Yoga

I have been practicing yoga on and off for the last twenty years.  I can't say that I practice any particular branch specifically as my interests and curiosities change over time, encouraging me to try new forms.  I typically start with several Sun Salutations (3 half, 3 Sun A's, and 3 Sun B's) but after that things just tend to free flow.  After I complete the Salutations I do a series of standing postures, flowing into seated and floor postures.  I almost always incorporate inversions except on those days when it is contraindicated to do so.  Most importantly I never miss out on Savasana, that is the gold nugget for me. 

The past year and half have presented me with quite the challenge.  Over a year ago I found that I had a bone tumor in one of the bones in my big toe on my right foot.  Thankfully it was benign and just needed to be removed.  However the recovery time was long and brought my usual active lifestyle to a screeching halt, at least for my foot.  I started to get back to my routines again about six months ago but then I started to feel new discomfort in the same area.  I was so afraid the tumor had returned.  Again I was blessed as it was not a tumor at all.  With the first investigation with an orthopedic foot doctor, we thought sesamoiditis. Something very common with athletes, particularly runners.  It's a bummer to say the least but many recover with some modifications to footwear (supports or just the opposite...minimalistic footwear)  and to their activity.  However this can be more serious if the sesamoid bone is actually fractured and not just inflamed.  My pain wasn't going away despite my efforts so we had an MRI done.  The news wasn't as encouraging this time.  My sesamoid appeared to be broken.  This is a whole other issue.  Treatment is "imperfect" I was told, and recovery was very long with the outcome not all that great.  I was heartbroken.  I treat my physical activity as a prescription.  I lived many years without steady activity, my moods and well-being were never consistent until I committed myself to my own version of fitness.  I was happy with my efforts, though there are many days each week where I am a bit resentful of my trips to the gym, feeling sweaty, and organizing my time to always include exercise.  However I am ALWAYS glad when I do drag my butt to the gym or outside or onto my yoga mat.  The resentment always fades to appreciation.  I was almost in a panic over not being able to move as I was used too.  This anxiety called for my yoga mat and my opening myself up to the yogic education I have been exposed to over the years.  I needed to stay present, let be what will be, and be open to alternatives that would present themselves.  As so many of us yoga practitioners have heard..."just breathe, that is all there is in this moment".  It was and will always continue to be such a rewarding (and challenging!) practice.

To make a long story short, my brilliant doctor decided to look again at the MRI.  She found that my bone while in two pieces, was not broken.  She told me that she was certain that I had actually been born this way.  Not common but it happens.  Sometimes these bones don't fuse as they should.  I proposed that the surgery had put a temporary end to may activity causing my foot muscles to begin to atrophy.  And that perhaps with the weakening of the muscles and ligaments, that the sesamoid(s) were now being aggravated now that I was substantially increasing my activity level.  She thought that sounded reasonable.  Going against the recommendation of the podiatrist which was to stay off my foot, we started to use it more only in a very controlled manner.  The bones would never fuse but I can say that I am back to running 5 miles most days and doing yoga regularly as well...with almost no discomfort at all.  This was such a lesson in patience, self discipline, and trust.  I don't believe in the no pain no gain approach.  Pain is there to deliver a message to our brains, it is an alarm worth noting.  It doesn't mean that I don't work hard because I do but I work smart.  Now that I am 41 I have learned to respect my body and it's well being, even when I am feeling impatient.   When I feel the slightest bit of discomfort I use ice and an old fashioned remedy* to bring any inflammation down.  The pain vanishes and I can resume my activities.

 I have to attribute my yoga studies to this self awareness.  It all comes back to the moment when all  we are doing is observing. So with that I need to add more balance postures to my yoga.  I tend to enjoy arm balances quite a bit but my observation is telling me (quite loudly lol) that I need to work on these types of postures upright.  Warrior III anyone?

*Here is what I do: I take a flannel cloth soaked in castor oil and place it on the inflamed area.  Then I wrap the entire piece of flannel in plastic wrap or a damp tea towel.  I then place a heating pad or hot water bottle over the wrap for 15 or 20 minutes.  This is in no way meant to be shared as medical advice.  It's something my grandmother had done for chronic hip pain and from what I have read it is also used in Asian cultures for the same type of ailments.  Always check with your doctor and your gut intuition first!