Are you ever fearful of experiencing pain associated with movement and exercise? If this sounds like you, continue reading.
In 1974 songstress Carly Simon sang, “I Haven’t Got Time for the Pain.” The lyrics referred to pain in a relationship as she sings: doesn’t have time for the pain, has no room for the pain, no need for the pain. We want to avoid pain at all costs, whether in a relationship that went south or as it relates to our body.
I had my first experience with pain in 1978 during a yoga class I took in a newly created loft space on West Broadway in NYC. I had never practiced yoga before and no idea then (because the Pilates craze hadn’t hit yet) what it meant to brace, tighten my abs, tuck my tummy in or visualize zipping up a tight pair of jeans. I suffered for weeks. I laid in bed for three days and made the decision not to go back. I waited 30 years before I considered returning to a yoga class. When I decided to resume practicing yoga, I knew I had to put a lot of faith in the instructor I chose.
The point is, if you want to avoid pain associated with a recent fall, feeling the 50 plus years creeping up on you, arthritis symptoms are taking hold, other chronic ailments getting in your way, or just haven’t exercised in six months (de-conditioned) or more, do your research and ask questions of a professional trainer. When I get stumped, I continue to explore options. I also attend conferences twice yearly, devour fitness journals, and reach out to other professionals in my field for the answers. I am also fortunate to have other experts, including a physiotherapist and physical therapists, on my team with whom I can discuss these matters.
Here are a few questions people ask me regarding pain and exercising:
1. If I feel stiff in the morning, can I still exercise?
2. If I hurt my back, should I still be able to walk on the treadmill; walk outdoors?
3. If my shoulder is hurting, can I still lift weights? If my knee hurts can I still do squats?
4. I used to have good balance and now, after my fall, I am afraid to try anything. What can I do?
Though your mind may want to jump right in, your body isn’t quite ready. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to do too much too soon. To avoid burning out, you need to prepare your body for exercise again by starting off small. We would be happy to help. Kindly go to the Contact form or call 818-620-1442 to start a program in the comfort of your home, office or our NEW West Hills Studio. Either way, you’ll experience less pain and have fun trying. Look for our blog next month with answers to some of your questions.