(Guest blogger Cindy Willems shares her valuable advice regarding movement post injury.)
I have been a mover all of my life, enjoying 20 years as a professional dancer and now training in Kung Fu martial arts and I have experienced multiple injuries over many years.
Seeking help from health practitioners
to address my injuries as quickly as possible was the first very important step…but it took some time to understand the importance of moving after the injury was healed.
After the treatments are done
, the muscle tissues relaxed and the bones realigned, we have to get our brain and body back to working well together, without the possibility of feeling the pain or discomfort again. The part of our nervous system that once experienced pain has to learn how to move again with freedom and ease.
There is a conversation that has to happen for a while between our conscious mind and our subconscious mind (the one that’s afraid that the pain “might” happen again). Reintroducing simple exercises with a positive mindset is key. Don’t prepare for the pain that may never come, just begin to move.
Cindy Willems is a 3rd generation Pilates instructor with over 30 years of movement coaching. She is the owner of Pilates with Cindy, where she also works as a holistic nutritionist and acupuncturist. Catch her on her social media’s for fun recipes, wellness tips and exercise ideas.
If you can work with a trainer, pilates/yoga teacher or movement coach to introduce exercises to strengthen your movement that will be helpful, but even more important is what you can do throughout your day to help.
Helpful Strategies
Seek the help from a practitioner
Don’t prepare for the pain, this creates more tension in the body
Keep active. Commit to strengthening your body so you can do the things you love
Deep breaths can help keep the muscles relaxed and the mind soft
be aware of maintaining good posture throughout the day
Listen to your body when exercising. Adjust or stop your activity if you’re feeling discomfort or pain.
Be patient and keep a positive mindset. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to get back to being healthy and strong again.
Cindy Willems is a 3rd generation Pilates instructor with over 30 years of movement coaching. She is the owner of Pilates with Cindy, where she also works as a holistic nutritionist and acupuncturist. Catch her on her social media’s for fun recipes, wellness tips and exercise ideas.
Find Cindy at…
www.pilateswithcindy.ca
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/pilateswithcindy/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/PilatesWithCind