Massage is something I used to consider a luxury. And in reality, it was. However, once I started working out regularly, it became a necessity - more so after I became an instructor. I have a monthly Massage Envy membership; it took several visits to find a therapist that could work out the many knots to my satisfaction. Aside from the last visit to her, which was horrible, I have been happy with my massages, although I truly need one twice a month because of the 7 classes a week that I teach.
All that? In the past, as a couple of weeks ago I went to a woman that my instructor friend Karin recommended, who, in my opinion, is a F***ing miracle worker. TRULY. I can't explain all I experienced but she is a true healer. I literally am now able to take a real, deep breath, not the shallow breathing I seem to have been doing. Honestly, the difference I feel in taking a deep breath? Like my lungs have the space inside my body cavity to take in more air. I feel like I was so compressed and now I am expanding.......and the increase in my hip range of motion is noticeable. Plus, in literally 11 minutes, she had my tight scapula floating around back there like a piece of driftwood on the ocean.....Can't wait to go back this week for another session!
I am now 5 weeks into my self imposed healing period. Years of not truly taking care of myself, all the while caring for others and teaching my LM classes, has put me in a position where my body has said enough. Multiple pains, from my trap muscles into the scalene muscles in my neck, my tight tight tight hip flexors, tailbone, quads, IT bands.....there's not much in my body that is not tight. So I subbed out classes for over a month, started physical therapy, and am finally listening. Not only to my body but to those who love me and have been telling me for a long time to rest and heal.
Physical therapy has been awesome so far. I love my therapist, Naomi, who actually helped Alexander 3 years ago with his knee/groin injury. I've been consistent with the stretches and strengthening exercises she has given me. My tailbone pain? Not the sacrum, but stems from the hips, glutes and low back. My traps? The neck. So I have already felt better since I started therapy. I am religious about my strengthening and stretching exercises. It takes time each night, but 30 minutes out of my day to take care of specific issues is a small price to pay so that I can get back to doing what I love - teaching Les Mills programs. Naomi thinks that three classes back to back are just too much for me right now because when I get fatigued, my form suffers and therein lies the problem with my injuries. It just saddens me to think I am doing too much, when in reality this is what feeds me, teaching these classes. It's all about BALANCE. Sigh. Not my strong suit.
Last week I added back in to my schedule my BodyFlow classes and they are truly helping my healing along. I tried adding back in my Triple on Tuesday, but BodyPump and CX followed by Flow in one fell swoop was too much, so those classes are subbed out for another week. It is so hard to find someone who can teach those two that I may have to go back to teaching sooner than I am able, and find a way to modify it so I am not in pain. Last Thursday was my first full BodyPump class back in San Carlos and I was so warmly welcomed back that it almost brought tears to my eyes. It was like coming home again.
Probably one of the best things that has come out of taking this time off to heal was something a member, Martha, said to me before class last week. I was expressing to her how much I missed teaching and how I couldn't wait to get back full time and she told me, "We miss you, but you need to take the time to get better so you can come back. You are teaching us a very valuable lesson; if we don't take care of ourselves, we can make things worse. You are setting a great example for us as your members to listen to our bodies and take care of them." I couldn't have been more proud to hear that. I have myself ignored that message many times and now my body is telling me to slow down. I may have to give up one of my classes in the long run if it means that's what my body needs, but I will discover what is a good balance for me as I add my classes back in slowly. I am getting better at not being so impatient; it was a true struggle the first few weeks. Now I am just happy to teach Flow and one Pump.
LESSON: it is great to have the drive, dedication and determination to push yourself hard, to go outside your box of comfort and experience a new level of fitness. What is difficult about this is learning to read the signs your body gives you and to plan in scheduled rest periods. This includes stretching EXTRA and taking care of your body on the off days, getting regular massages and knowing when to say enough is enough. Because in the long run, it will only help you go further than you ever dreamed.
