let the games begin

After four weeks of rest necessitated by a rib cage full of pain, I'm back and ready for action.

Last week I went to a physical therapist who shared some intelligent opinions, put a heating pad on my rib cage for ten minutes, and showed me how to activate my transversus abdominis, sharing that developing my core strength will be an important component in bouncing back from this injury and that's what we'd focus on together. Agreed.

And... I learned about the transversalis for the first time about six or seven years ago. And... there are a plethora of knowledgeable yoga and Pilates teachers at my fingertips in the community I'm already a part of who know me personally. So if I'm going to pay a $20 copay per PT sesh, I may as well spend that on a yoga class with someone who specializes in asymmetries and structural anomalies. Or on a Pilates session with a woman who's been teaching teachers anatomy for years. Or... massage and acupuncture while I create a core strength program for myself. No offense to the physical therapy office. My peeps just got mad skillz.

So, feeling confident in my body-mind awareness, intuitive listening, general anatomical knowledge, and incredible contact list, I ventured back into the world of sweating tonight. I went to my friend's spin class -- and sweat I did. I put myself in the back row so I could rest when I needed to and substitute movements without disrupting anyone. My legs flew with speed and worked through thick resistance. My forehead and shoulders dripped. My breath flowed. My heart thumped. I smiled uncontrollably at the combination of effects taking over.

And then I got a really gnarly foot cramp.

After that passed, I finished out class, noting that I had no outstanding pain... and actually didn't feel as terribly out of shape as I'd expected.

If I ever needed any proof that exerting oneself physically is at the very least a generally good, useful, and fun idea that contributes to a long, happy, and fulfilling life... I got it tonight. After a month of stagnant, stationary existence, all those familiar feelings and experiences rushed back in to fill up my heart and soul.

alive.full.expressive.powerful.blissed-out.happy.ready.energized.exhausted.clear

In this moment, I am overwhelmingly grateful for this body as a temporary vehicle and the amazing work it's capable of. Game on.

dwi pada koundinyasana in Varkala, India, Feb 2011