Pain Takes Up Space and is Very Bossy
You may not know this about me but, when I was twenty-one, I broke my back in a car accident. I had a can-do attitude and when they told me I would have trouble walking my go-to was "Watch Me!" and I pushed through it and got back to walking! I had a great doc that left out the hardware and decided I was young and we would just see how my body and back would heal on their own.
The world is so often focused on strengthening. Be strong! Work it! We've even made our push past it mentality into fun and glamour...WORK IT! Way to Push Through!! High fiving each other on our way out of the gym. (Remember the gym...hmmm)
Anyway, when your shoulder is tight or your back hurts the most common treatment before surgery and the like, is to strengthen it. Yes, oh so important, but you can't strengthen,(for you data peeps...ie: push against resistance from a lengthened position and contract), if it's tight, dense, and bracing. You can't tighten something that won't even open in the first place. I don't know about you, but I was getting tired. I was also losing faith in my superhero, do whatever I want body. It still hurt AND my pain was getting worse!
Here's the next phase I call getting my first massage. I had a friend going through massage school and she wanted to practice her new therapy skills on my janky back. Needless to say, the massage was life-changing and I was left with the thought..."I'm just gonna eat Ramen noodles and get bodywork all the time!"
And my back...not so loud. The pain had softened. I began to get bodywork as often as I could. Soon after, the stars aligned and I found what I wanted to do...go to massage therapy school! Why does my back hurt one day and not the next? This new therapist was on a mission!
So life rolls along and I'm working at a pain management clinic, doing all of the manual therapy in their PT clinic. I'm learning so much about how the body heals, and yet I am still in pain. I was working a very physical job and I was kind of small and had this back thing, thinking maybe I should go back to school and do something else.
This is where I was at and the part that I call get a new career or figure it out.
How fun is it that I learned about myofascial release classes at this stage? The stars aligned and I hopped on a plane and went to my first myofascial release seminar. (Life-changing chimes in the background)
This is the place from where I started. I was in pain and beginning to accept that being in constant pain was just how it is. Maybe you are in a similar place? Scratching off things on your love-to-do list.
There is Another Way!
Discovering myofascial release and the art of working with the fascia is life-changing for me and many others out there and it can be for you too!
Not sure where to start?
How about Starting with the Stretch of the Week?
Just like those tulip bulbs, you planted back in the fall, you are setting yourself up for a lovely Spring! Reclaim your Body:-)
Fascia is the Way!
Melissa
P.S. Want more Myofascial Stretching? Join me on Saturday for class...LIVE or get the Replay.
Sign Up Here!
MYOFASCIAL STRETCHING Saturday at 1PM Central
ZOOM + 3 Day Replay!
Decrease pain and tightness and get back to doing what you love! (and be ready for all that you love about Spring!) Join me LIVE for 90 Minutes of Myofascial Stretching this Saturday at 1pm Central or Catch the Replay!
