Growing Through Discomfort
Because of Discomfort
I am fortunate--I genuinely loved my trade, and providing support for my clients' vessels.
My decision to become a massage therapist was indirectly guided by pain; because of a childhood accident, I became familiar with chronic discomfort at an early age.
Pain skews our perception: my nervous system sought potential dangers; increasing my focus on (and sensitivity to) unpleasant, not preferable experiences.
Our vessels are wired to protect us; but when we develop with our protective modes engaged, we may be more wired to perceive discomfort.
Living in an uncomfortable body, for prolonged periods of time, may result in less than favorable coping mechanisms; which may perpetuate the mind/body discomfort loop.
The discomfort engages protective mode, thus keeping perception focused on seeking out what may potentially be wrong; and finding multiple potential sources of danger/discomfort, reinforces that the protective system needs to stay engaged.
By the time I hit adolescence, my perception was so well-trained in seeking out the unpleasant/uncomfortable (to avoid it) that my view of the world we share was quite unpleasant, and uncomfortable.
My opinion of humanity was unpleasant, and uncomfortable--which assisted in maintaining my protective mode engaged...I was stuck in a pain loop, and suffering.
My coping mechanisms were not the best; I had insomnia and made poor food choices (hello sugar!); exercise induced asthma that encouraged me to be sedentary, also triggered by outdoor allergens, so I stayed indoors. Exercise and sunshine go a long way toward improving how we feel.
I did not take care of myself; I didn't want to take care of myself--I felt like I had a body that was already broken, lacking--and I hated it. Why take care of it?
Going to massage school was life-changing.
Adding Biomechanics Specialist, enhanced what I learned then; and I will provide even more effective support when I complete the Functional Movement Specialist certification.
Learning about anatomy, physiology, and how my nervous system interacts with my environment (and perception of my environment), was the beginning of my self-care journey.
My familiarity with pain was part of my decision to go to massage school--I felt that, if I could use my personal experience with discomfort to help others, maybe it made the pain more "worthwhile." It gave the pain a purpose.
Learning about how my perspective affected my nervous system, I started consciously working on shifting my attitude.
I stumbled unto the flow arts a couple of years later, which advanced the self-care journey--providing novel movement that was engaging, fun, and mobilized my body--raising my body awareness and teaching me how to more effectively move through space (with a little help from my friends).
It took a few years to get it down to a regular practice, though. Once again, pain was the stimulus: I hurt my shoulder, and it progressively worsened.
A small diameter hoop paired with gentle, mindful movement, was instrumental in my recovery--and advanced my self-care path yet again: Hoopment became my "self-care anywhere" movement.
Hoopment not only relieves my body discomfort; it doesn't inflame body discomfort, the way other types of exercise can.
Explaining Hoopment in a practical, progressive way, established the seven levels of movement that are the foundations of all the EIM I share.
My body feels better now, than it did 25 years ago.
Self-care is vital. If I don't move I hurt; if it's not intuitive self-care, then it won't have sticking power.
If I keep moving, I CAN move. I must keep moving.
Every body is different; we all have different needs.
For many years, I was frustrated by what I perceived as the "limitations" of my body; now I recognize them as the boundaries that guided me to figure out what works for me.
I'm happy and grateful to share what I have learned so far, along the way, as we support each other through our EFF Fitness Up partnerships.