My response to injury is instant frustration and the muttering of expletives because, more often than not, I believe I could’ve prevented it. The overuse injuries, that is. Not the sudden, acute injuries like when I was an aerial artist and someone flew into the back of my head giving me a concussion. But the times when I’d “go hard” and neglect regular body maintenance.
Back in the day, I’d return to stage before healing 100%. For example, I’d secure my sprained ankles with tape; and then run, jump and stomp onstage, numbed by adrenaline and endorphins. Post-show, I’d continue to numb my ankles with ice and red wine. Ice was a dressing room staple in the highly physical Off-Broadway shows I performed in. After running on walls, bungee jumping and spinning above audiences with total abandon, you’d find a bunch of naked ladies in the dressing room covered in ice packs. Sipping wine.
My injuries are different now. I haven’t sprained an ankle, torn a labrum or had a concussion in over a decade. But these new aches and pains feel more frustrating because they’re mostly degenerative injuries – like the arthritis in my left great toe which creates imbalances all the way up into my neck and shoulder girdle. At least I was having a blast while getting performing injuries. Now, simply wearing the wrong pair of shoes or walking for long distances sends a chain reaction throughout my entire body. But hindsight has taught me not to brush off pain. I don’t hold my joints together with tape anymore. I hold them together with Pilates. Thank god for Pilates! When it comes to managing the pain and imbalances caused by my bum big toe and a lifetime of never letting my body fully heal, it is the key to my mobility. Plus, after a 2yr hiatus (thanks Covid) I’ve finally returned to getting manual MFR treatments too. The combination is body bliss!
S.I.T. With Yourself in April
This month’s #soakedinthought journaling prompts are dedicated to body confidence and fitness as a lifestyle. As we move into Spring and the fitness industry ramps up its messaging about getting “in shape” for Summer, I hope you’ll sit with yourself to figure out what your body, mind, and spirit need to feel healthy, fit, and happy – without all the external voices.
