This book was recommended in the personal finance forum I frequent along with the video of Esther's presentation at the Googleplex. I first watched the video and found it convincing; it was consistent with what I have observed when traveling in developing countries. Esther's delivery was intelligent and credible; she was providing logical useful information without holding back or selling. Buying a book after that was an easy decision.
I had high expectations for the book, and still when it has arrived it impressed me with its design and beauty. It reminded me of the praise we impart on Steve Jobs: superior user interface, attention to detail, pursuit of the truth in the midst of the mass delusion. Esther too has the courage to go against some common myths such as tucking the pelvis in and swaying the back. She is very convincing in explaining the dangers of these habits and illustrating her statements with numerous examples from the Eastern and Western cultures, from the past and the present, from small children and from practitioners of certain crafts.
After reading the introductory chapter I knew that stumbling on Esther and her work was more rewarding than hitting a jackpot. After that the real work has started. The thing about this book is that it does require work, but this work is immensely satisfying, because you are finally working on correcting the results of years of poor posture and exercise habits. You see the images of people holding their bodies well and poorly, you become expert in discerning the difference, and you want to be among those who hold well.
Each exercise is easy once you master it, but it takes careful reading, practice, and rereading to get it right and to do it right. Esther helps you with each step on the way. She starts with a broad background of how a particular position or movement is used and includes a wide variety of illustrations. She then describes each step in great detail using words, photographs, illustrations, and diagrams. Esther extensively supplements the "positive" information of how to do things with "negative" information on how not to do them and common pitfalls. And then with Steve Jobesque attention to detail she provides additional hints on fine-tuning the exercise, locating a normally neglected muscle, using little tricks for ensuring that one is not swaying. After the description of an exercise is complete, additional nuances are discussed, and they too prove remarkably useful, even if a few pages ago you had an impression that you had learned everything. The final part of each exercise section is a summary of the moves, very useful once you have learned the move and need quick reminders.
The eight steps provide a comprehensive guide to the life of your posture. Two of them teach you how to sit, two of them are about lying in bed. One is on standing, one is on walking, one is on tightening chest muscles in preparation to exertion, and one is on bending. I cannot think of anything missing. The appendices with exercises for building various muscles are the icing on the cake.
Let me repeat that the book does require work. But this may be the most important work you will do for your body. One's spine is one's backbone; when the backbone does not work everything else is pretty futile.
Get the book, read it, practice the steps, and enjoy your improving posture.
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Reverse Poor Alignment With SITTS Posture Cushions
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Reviews with images
If you don't have back pain, you should still read this book
Don't let the title mislead you. I don't have back pain (or neck, shoulder, hip, knee, foot pain), but this book was still very useful to me.Sitting:This book helps me sit more comfortably at work for longer periods of time. My back feels great because my spine is getting a nice stretch out of sitting. Learning how to elongate my neck and release tension in my neck muscles makes it feel a lot better too, whereas before, I would feel tight and cramped in my neck after working on my computer for a while. Also, sitting on a stool, on the floor, or any place that doesn't have a backrest, is easy to do now. I no longer have to force my body to "sit up straight". I can sit tall with my muscles completely relaxed-- so much so that when I breathe, my back feels like it's getting a massage!Sleeping:After following the directions for Stretchlying in the book, I've found that I sleep more deeply, don't wake up in the middle of the night, wake up in the morning in the same position I went to sleep in, and feel so much more refreshed. I had no idea that my posture played such an important role in the quality of my sleep . . .Running:I've been surprised at the ways the techniques in this book benefit my running. I'm able to run more comfortably, longer without getting as tired, and faster. Amazing.
Top reviews from other countries
Christiona
Excellent helpful book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2023
H. B.
Ein Buch, das mein Leben verändert hat.
Reviewed in Germany on December 3, 2020VG
mi mejor amigo para problemas de cuello - your best friend for neck pain
Reviewed in Spain on June 11, 2017