Listening to your body can be something as simple as going to bed when you are tired, stop eating before you are overstuffed, or releasing a yoga posture when you’ve gone beyond your edge.  It can also involve more serious things, like preventing your stress levels from exploding into chest pain by saying no, averting an acute pain situation or chronic disease by knowing when to slow down, and respond to pain or discomfort in your body.  

For me, the essence of yoga is about listening to your body, mind and emotions and honouring where they are at, because this changes from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute.  This listening may involve noticing how your body feels in a particular pose-are your muscles tight, are you feeling a sense of release?  How is your breath-do you notice times when you are holding it or breathing faster than you should?  How are your emotions-what’s coming up for you; sadness, anger, impatience, or boredom?  

I learn so much about myself while on my yoga mat.  Through stillness, movement and breath, I have increased awareness of where I’m holding muscle tension and how my nervous system is doing.  This mindfulness helps me move through negative emotions, practice self-compassion and often find sweetness underneath the negativity.  

Our body and emotions are always communicating, and sometimes it’s very subtle, and unfortunately, we often ignore it.  This has happened to me twice in the last year, and honestly, I should have known better.  In the spring, during the first lockdown - (what # are we at now?) I continued with my weight workout because my gym was closed.  I used light weights and after a few weeks felt they were too light and increased the amount.  I started to notice an occasional throbbing pain in my left triceps.  I ignored this and continued to ignore it, not making the connection that the heavier weights were taxing my muscles.  One night I was awoken by the most excruciating pain, exactly where I felt the original throbbing pain, and it was radiating up to my neck and down to my wrist.   Luckily, I was able to see my physiotherapist and chiropractor for treatment, and they felt the pain was connected to an aggravated radial nerve.  My doctor prescribed me an anti-inflammatory, and I felt better after the first treatment; however, it took several months until I fully recovered. 

You think this would have been a massive wake up call for me to pay attention to subtle changes in my body-the whispers.  Nope.  Since the recent lockdown, state of emergency, whatever we’re at these days, I committed to going for a long walk or hike every single day because my spirit needed this connection to nature.  After a few longer hikes of 2-3 hours through a local conservation area, I noticed a pain in my right glute.  It wasn’t severe pain and didn’t last long, so it was easy to brush off.  However, it did happen at least 4-5 times, and I completely ignored it, and just over a week ago, I paid for this BIG TIME!!!!   

After an active day on January 15th, I noticed a pain in my right hip flexor, went to bed, but didn’t stay long because the pain became too intense.  By Saturday afternoon the pain had increased with a vengeance, and I didn’t sleep on Saturday night and woke my husband up at 3 am on Sunday informing him that he had to take me to emergency because I was in that much pain.  At the ER they ruled out a few things and thought that diagnosis was piriformis syndrome-irritation of the piriformis muscle.  They suggested rest, anti-inflammatories, extra-strength Tylenol and physiotherapy to get back on track.  The pain wasn’t being managed, and on Tuesday morning, I had to go to the ER once again because the pain became so severe that I couldn’t walk.  This time they focused on pain management and gave me morphine via IV and a script.  The pain subsided, and I was able to walk and go home.  

By this time, I hadn’t slept for 4 nights and saw my physiotherapist for the first time.  He performed a full assessment and didn’t think I had piriformis syndrome and felt that my joint and muscles were functioning well.  He thought that I might have overdone it with my hikes and aggravated some muscles and nerves.  

I continued with the pain management meds and physiotherapy, and last Saturday afternoon, I noticed that the pain had left entirely.  I haven’t had any pain since and still have no idea what caused it, but have some ideas.  I believe that my enthusiastic hikes irritated the muscles and nerves in my right hip, and I had plenty of warning that something was up.  

I’m so grateful to be pain-free and have the most profound compassion and empathy for anyone dealing with chronic pain.   I honestly don’t know how anyone deals with it. 

I don’t want to go through something like this again, and I’ve learned my lesson about the importance of listening to my body, not just on my yoga mat, but always.  

Our body, breath and emotions are always communicating to us and sending us messages.  They usually start as little whispers, and if you don’t pay attention, your body will yell at you loud and clear and force you to listen. 

Off the yoga mat, it’s essential to take time throughout your day to slow down, be still and tune in.  How does your body feel?  Do an emotional check-in.  Honour your body, and give it the attention and nurturing that it deserves.  Trust your body,  its’ wisdom and healing abilities.  

Be well.

Anita