Hello!
I are all well and finding your way through the fall. I had high hopes September would bring a sense on routine and normalacy to what has been a very disruptive year. But, alas, it just brought more things to do.
I used to think I likes rules and routine. That they gave me a sense of control. But I no longer try to control the universe, so while routine is ok, I actually miss the ease of summer. No lunches to make, no kids to wake up. Flip flops…
I’m going with the flow. It’s all ok.
After struggling with my back for a while, and doing much less to accomodate, I went to see an osteopath. Osteopaths look at the internal organs and their alignment and make subtle shifts to get things back to where they should be.
Oh my god! It has been amazing. My left leg is tingly and stronger. My back is straighter. My entire body seems to be coming to life.
I’m still treating my back kindly. Pain is an excellent teacher and I see that more focused and controlled movements in yoga actually help me get into the meditative state I so love. Relying on the strength of my legs and shoulders instead of my lower back.
Every time I write about these alternate treatments I get a jolt of realization that this is growth. I am much more open minded than I used to be. Over the past 3 years I have found yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, energy work, reiki, osteopathy. All have been interesting. And generally helpful.
Letting go of past biases. Trying new things. Embracing opportunities. Like teaching yoga or writing my book…it’s something to try. I don’t have time to be bored, although I do make a significant effort to find time to be still and quiet every day.
Life is beautiful. (Oh, and I went to see Sixx:am and that song was awesome)! Keep moving forward!
Stillness and peace
Anne
ainsobriety 
As a nurse with chronic back issues I am a BIG fan of osteopathy and it is my emergency aid if my back goes (again!) 🙂 xx
I don’t think I had even heard of it until this year…I have 2 c section scars and one treatment has release a lot of tension pain from them. Pain that has been there 11 years.
Anne – very interested to hear how you treat your back issues. I, as a gardener, get a sore back and shoulders and this weeks aches and pains have made me notice and realise I need to treat (not ignore)
🙂
xx
love this.
I too am aware of and love how open minded i have become….it’s hard to believe i was so closed, but i was. Now anything is possible, and i love that feeling…so much easier to allow for mystery than to fight it.
xoxo
It’s funny. I also didn’t think of myself as close minded, but I was.
And I was judgemental….
I like to think I am the opposite now. I know when something bothers me when that comes out!
I, too, am trying to be more open to new things. I tend to be judgmental and poo-poo unconventional treatments and therapies. But I’m slowly becoming more accepting. Pain is a great teacher — how true!
I am so glad that your back is feeling better! It sounds like you are incredibly busy, but also attentive to what keeps you balanced, which seems like the best of both worlds. Your description of the adjustments to your back make me think of the little adjustments we sometimes need to make in life to accomodate our shifting needs. Just this morning, I went to see the occupational therapist for my shoulder, and she did a manipulation to release my rhomboid muscle and rotator cuff. It was great! She gave me several stretches to do on my own, and we reviewed the different yoga positions that are most helpful. It was great! I’m still not back to swimming yet, but I hope to be soon.
Going with the flow… that sounds really amazing. That is going to be my goal for the rest of this week. Maybe just tomorrow. Maybe I will start with tonight. Thank you so much for this post!
Glad you are on the mend!!
Love your post, Anne, and what people have said above. So much positivity! I love it.*
So true about pain being a great teacher!
I never thought of it that way, but it’s an awesome way to think of it!
I am much more open to new ways of healing.
Maybe because I can see the mind, body, spirit connection now that I am older.
xo
Wendy
It has already been a huge lesson for me with teaching yoga. I now understand just how touchy a bad back can be. I am aware of the real modifications needed. And I can truly empathize with wanting to do more and physically being unable.
Being “judgemental” is not essentially bad and especially in your case as you are opening up to awareness. Many times we are just reacting from societal norms we have picked up on or non evidence based opinions we have never before questioned. The key moment is when you realise at there is a different way of looking at things. I have been undergoing the same process and have caught myself agreeing with a position someone takes and then thinking ‘oh, is that really what I think? WHY do I think like that? Is there a flip side to this?’ It has been huge for me and transformative which I think you are finding too. I am happy for you that you seem to be getting some physical relief from the Osteopathy. I was trained in Anatomy by an Osteopath and I loved his openness and questioning manner. This was a lovely post to read.
You are trudging the road to happy destiny!
Also… every time you write about this, you are teaching the neophytes to this world (aka ME) something valuable. So thank you for this, and so glad your back is on the mend!
Thank you for a strong and peaceful reminder of the many benefits of being open and honest! So glad you are finding ways to manage you pain. ❤