As Spring is often a time of new beginnings, I’m wondering if you’d like to explore something with me.
At least I think Spring is on the way. If I keep focused on this thought, perhaps it will soon be true. As I look outside my window today we still have heaps and heaps of snow all around.
On Thursday March 10th at 1:00pm ET I’m offering a FREE webinar all about getting curious about this thing called pain.
The experience of pain. What it is. Why it seems so confusing, frustrating. Why it can be so hard to change.
It’s not going to be about giving you all the answers. Rather just to plant some seeds. Maybe sprinkle in a few questions, some of the ways it is different for each of us. What you might consider, in terms of your own unique experience of pain.
I’ve scheduled an hour for the zoom call, but it may not go that long depending on any discussion or questions you may have. If you can’t attend, you will still be able to access the recording the following day.
I’ve also learned it seems we may have been ‘wrong about stretching‘ insofar as we’re not really stretching or lengthening muscles. At least not as much as we once believed. Rather, we’re changing our response to a stimulus via the nervous system.
Our brain is naturally going to respond in a protective manner to anything it perceives as dangerous. If we are trying to re-train flexibility or just movement in the body and do so with strong, forceful pressure or stimulus … the brain/body will react by saying … stop! No! Don’t go there. It will send a (pain) signal to safeguard our movement.
However, if we move in small incremental ways within a safe and pain-free range of motion, the nervous system will react by saying … this feels okay. Safe. I’m happy to explore this.
This is a somewhat simplified way to explain all that’s going on, but it’s a starting point we can work from. We can even begin by just imagining movement and still create changes in the brain and our nervous system. So we can, really, start anywhere.
By learning to pay attention, moving in a way that allows your nervous system to adapt and create new patterns while it feels safe, you will make progress.
Why is it you sometimes need to visit a doctor, chiro, physical therapist, massage therapist, etc. time and time again for the same problem? They adjust you, work with you in a manner that seems to provide relief but within a few weeks or months, you’re back in their office again. I have been to them all and credit is due in helping with immediate pain or to fix something.
Sometimes it works long term.
Sometimes, only temporarily.
I want to speak to the temporary fix.
Until you figure out what’s creating the problem, it will likely return.
For example, if you are overweight you understand that eating too much, moving too little or a combination of both is likely creating the problem. You can go on different types of diets, you might do a fast, you might work out for the first two months in the New Year but if you don’t change those first two factors, over the long term your body’s weight remains the same.
You’re experiencing pain. Not able to move well. Feeling restricted perhaps in what you’re trying to do or you may be the type to just power through, get an ‘adjustment’, chow down on ibuprofen for months on end … but until you learn what’s creatingthe problem you won’t find long-term change or well-being.
If you suffer from an addiction, you may quit ‘the addiction’ but it will probably show up again and again unless you figure out what lies beneath.
The weight, the pain, the addiction … and so it goes …
The problem is(and we all know this) if you keep doing the same thing you end up with the same result.
However, if you can first, pay attention you will actually learn to sense, see and feel signals your body provides that can guide you to what’s below your current level of awareness or understanding. Those signals are signposts that can lead to healing and wellness.
It’s not easy to do but with practice, information and support, we can most often, figure it out.
If you’re someone who’s looking to create better health and wellbeing for yourself or others, you’re in the right place. I provide information, resources and tools that are simple and doable by anyone, anywhere and at any stage in life.
Why yoga?
Yoga is unique as it helps to focus your attention. You learn to notice, sense and see what might benefit you in terms moving towards long-term health and healing.
Look at a baby or a young child for a few moments and you’ll notice they make all kinds of movements, in all kinds of ways. I watched a video yesterday and thought back to the crazy, wild, wonderful things we did as kids with no thought or consideration about how to move our bodies.
Look at old or aging people and what do you notice? …
Why is it you sometimes need to visit a doctor, chiro, physical therapist, massage therapist, etc. time and time again for the same problem? They adjust you, work with you in a manner that seems to provide relief but within a few weeks or months, you’re back in their office again. I have been to them all and credit is due in helping with immediate pain or to fix something.
The most fascinating thing I’ve learned about the human body is we are adaptable. I think my brother, the evolutionary biologist, would be happy to hear me say that.
One of the most important changes in the last 14 years or so is the emerging field of neuroplasticity.
Years ago, when our kids were little, I recall speaking with my cousin who has a degree in psychology. We spoke about the development of children and she told me how important it was to interact with them, stimulate them, provide them with challenges. The reason being, that “scientists once thought that the brain stopped developing after the first few years of life. ….
What I also continue to learn is we really can’t be absolutely sure, about any of this. But, stay with me …
As soon as I discover something to share or write about on a blog post, it may soon be out of date. Though research leads us in the most reliable way we know at any one time, it’s only as good as the next study that proves it is slightly different than we first thought (see neuroplasticity).
There is constant change in what we thought we knew, what we’re now learning and what’s yet to come.
I’ve also learned it seems we may have been ‘
However, if you can first, pay attention you will actually learn to sense, see and feel signals your body provides that can guide you to what’s below your current level of awareness or understanding. Those signals are signposts that can lead to healing and wellness.
