I’ve been a group fitness instructor, personal trainer, dancer and athlete for over ten years. I’ve suffered my fair share of injuries. Its never easy to lose mobility or to stop moving. When you love to move, the idea is that you will always be able to. Injury and immobility are frustrating.
Two weeks ago while teaching my indoor cycling class I felt a pop in my left hip. Immediately I knew something bad happened but I had a full room of 40 people so I kept on teaching. I went home and applied ice, laid back and took an Aleve. I stretched, foam rolled, and then kept teaching as normal until about five days later I was in pain just from walking. My body was sending me the signal, “hey you, slow down and pay attention!”
Intuitively I knew that something serious going on. I went to my chiropractor, started PT shortly after and I’m still going for treatment. I’ve had to modify the way I teach my classes for the time being. During training sessions there are some exercises that I can’t demonstrate without pain. My clients have been so supportive. I’m the one who is frustrated, and ready to be back to normal!
Working through injury is what I want to address because at some point ALL OF US will suffer from one, or another health issue that may keep us from doing what we love at the capacity we are used to doing it.
What I have learned over my time in the fitness industry is that we MUST MAKE TIME FOR OURSELVES. Giving back to yourself is the ONLY way you can continue to give to others. For those of us who make a living helping others, balance is key. If you can’t create balance for yourself, the UNIVERSE will create that balance for you. Your body will create balance for you. Injury, illness, fatigue, stress are not things we can avoid forever. If we push and grind ALL the time and create NO SPACE for mental health, relaxation, rest, meditation or inner work (or if we get away from these practices), eventually our body will talk to us.
Pull back and slow down when you encounter an injury. Pushing through pain will never help the healing process. Modification, rest, therapy and patience is where your mindset needs to be. Learn to work WITH your injury rather than fight it. Use the set back to learn about your body, and yourself. Learn to breathe, create space and find new options to train your body back to optimum health. The reality is that nothing is permanent. Injury doesn’t last forever, good health doesn’t either. How you work through the flux makes all the difference. Some injuries are permanent and they require a lot more focus and determination to get through- I’ll be addressing that in a later post. For now, stay positive out there and listen to your body!
Peace,
Dani