Back pain & posture

how to overcome + succeed

Do you hurt while you practice or perform?

What if you could learn an upright and relaxed posture that decompresses your spine and increases your range of motion?

If music is a vital means of self-expression, being in pain while playing can be anywhere from disappointing to devastating.

posture matters

Your Body Is Your Home

Posture is an integral part of music performance and enjoyment. What we are creating is inseparable from how we use our bodies.

Our body is the tool we have to do anything in this world at all. We want our bodies to be pain-free, able to do the activities we love – seeing friends, exercising, and making music.

you’re in good hands

I’m a Gokhale Method certified instructor and specialize in musicians struggling with pain. I spent 20 years searching for ‘how to sit’ at the piano and organ and finally found comfort after a Gokhale Foundations course. It transformed both my playing and my teaching (leaning over students to write in their music, sitting or standing all day long) into a profoundly comfortable experience. Now, I share that with other musicians.

To learn upright and relaxed posture, take a Gokhale Method offering. Posture re-education is systemic and highly individual; many people already have disc problems or other pain. Skilled help from a teacher is usually necessary to be safe and effective. For more information please visit www.gokhalemethod.com.

The Gokhale Method is a good fit for you if:

You’ve had to stop playing because of pain

You appreciate that posture affects musculoskeletal health

You have at least 15 minutes per day for intentional practice

best when first starting

free in-person workshops

Learn the reasoning behind the Gokhale Method, and what makes it different from other postural health systems. Discover whether your movement issues or pain are a good fit for posture re-education.

RSVP for these to franzen.sigrun@gmail.com. Limit 4 people per session. These occur in my studio near Madison, Wisconsin. Coffee/tea provided.

Ready to dive in?

gokhale consultation

$99

Need some immediate relief or are curious how your posture may be impacting your playing?

In this 1:1 session, get a private and detailed posture assessment, learn how it applies to your instrument, before-and-after photos, and techniques to help you immediately and long-term, with follow-up email support.

go all-in with your posture

gokhale foundations ClASS

$540

A comprehensive posture re-education with six classes that teach you how to sit, stand, walk, bend, sleep in traction. Best if you’re ready to invest and have all the pieces work together to change your whole. To truly change instead of mitigating symptoms, this is recommended.

already experienced?

gokhale alumni

$60

Best once a month, these one-hour refreshers keep you on track. As you practice the method, your muscles lengthen and loosen, so reshaping your posture becomes easier and more successful. You work towards freedom in L5S1 (lumbosacral joint) and easy, effortless posture. It can take years to achieve this, but it’s so worth it! These alumni classes are when we can apply what you learned in Foundations specifically to your instrument.

hear from sigrun’s clients...

“She guided me to feel the proper technique in my body.”

"I completed the Gokhale Foundations course in May of 2024 with Sigrun Franzen. After the very first class, it was clear that this course would profoundly impact me and my goal of improving my posture and gait. The rib anchor is what woke my body up! It is also very clear that Sigrun truly wants her students to succeed. Through her calm demeanor, clear instruction, and hands on approach, she guided me to feel the proper technique in my body. Not only is Sigrun an amazing Gokahle teacher, she is a lifelong learner which fills me with inspiration. Those are the best kind of teachers. I have made more progress in my goal than I ever thought possible, and I am grateful."

-Tammy Grace, Verona WI

"Sigrun is a patient, thoughtful and thorough teacher."

"Sigrun is a patient, thoughtful and thorough teacher. The Gokhale Method is unlike anything else I have learned about posture and spine health but it is very logical, simple, and it makes sense."

-Iris Kurman, Madison, WI

"She has helped both of my kids find so much joy at the piano!"

“Sigrun does a fantastic job of teaching kids to play with healthy technique as they grow as musicians instead of just drilling them through repetitive work. She has helped both of my kids find so much joy at the piano!”

-Sean Ackerman

free newsletter

get better posture, today

My newsletter, Counterpoint, explores how good and bad posture manifest while making music. Through commentary, pictures, and videos, your eyes are trained to recognize common postural markers and point you to healthier options.