I’m in constant chronic pain. How much pain is ok?
Often, we become so accustomed to our chronic pain that we stop listening to it, however, it is important to really learn to pay attention to it as it will help guide you. When you experience unfamiliar or recurring pain that you do not understand, it is important to stop, rest and seek external help; either with supportive care such as massage, osteopathy, acupuncture etc, or see your family doctor.
Has anyone ever experienced aching in their arms? Just curious if it could be fusion-related?
I read questions all the time asking whether or not a physical issue is fusion-related. For example, folks often ask questions about whether fusion causes issues like indigestion and acid reflux; a sore neck and tight shoulders; headaches, tight jaws, tender joints, etc—not to mention emotional issues, particularly anxiety and depression!
Have any of you tried an Inversion table? Does it help relieve fusion pain?
Inversion tables can work, but I much prefer to do inversions with a yoga wall as it takes up less space and offers much more variation than a table.
Read More“It takes 21 days to make or break a habit.”
REALLY? I’ve heard this phrase used many times in my life. Amusing that it comes from a 1960s self-help book by a cosmetic surgeon! Quite a few years have passed since then and more research shows that at the minimum, 21 days in a row of ‘something’ allows for the creation of new neural pathways. These are composed of neurons, connected by dendrites, which are created in the brain based on habits and behaviors. As we participate in new activities, our brains are being trained to create new pathways (habits) which start to be developed in 21 days. The longer you continually practice, the more neural pathways. Thank you, Doctor Google!!
Read MoreGenerally speaking, the medical field offers three options for the scoliotic spine: observation, bracing and surgery. This would be dependent on the nature and depth of the curves. Although exercise is also suggested by some medical professionals, it feels like a broad stroke piece of advice given to many, scoliosis or not.
Read MoreBecoming a Yoga for Scoliosis teacher
One of the hardest things about scoliosis is that it is difficult to know what to do to make it better. People ask me questions like these all the time:
How do you cure scoliosis?
How can I make my back straight again?
How can I stop the curve from getting worse?
What can I do to get rid of the pain?
Though extremely understandable questions to ask, they are very difficult questions to answer, because every person and every curve is different. There is one thing that is for sure though: it is NOT possible to CURE a structural scoliosis.
A 200-hour Yoga teacher training adventure of discovery on Salt Spring Island, BC.
Through attending Yoga For Scoliosis with Elise Browning Miller, I came to clearly understand that Yoga could really help me, but it also opened me up to the realization that I didn't know anything about Yoga — in the wider sense. When I first started studying Yoga, I was completely distracted by my own body fears and discomforts.
Read MoreWhat happens in a Yoga for Scoliosis class
When I discovered Elise Browning Miller and her method, Yoga for Scoliosis, I finally felt confident to explore Yoga further. First of all, Elise had scoliosis! So, unlike other Yoga teachers I had worked with, her teaching provided insights that could only come from having personal experience with this condition.
Exploring Different Healing Modalities: Alexander technique and Taoist meditation
Ever since my rod removal 21 years ago, I have spent a LOT of time exploring different options for supportive care.
I never expected to go down this road, but exploring the myriad supportive care options out there has become an ongoing educational journey that I continue to find not only self-empowering, but endlessly fascinating.
Read MoreMy journey - and discoveries - in Supportive Care
The results of my intense massage routine and gym training slowly gave me confidence to try new things in the search for more mobility and pain relief. I thought that by having my Harrington rods removed, everything would be better, immediately. But, as it turned out, I encountered a whole new set of challenges...
Read MoreHarrington rods removed - the healing journey begins
As I mentioned in Part 3 of this serial blog post, after the removal of my Harrington rods, I was eager to experience movement in a new way—without the restriction of metal implants. But because I still felt stiff and had muscle spasms, I decided to work with a massage therapist, Dawn, to help break up the scar tissue that had built up over the years.
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