Yoga and Healing

Living with constant pain can be mentally disabling.  For the last 2 months I have been suffering through a mysterious knee injury (and not gracefully I might add).  I say mysterious because I have not real idea of how the injury was caused.  After countless sessions with my chiropractor I finally went to a physiotherapist who diagnosed compressed nerves in lower spine which then manifested itself in extremely tight muscles all along my hip and leg which then seized up my knee area.  After just one IMS (needling) treatment I had some relief; 2 more sessions and some heavy massage on the leg has almost taken the knee pain away.  I have a tightness in my calf at the moment but otherwise feel pretty darn good.

I’m sure no one really is interested in my injury but the fact remains that while I was suffering such excruciating pain I was unable to think straight.  Consequently I was unable to put my chaotic thoughts down “on paper”.  My point being that good health is not to be sniffed at.  Whether one is in physical pain, mental anguish or simply feeling sluggish good health suddenly becomes the be all and end all of the day.  We are approaching the time of year when Resolutions are looming for many of us.  Let me point out that making a resolution for good health, exercise, proper eating and mental stimulation should become the norm of your life, not a resolution to maybe succeed in.  I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I believe that yoga is probably the best exercise anyone can do for themselves forever.  Being flexible is vital to anything else one may wish to do.  In moderation and as soon as you can possibly start, I say go for it.

I truly believe that yoga is the exercise that has helped me get fitter in other areas.  When I practice I feel more tranquil in my mind, I crave more water and less garbage in my diet, and my body feels almost as though it is singing in bliss.  After my yoga practice I can step on the treadmill feeling loose and ready for something a little more vigorous.  Or I can sit down with a cup of green tea and write a Haiku with serenity.

The nice thing about yoga is that it costs nothing to practice, except time and mental attitude.

Good health should never be taken for granted, and it’s particularly important as we approach our Act 3 (Jane Fonda’s word for senior years).  Stay healthy my friends, seek it, heal yourself, and be safe!