spine orthopedic specialist did I realize that the change in sleeping position might be the cause. Shifted back to my old position and the pain was soon much reduced - to the fairly tolerable level I'd had before. I canceled the appointment for spinal injections and have instead pursued a physical therapy method that addresses my lordosis with success. She does briefly mention lordosis in her book, but her recommendations are for correcting the opposite posture extreme. read more

I took the foundations course three years ago and currently take refresher courses every few months. I ve struggled with poor posture and back and neck issues because of it. There was a significant improvement in my posture after the foundations course and taking the refresher courses reminds me to keep on working on it. It s been an enjoyable journey learning to improve the way I move, stand and sit. read more

My son went to try their course and he has felt significantly better since. I think if you have low back problems, then give this place a try. You owe it to yourself. read more

I'm a dentist for the past ten years and have experience chronic low back pain as a result of the job and also sports injuries. It was debilitating and somewhat scary. I know my career trajectory depends on my ability to do such physical work. Many people don't realize what dentist go through, even dentist ourselves don't realize the tax it takes on our body. Naturally, I have disability insurance in the fear that one day my back ache would be so severe such that I can't do this job. The problem with disability insurance is they make it extremely difficult to claim, so one should forget about any use those insurance will bring. Often when I return home from work, I just want to lie down - quite a despondent way of life. In the past year, I want to take care of my body so I decided to make a serious attempt by doing yoga, running, seeing chiropractor, and traditional Chinese medicine. None of that was really useful for more than a day or two, and I'm back to the same ol' low chronic pain - extremely annoying more than painful - I just want to lie down. I pray in front of my spiritual deity and wished for healing. It was my number one wish in life. One day I was in a bikram yoga class and just browsing at their book shelf and came across their book. The title immediately caught my attention. However, I've been feeling so tired of dealing with futile treatments so my reaction is "what the heck, I'll give it a try." I was giving up and really to settle for my chronic pain as a way of life, as aging. I didn't read much of it, instead I went to youtube videos and watched Esther teaching stretch sitting, and give it a try. A bit weird. I didn't do it thinking it'll help, just kind of give a shot. Almost immediately within hours, my back pain went away; I didn't even notice because I was doing something else online. It was a miracle! All I had to do was change my posture! How many times have people told me to straighten my back? How many times had I tried adjusting my posture but felt the same discomfort? Countless! This method has immediate relief for me. it absolutely piqued my interest and I became a believer. I went to their introductory course in Palo Alto, and signed up for private consultation and the foundation course. I started to read their book in detail. All said, my back feels so much better now. It provides confidence for me to pursue my career more seriously rather than being fearful that I would have to quit dentistry because of my back. In fact, I stopped my disability insurance. You will see many positive reviews here, and that's because many of us have went through backpain. Many methods are out there offering treatments to deal with low back pain. I just need to know what the right posture is. If you are reading this, it means you are dealing with low back pain. Do yourself a favor and give this method a try. See how it goes. Give it a shot, what you have to lose is small. Perhaps you have a more serious condition and they won't help, no problem, that's fine. But you know what, Esther has been studying posture for years from an anthropological view point that's unheard of. Please take care of your back so you can take care of others. read more

I've just started taking Esther's 6-week posture re-education series, and after only one week of sleeping and sitting the way she is teaching me to, I feel healthier and more relaxed. After "stretchlying" for 7 days before I fall asleep, I even wake up feeling taller! She teaches her course in a cosy studio above the Cafe Pro Bono off of California Ave. The class is small, so she spends a lot of time working on each individual's form. Esther creates a comfortable, non-judgmental atmosphere in which you can transform your posture and rid yourself of pain. This isn't charm school: no balancing books on your head or sitting rigid at a dining table. Esther examines your regular posture, then helps you coax your spine into a healthier, relaxed position. It's so easy! If I feel this great after only two sessions, I can't wait to get to the end of the class... read more

Glidewalking Question Would you consider it similar to the fast walking event in the Olympics? Eagerly awaiting a youtube "this is how to, this is how not to glidewalk" Found you looking to help my bride of 43 years with and L3 herniated disk problem after beating cancer twice. Thank you for everything read more

I would also give at least 10 stars if I could. I am taking a course in San Francisco from Charlene Hannibal who is one of E. Gokhale's teachers and it's been one of the best things I have ever done to alleviate my back pain. Her course makes it so abundantly clear why so many of us in this culture suffer from back pain. Esther went to countries where they do alot of physical labor but have a very low incidence of back pain. She watched and studied them to see how they were moving/standing. That makes SO much sense to me! Being able to stand, walk and bend over without pain is FABULOUS and life changing. So glad I found them! read more

*****I would give Esther 10 stars if possible!!! *****Life Changing! I've had bad posture made worse by a car accident for over six years now. The Gokhale method is a gentle way of teaching your body to ease itself back into its natural state. Esther herself taught my course and she is so, so nice! Like her method she is gentle, effective and makes so much sense!!! I wish we could get her on Ellen! The world needs to know about this!!! PBS is already in line to feature her =D get in to see her while you can! Flat mushy butt? You need her! Bunions? see Esther. Is your back curved like this question mark? Is your grandma's? Sign yourselves both up! Back problems? Click the link above and join a class. Insomnia? Take the course already! If only I could shrink Esther and have her live on my shoulder... read more

Best set of techniques for improving back function and overall posture that I have ever encountered! Esther is a great teacher and the follow-up videos available to you once you complete the course are so helpful, helping to refresh your memory about what you learned, as well as providing exposure to other possible daily movement adaptations (e.g., gardening, yoga, cooking - even dance!) Highly recommend!! read more

I have suffered from back pain (upper, middle and lower) most of my life due to bad posture. I'd have a hard time getting thru the day with both sitting and standing causing me a lot of pain. The Gokhale method has helped fixed my posture and the strengthening exercises recommended under the Gokhale method has helped me be painfree all day long. Esther's books and props are very helpful, but the most useful was attending the three day foundation course with Esther. I recently attended a follow up session too, and got additional insights in correcting bad posture that are helping me a lot. read more

I have spent years trying to find a cure for my back, neck and knee pain. I went to Esther Gokhale as really a last resort. I heard about her and her book through friends I swim with at the Y. I was looking for a "cure" but what I found is a system that can put me in control of my body and its wellness. I feel better. I think I'm standing taller and my pain isn't a mystery I just have to live with. What a gift! I would definitely recommend you try the free lesson. I started with that and a library copy of her book, 8 Steps to a Pain Free Back. I'm now a believer and consider myself so fortunate we have such a treasure and resource right under our noses! read more

The Gokhale Method Institute will change the quality of your life: If you are in pain or feel like a drained shadow of the person you hope to be, this book is both a great place to start and a life-long resource to give you the tools to recover, stay well and improve your physical capacity regardless of age or gender. If you are an athlete and want to unlock performance peaks and avoid injury, this is also the place to get a great foundation for enhanced performance and injury prevention. As traditional medicine finally acknowledges that pain meds and surgery create more problems than they solve, it's time to look back at the age-old wisdom behind posture lessons derived from traditional societies. The Gokhale Method Institute and Esther Gokhale's book "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back" draws from that wisdom and from modern science of human physiology to provide clear guidance for things we can and should do in everyday life that will put us right. As human longevity increases and it becomes crucial to live well (not just long), this is the book that will help you develop the posture to optimize your capacity as you grow and to keep it high functioning and pain-free as you age. read more

After 42 years of slouching while sitting and standing I was pretty sure that my bad posture was genetic and that I'd never be able to change it. Since I was in grade school I have never been able to stand or sit comfortably and now I know why. I wasn't doing it correctly. My mechanics were bad. If you look around, many people in this society appear to have the same problem. Bad posture is everywhere. By looking at people and cultures with good posture, Esther has figured out what the basic steps are for most anyone to achieve better posture. Her simple and effective mechanics-driven posture techniques work great. Simply by repositioning my body to her specifications in chairs, in bed or while standing has radically changed my thinking on posture. I think she is right: you're not born to bad posture you learn it. What is really cool is how easy it is to fix bad posture and learn good posture. For me the lessons were somewhat counterintuitive, but once I tried a few of them I knew that Esther was on to something. The book provides wonderful real life images and examples of good and bad posture. There are also relevant figures depicting the spine, etc. to illustrate her points. I no longer wake up with a stiff low back that takes half an hour to unwind. I wake up limber and refreshed. I no longer slouch every time I sit and fight muscle strain by constant fidgeting and repositioning. I am now working the proper posture techniques into my daily life with great success. I also feel like I've found a sustainable way to use my for the next 40 years, where before I read the book I felt like I was wearing out my back way too soon. It feels right and looks great (no more hump when I bend over!). If you are considering surgery for pain relief or posture correction read this book first. read more

Hello Readers, If you have found this page then there is a good chance you have either already heard of the Gokhale method or you are suffering from back pain to some degree. In the former case, you have probably already know something of Gokhale's approach, but feel free to read on. In the later, I hope this review helps you find some relief. NOTE: I go into detail here. Tl:Dr; It doesn't matter who you are, this course is worth it if you consider good posture to be even remotely important. I am a young (24) male who sits in front of a computer all day. For the past 4 years or so I have been plagued with all sorts of injuries resulting from sports. About 2 years ago I developed chronic lower back pain following a gym injury, and suffered for nearly a year before finding relief in the form of physical therapy and the Gokhale method. I was first introduced to Esther's work by my sister, who sent me her book after I told her about my back problems. I read through most of the book, and practiced stretch lying (a technique for elongating the spine while lying down), which helped relieve my symptoms. I simultaneously spent a full year in physical therapy and sought out psychiatric help. Fast forward to a 6 weeks ago. I was still suffering the occasional lower back pain in the mornings, but my daily commute, workday, and most nights of sleep no longer caused me pain. However, I decided to attend the Gokhale Method "Foundations Course" and I am glad I did. As a computer professional, I had developed a hunched posture, with my head pushed well forward and my shoulders slumped forward. The Foundations Course showed me the extent of my postural problem and, far better, taught me how to safely and methodically fix it (which, I'll have you know, was far more nuanced and involved far more body parts then one would suppose). The Gokhale method is not magic: everything is explained and requires personal effort. There is no effortless way to fix posture, but the Gokhale method makes it as easy and as gentle as possible. Overall, I found Esther's careful explanations of her research, her overwhelmingly robust understanding of indigenous posture (upon which the course's proscriptions are modeled), and her professional, gentle, understanding guidance to be well worth the time, effort, and money. While I still have more posture work to do, I see a way forward to a more healthy, happy, and confident posture and life. Thank you to Esther and her team for providing such an amazing service. So yeah, I recommend the class. read more

UPDATE (11/27/2011): I'm re-reading Esther's book now and am going to buy her "alumni" course as they've improved that offering. I think it's best to take the Foundations course and then take "refresher" courses (either online or at their clinic) to "groove" your motor neurons with correct postural positioning. I've also taken her "Advanced" class and I highly recommend that as well. Esther teaches it herself and gives a lot of personalized attention. Now that I've taken her classes, read her book several times and taken a few of her online "refresher" courses, it drives me crazy because I see examples of bad posture everywhere (except in the mirror!). ___ Improved posture - at last! I've had bad posture (rounded shoulders, kyphotic posture, etc.) since I was a child. I was always told that my posture was "genetic" and that there was nothing that I could do. After accidentally coming across Esther Gokhale giving a presentation to the employees at Google (search for it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYJ4hEYudE), I bought the book, read it and then decided I needed to actually take the course to get the full benefit. I took the foundations course from one of the Gokhale Method instructors, Maya White, and now I've just finished the advanced course offered by Esther herself. I did not have any back pain prior to taking this course as I wanted to correct my posture problems now *before* I came to have back pain. I've been given tools that work, that I enjoy using every day and that I know are going to keep me from being part of the 85% back pain statistic. Buy the book, take the course, you won't regret it! read more

This method reveals the natural and uncontrived postures and movements of our bodies that create opportunities to gain strength, flexibility, durability and comfort whilst doing almost anything, even sleeping! I have been searching for help with my health for over a decade and this method is like revealing a gem once hidden in plain sight, much like Esther herself. She is a very kind person with a lot of unique insight into the body. I highly recommend classes in the Gokhale Method with Esther! read more

I have taken the 6-lessons workshop in a private session with Esther and she has thought me to sit, sleep, stand, walk, and bend in ways that protect and strengthen me instead of wearing and tearing. I use her book, "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot" as a helpful resource to remind me of what I went through in my lessons. I have made significant progress, and while not pain free, I have less daily pain and am on my way to recovery. read more

I first heard of Esther Gokhale and the Gokhale Method when I met Monisha White (Esther's daughter) at Mark Sisson's PrimalCon Lake Tahoe in September 2013. I was looking for ways to optimize my health and get a deeper understanding of posture and movement so I decided to sign up for the Gokhale Method Foundations Course. I took a one on one class with Faye Alexandrakis (one of the instructors at the Gokhale Method Institute in Palo Alto) back in December 2013. I thoroughly enjoyed the class and found Faye to be very knowledgable, professional, warm and engaging with a great sense of humor. She explained the core principles of the Gokhale Method along with the Hows and Whys of correct posture very well. I liked Faye's teaching style so much that I am actually writing my first Yelp review! There is no question that Esther's method is very well researched and got me to rethink how I approach the most fundamental of things such as sitting, standing, bending, walking and sleeping (forgotten basics in the modern world). It can be a little tricky to put some of the principles into practice in daily life mostly because we are so used to poor posture and are blissfully unaware of how we sit, stand, walk etc until we get the wake up call in the form of back pain! What is really needed is some practice and attention and folks will start seeing the long-term benefits of good posture! I highly recommend the Gokhale Method and Faye Alexandrakis to anyone looking to improve their posture, struggling with back pain etc! read more

I too would give Esther's course 10 stars if I could. I took the 6-week foundations course in Palo Alto from Kathleen, one of Esther's disciples. The course has been life-changing -- my lower back pain has abated. Using Esther's techniques, I feel better while sitting, and -- the biggest suprise for me -- I am sleeping much more soundly. I highly recommend Esther's course. read more

I did the basic course with Esther about three years ago... and today, did a one on one with Charlene to refresh some of the basics. All outstanding. read more

I had herniated a disk in my low back, and sitting made it worse. And, of course, my job consists of sitting for long periods of time. Every time my back started to get better, I'd have to sit for 10 hours and it would get worse again. Other people reccomended changing my workspace so that I could do as much work as possible standing up. Luckily, at that point I found Esther. In her basic class, the first thing I learned was how to "stretch sit." Not only did stretch sitting not hurt me, it actually stretched out my back making it better. It magically changed sitting from the position that damaged me to one that helps me. Throughout the rest of the class, I learned why I had damaged my low back in the first place... she taught me how I've been damaging my back with my everyday movements, and how instead, every day activities like standing, bending, and walking (just like sitting) can actually stretch and strengthen my body and make it healthier, instead of wearing it out. After finishing the basic class, I've been taking Esther's yoga class as well... every week I'm amazed as I feel how happy it makes me body to be reminded of Esther's principles and to take them to another level. Not only is my back better, but all kinds of aches and pains I'd thought were a normal part of aging disappear. I feel so lucky I found Esther, and wish I'd found her years and years ago! Anyone living in our cultures who sits at a desk, or who lifts heavy things, or who bends over, or who walks could benefit from hearing what Esther has to say on using the human body wisely. read more

I was first struck by Esther's story and how familiar it seemed to my own. A young woman, mid twenties, experiencing terrible back pain that led to an only temporarily successful surgery. Once she was recommended a second surgery, she started looking for a real solution. This story is not just my own, but the same for so many others as well. Having tried everything to help myself out of a horribly painful lower back issue, I was astounded the first time I opened Esther's book and finally found ideas that made sense to me. The clarity and logic around this theory allowed me to understand my own body and pain in a way I was not sure I ever would, previously. After all of the conventional and alternative treatments leading to worsening pain, I felt helpless with no answers. And that was exactly the answer I was able to get from any professionals, "I don't know". Very discouraging for a young, fit yoga instructor to hear while having already invested so much time in to wellness and body awareness. My first stretch sitting experience gave me immediate relief from my throbbing lower back pain and I was able to clear the majority of that pain and rid myself of the numbness in my leg and foot using just the simple stretching techniques. I went on to immerse myself in this method, being so convinced and compelled by my first steps. I took the Foundations course with Esther and found her instruction calm, caring and individualized. The classes are limited to 8 people, but are up to 10 with Esther, being that she is a seasoned teacher of 20+ years. It was so helpful to be able to feed off of the learning curve of everyone around me and still be able to have my own journey and experience for myself within the setting of a group course. Esther generously shared her story with us; a short term fix with the first surgery leading to another bout of back pain. Then she courageously sought after answer to why we are in so much pain collectively in our society. I appreciated hearing about this story and the stories of others in the group. We were able to learn skills that would help us get out of and stay out of pain by learning more about the human structure and how it was truly intended to be used. I was able to be careful with certain techniques and movements as Esther and I uncovered possible issues that required adjusting the method slightly this way or that. With this deep sense of understanding I have avoided any surgery and rid myself of the pain that was taking the bulk of my spirit just to keep it at bay. And that's just the back pain, I was also happy to see go the TMJ, plantar fasciitis, neck pain, painful cramps, sleepless nights and much of the emotional component of being in pain has vanished as well. It truly feels like a miracle to have re-inhabited my natural posture, though I feel I could explain it all to you in plain English as well! Thank you, Esther! read more

I am so happy that I found out about the Gokhale Method. Esther Gokhale is a world expert in posture. She is very knowledgeable, understanding posture in a better and different way than what is commonly known. She gives very detailed and clear instructions. Her book "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back" and her "Foundations Course" is worth your money in gold. And afterwards she allows you to be an alumni with online access to lots of video instructions and physical access to refreshment meetings. She makes sure to have a small number of people attending her course and her meetings, so that she can give each participant individual attention. I feel that improving my posture has had a great effect on my health: some chronic pain in one of my knees has disappeared, I can now do gardening for a long time without getting any back pain, I have a better posture at my desk and car seat by using her "stretchsit" cushion, and my breathing has really improved. Last but not least, Esther Gokhale is a good character expressing deep love and care. read more

I took the foundations intensive 3 day course with Faye Alexandrakis . Faye is amazing! She is a talented teacher! After buying the book and trying it at home, it really is imperative to go in person to get feedback and instruction. read more

I took the posture course a few months ago and it significantly relieved the the back pain I got from working long hours. About 2 week ago, I was having some pain in my left leg. I thought I would give Esther's acupuncture a try. I called in and found out that there was a new acupuncturist, Colleen, that just joined the team. She has over 10 years of experience and has a $75.00 special 1 month promotion. $ 75.00 for acupuncture with a 10 year experience acupuncturist is a steal for the Palo Alto area! So far I have seen her three times, the pain is gone and now I just go for relaxation. She also does this aromatherapy that is so soothing. I recommend her to everyone and anyone. read more

Highly recommend. I had severe neck pain and back pain and patellofemoral arthrits and was told by my orthopedic surgeon that it would just get worse and there was nothing I could do. I attended the five class series with Esther and with in two days, my neck pain and posture improved visibly! I learned to walk differently with a normal healthy posture so that I was no longer wearing out my patella. I even received comments that I looked 10 years younger. As Director of Population Health and an endocrinologist, I routinely recommend the Gokhale Method to my patients. I would love to see the Gokhale Method become more popular and bring us back to a normal healthy posture! read more

My lower back has been bothering me for a long time now, but I've been stubborn and put off seeking help. Finally, I went to see my doctor, who prescribed some meds that might help, but I'm not really good with pills (plus I never want to get dependent on it) so he suggested that I try acupuncture. The acupuncturist that treated me, Colleen Burke, was fantastic. I told her I was deathly afraid of needles and I don't know how she did it, but I didn't feel a thing when she put them in. What I did feel was a very relaxing, serene sensation. The first session has helped my back a lot, and I think a few more sessions might help in eliminating it! It's such a great deal. She's having a promotion right now -- $75 a session for an entire month of treatment, which is great. But honestly, even if I had to pay the full price, it's worth it. I've been a bit leery about acupuncture, since I've never gone on the alternate medicine route before, so I guess the promotion was a good way for me to try it and decide if it is for me, and I believe that it is! read more

Ok, I've received my Gokhale Pain Free Chair several weeks ago amidst much drama with the billing and shipping department of Gokhale. That part, was definitely, not pain free, as the website crashed when doing the payment procedure, which resulted in my account being charged twice. Getting the money back was like pulling teeth as nobody ever answers the phone there, ever. Well a little more than 2 and half weeks later, the chair finally arrived all the way from Canada, which I found odd because they will not ship to Canada. The quality of the chair is good, and installation was a breeze, (only 3 Allen screws). However if you have to sit for a living, this is not the chair for you. I believe it is designed for a much smaller and lighter person (I am 6" tall and weigh 225lbs). and the Non-Adjustable seat back is to low and does not allow for the proper back traction as explained in the Gokhale Book, and resulted in serious pain when performing the Gokhale Stretch's for sitting. I can also say that after about a half day in the chair my toosh feels like I've been sitting on a wooden bench. On the bright side it does force me into the right sitting posture. It would be a lot more functional if it had an adjustable back rest or seat cushion angle. As it sits, the back rest is way to low for my size and push's awkwardly into my low spine and is no where near my shoulder blades as advertised. So, if your five feet tall and weigh 95 pounds, this is the chair for you. If your regular human size, you might want to think twice about investing $500 dollars on this chair. read more

My Pain Management Doc asked me to read Esther's book at our first visit. I read found the website and watched as many free videos as I could and found some immediate relief while the Dr came up with a plan to calm things down (Degenerative Disc Disease in lower back). 2 months later I was retired and Day 1 I started the 6-week Foundations course with Amy Smith in Moraga, CA to further learn the "8 Steps". The word I would use would be "empowering". After almost 2 years of decline, I finally felt like I could take a level of control in my back situation. Did it cure my back? No, only God can give me a new spine and discs, but it allows me to develop a way of laying, sitting, standing, walking, posture and exercising/stretching that naturally decompresses the spine to greatly reduce the flare-ups or manage them. I enrolled in the alumni program without hesitation and enjoy Esther's monthly interactive webinars. Recently I signed up for two refresher workshops with Charlene Hannibal who was back in SF for the week, which helped me find some bad habits I have picked up and also helped give a tune up on all the steps with hands-on instruction. One week later I can feel the difference, physically and emotionally. This is not a quick fix, but a gateway to developing an understanding of natural posture and related techniques that are healthy for your spine and allows you to "take control" of your situation as much as possible and bring an end to simply living with the pain and limitations serious back issues bring. If you are healthy, it is an excellent way to develop a healthy posture/lifestyle that will avoid problems as the years roll by. read more

I have been among the 90% of Americans suffering from back pain. For years I had been hearing about the great work Esther has been doing in her Palo Alto studio helping friends resolve chronic back and spinal issues but for some reason kept procrastinating signing up for one of her classes. Then a friend invited me to one of her free informational workshops and after seeing some of the techniques in person, I was sold! I am now nearing completion of the six week classes offered and already am experiencing dramatic and life-changing results. Esther's teaching is amazingly simple -based on well researched materials - of how the human spine works and how we can benefit from rethinking how we sleep, sit and walk. The class is very worthwhile and she has a wonderful gift of teaching. If you have an opportunity to take one of her 90 minute classes, DO IT....you won't regret it! read more

I have a slump in my posture and scheduled an appointment after hearing her called the "Back Whisperer" on KQED. She basically told me that she couldn't help me. It was disappointing since I took a day off of work and drove over 100 miles round trip, not to mention the cost of a wasted visit. read more