Pain Gets Teacher Award

I have been MIA for a few weeks. This 4-letter word starting with a "P" has been in my vocabulary over the past year more than any other time in my life. That story is over! Dealing with lower back spinal issues for years as they waited for their voice to be heard, they finally got so agitated from my neglect. They screamed out, loudly! Seems one agitator started it in one area as I observed it's fiery sparks deciding to travel through my body to other spaces. Like an out-of- control freight train to all my body's tracks.

An intense workout with equipment triggered the worst hip, back and leg pain ever. I call it a "10+". I'm a die hard to push through the discomfort but only worsened the damage with pickleball (yes, i am one of those players that don't give up), intense yoga practices, lack of rest and proper care, and so on. I just hoped it would go away with time. It didn't. I complained about it to doctors and anyone within earshot sometimes. It worsened. Apologies to those kind souls who listened.

What we think, we attract, the Law of Attraction. My husband often repeated an old saying to me that I understand better with time, "if you don't mind, it won't matter." For those that remember, the late comedian Jack Benny said something similar in his shows.

So I decided to take better control of my language, minimize this word's use, replace it instead with more positive thoughts and words, like "healing". Then take better action and open my energy tool kit and seek additional knowledge.

Instead of dwelling and feeding the sensation with negative thoughts, I am more grateful as it urges me to be a better student of this teacher. Listening to what it tells me like a major siren and change courses. It was saying, "knock it off". To get more rest and let my body do what it's designed to do, heal. I pushed through injuring myself more. I always want to live each moment of every day and not want to waste it. But I compromised future days. Time to reset.

The researcher inside me got ignited to fire up and find healing beyond the prescriptions and temporary band aids. To listen to my body and the warnings and practice ancient yoga philosophy, Ahimsa, non-harming. I didn't forget this principle of love, I just hadn't been practicing well. I was creating more harm.

My body needs rest and self-care focus. This explains why I haven't been writing my blogs, playing pickleball, declining invitations, and basically to retreat through the healing process. And why this blog's theme is based on the P word being our teacher.

Listen to what your body's warning signals are saying, stop doing the things that make it louder, release the ego, and let your body and mind repair. Rest mixed with mindful movements, research natural healing methods, seek professional guidance, and listen to your intuition.

Stress triggers more tension and blockages. Calming practices have an immediate effect. Like Lamaze, the method introduced for pre-childbirth since the 50s to promote relaxation and reduce the intense sensations through breath practices, gentle movements, and a focus more towards having a more positive experience.

Food is medicine and there are so many other natural remedies. Anti-inflammatory spices like ginger, turmeric with black pepper. Feed your body good nutrition, clean water and seek natural remedies. Sometimes ice is best to calm inflammation and the agitated nerves, sometimes heat is best to improve circulation to help us heal.

Ancient and modern practices have also been my focus filling my play time with care time. Physical Therapy, acupuncture, massage and rest. The best medicine seems to have been mindfulness, positive distractions to reset and bring peace.

I am a Reiki Practitioner for healing and nature lover and I miss physical activity. So I sit or stand in stillness outside every morning with bare feet to feel the earth, soak up the warmth of the sun's rays on my skin, breathe fresh air, listen to the gentle sounds around me, shift my thoughts to my body's healing ability, and calm my nervous system while activating the Vagus nerve. I allow my hands to clear and harmonize the energy in and around me. These simple energy tools have been major game changers. They are nature's way to help us renew , repair and restore our mind, body and spirit.

So listen to the teacher in you. What does the teacher say you need physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Your sensations and intuition will guide you. Be a good student and your body will repay you in kindness.

On my way to graduation,

Gina

Fusion Owner, Registered Nurse, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, R.N.