Stopping Chronic Pain with Egoscue

Egoscue Trial – Day 1:

I did the Egoscue exercises Tim Ferriss recommended in his book The Four Hour Body as well as one specific to an my ankle injury I have had for eight months called Foot and Ankle Pain Exercises by  on YouTube.

Results:

Wonderful! They did tire me out a bit but I am out of shape. It felt great though. I feel stronger and more energetic and limber. I also got a mood boost: confidence and achievement.

Can’t wait to do them again today. Looking forward to learning more exercises too.

Reversing Injuries – The Methods

I am on the path to reversing injuries – both permanent and current. A topic I have been long been interested in. Recently I began reading about the work Tim Ferriss has done to rid himself of his past injuries – this has taken my interest to the next level. I have had an ankle injury since March 2012. It is now November 2012. That is too long. It affects way too much of my life to let it slide (well, any further. How have I let it go this long?!)

I have tried the following:

RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) – Although not for a very long period of time and not consistently. I did not see enough improvement to inspire carrying on with this method. Also, I am to impatient. And, I have stuff to do. like get my kid to school and play with him and run after him on his bike. Then there is the housework. (If only I could eliminate that one… perhaps I will. To be continued…)

Yoga – I think I may have furthered my injury because I really want to keep up with the class. I know I am supposed to be present with MY body and stay with my “edge”. Yoga is an incredible tool. I abuse it. So, after trying 2 classes I decided to stick with a home practice so that I can go at my own pace more easily. The only problem is that I don’t do it consistently. Far from it.

Positive Thinking / The Law of Attraction- I even watched The Secret. I loved that movie …except for some of the strong personalities that made me cringe a little and these weird dramatizations that seemed out of place. I looked passed that though and it was well worth it. I highly recommended. Or maybe the book version would be easier to take.

Everything is possible, nothing is impossible. There are no limits. Whatever you can dream of can be yours.

Some of it can come off as cheesy or unbelievable but I chose to look past what doesn’t appeal because there are many treasures to be found. Just take this inspiration from Bruce Lee:

Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own.

• Acupuncuture - I went to see an acupuncturist across the street from my apartment before I moved from Oakland to Palo Alto and he did this amazing almost torturous massage (in a hurts-so-good sort of way) then he used needles. I felt impressively improved after that visit but I did not return for the other 6-8 visits that he said he thought I would need because of the out-of-pocket expense of $50 a visit (The initial visit was $60). (They did not take credit cards so I could not use my HSA account funds.) In hindsight, I should have just paid the money. What he did for me was true healing. I am still kicking myself for that. Now he is about a 50 minute drive away. I could go back to see him. But I will try my new MD Doctor who also does acupuncture in San Francisco (also a 50 minute drive) for now. The co-pay is $25.
These have all helped but not nearly enough. So…
What next?
  • Try out my MD Dr in SF for acupuncture
  • Watch and try out some Egoscue exercises/therapies.
  • Read the book sitting on my bookshelf on another posture correcting technique called the Gokhale Method by Esther Gokhale “8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back”. I went to their free workshop. It was wonderful! Between that and the free chapter of her book that I initially got improved my well being and my body awareness.
  • I really want to try ART (Active Release Techniques) - deals with healing connective tissue stuff that is the root of a lot of body issues. Check this out. Amazing stuff.
  • As well as Advanced Muscle-Integration Therapy (AMIT) - deals with healing connective tissue stuff that is the root of a lot of body issues. Check this out. Amazing stuff here too.

Here I go. On my healing quest. I will document it in my blog. So stay tuned to find out more and let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas.

The Cure for the Common Cold & Flu

It seems like there is a never-ending cycle of runny noses at Will’s new school. Its unlike any of the other 3 schools he has attended. The viscous flow of thick snot, a permanent adornment to the same few kids that reaches out to the others in varying degrees. This winter, as soon as Will is done with one cold, he began another. Just before we left for a 3 week adventure in the Philippines, I took Will in for a check up. This last round of colds overlapped each other. Before that he had had at least a few days symptom free. His pediatrician reminds me how these frequent colds will give him an strong adult immune system. And, the fact that I keep catching his colds is all part of the package of childrearing. This made me feel better, intellectually.

So, off we went to the Philippines and Will’s sinuses cleared. (He did have a few “upsets”, but those were travel related.) Then back in The States, with less than half a week back at school, Will landed another round of the runny nose, cough variety of colds. Lucky me, I caught it again as well. (I wonder if this strengthens my immune system too? But already being an adult, I suspect it more informs me that I need to be taking better of myself day-to-day. i.e. stress less, eat better, exercise, etc.)

This time around, being fed up, I am using an herbal arsenal. Alopathic medicine can do nothing for us, but I know that natural medicine can. So I rummaged around my vitamin/medicine cupboard and found a bottle of Zong Gan Ling Chinese Herbs for Flu & Cold. I haven’t used that stuff since before I was pregnant with Will. Now that we are all done with breastfeeding I can safely bring it out again. I began my dosing last night. I am happy to report that I feel improved. I am taking the lowest dose possible because I am at less than half a small bottle.

Description: For Symptomatic Relief of Cold or Flu. Used for symptomatic relief of severe or advanced head cold or flu. With symptoms such as headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, body aches, fever and chills. Clears heat, drains dampness, eliminates cold, releases muscles, relieves pain.

The above formula is for when the cold has definitely taken its hold. There is another version called Dr. Shen’s Yin Chiao Cold Stop that one can take if you are feeling the first twinges of an oncoming cold that could K.O. that sucker before it can sink its nasty claws into you through and through. I know that’s a ballsy claim, but, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Get a load of the description:

Description of “Cold Stop”:  The actual, long sought cure for the common cold, a hundred percent herbal, a hundred percent safe, one of nature”s great gifts to humanity, already in use for hundreds of years, and the Western world is just catching on.

Shazam!
I’ve had it work for me. The only thing you have to do is take it. That’s it. Otherwise, it won’t work. Now, this time around it didn’t work for me because I forgot about it. That’s why I am  using “the red bottle”. Oh, and hey, doubters, you can read reviews on line and see that there are plenty who have had the same success as me.

And, drink plenty of fluids, get some rest, and eat some decent food. That’s important too. Try and fit in a comedy or two and your golden!

~~~
Next on my agenda: What herbals can and will I give to Will?

Human, Feel Good

Diet.
Is it a bad word?
It is if you want it to be. It doesn’t matter what you call the way you eat. Other people’s opinions matter not. How you eat is a choice you make based on desire, needs, etc.

I prefer to concentrate on focusing on what makes me feel good. If I feel good it seems like everything else just falls into place. I know, that’s easily said, but truly, if you just eat the food and do the things that feel good then life IS good. Don’t believe me? Ok, then go ahead, prove me wrong. I dare you.

I know I have spent a lot of time proving this theory wrong. And, as a result, I have spent a lot of time feeling crappy and having low energy. So, I just started surrendering and being (more) honest about the way I feel. I have started saying yes to things I used to think were not for me or were too much trouble or cost too much money. That was all a bunch of horse sh!t. I now feel better. – Yes, there are bad days too. But those bad days are easier to get through and to learn from as I eat better and feel better. And, regarding the monetary matter, I find the return on the money I spend on better food to be lucrative.

When you are ready to, you can try something that works for you.

Just say yes.

Need some support?
I’m here. And in one of my next blog posts I will cover the topic: “Support Systems & Inspirations.”
Lot’s of people are out there just waiting to be a part of your support network. It helps if you don’t worry and you just speak and act from a place of humanity. Because, that’s what you are after all: human.

Its easy to say from my vantage point of all my life experience and in the calm and grounded mood that I am in now. But, feeling like a crazy person at times, I am here as living proof that you can do it.

Get Happy, Mama

Mama, you are not taking care of yourself. I can tell by looking at your hair, your skin, your slumped shoulders.

Mama, go for a walk.

You need to take care of your family instead? Haven’t you heard? People keep saying it (I feel like a broken record here):

If mama ain’t  happy, nobody’s happy.

Get happy.

Stuck in your head? Go for a walk.

Feeling drained? Go for a walk.

Feeling flabby and out of shape? Go for a walk.

Back hurts? Go for a walk.

Don’t know what you need? Go for a walk!

Or do yoga. Just do something and, do it regularly. Start with 10 minutes if that’s all you’ve got. I CHALLENGE  you to not feel a difference.

Stop making excuses. Or, just let those excuses power you out the door. Use them as fuel to go on your walk.

Have to take care of baby? Bring them with you, put them in the stroller and walk at a nice pace.  But, try and get papa or a girlfriend to hang out with Jr. and take some “you” time. Just do what ever it takes to go on ONE walk.

Enjoy!

Ps. Going on a walk will release endorphins into your bloodstream. Know what those do? THEY MAKE MAMA HAPPY!

Mom Flu

Oh dear. I have the flu. I had wondered when this would happen as it would eventually. Being a mom to a little one while being sick challenging. I took it pretty easy most of the day but I think that Will didn’t appreciate that. It seemed to lessen his coping skills with teething and other discomforts (like gas). But I pulled it together and was fun mom by late afternoon and all was well. I love that little boy! He is so wonderful!

Will slept a bit more today I think so I wonder if he will sleep well during the night. Well, I had better hit the hay to help prepare myself and to speed the healing.

Surviving the darker days

I just sent off an email to my group of mom friends in which I shared how I am surviving the darker days. It has been grey and raining here in the bay area.

Here is the exerpt:

Hope you all are well. Don’t let the grey days get you down. Try full spectrum light bulbs, yoga, or other movement, or a shift in thinking. Well, it has been helping me so I thought I’d share. :}

Stay bright!

Yoga Teacher Training

I am in the midst of a search of where and who with to take yoga teacher training. I want to begin as soon as possible with a 200 hour intensive to get things started. That way I will get the credentials in the least amount of time. The clock is ticking. I need a way to generate an income so that I don’t have to get a job that takes me away from baby for 40 hours a week.

With the time crunch there are a few drawbacks. I won’t get to take in the curriculum at a slower rate and take classes in between sessions. I think this is a great way to learn. One can absorb the material with thoughtfulness. What I mean is that there is more time to ponder what has been learned and to integrate it into everyday life and yoga practice. One can also compare and contrast what is learned in yoga classes taken in between training sessions. Then there is the opportunity to assist classes which offers another venue for learning.

The intenisves have bonuses too. Quick. Cheaper. Less time spent on extra stuff.
Regardless I plan to keep learning by taking other courses like Pre & Postnatal Yoga Training, etc.

So I am looking into what is available in the Bay Area. Preferably in Berkeley or somewhere closer to me. I am also looking at what possibilities exist in studying with teacher that have particularly moved and inspired me like Diego del Sol, Dina Amsterdam, Amanda Moran, and Pete Chandonnet.

So, the search goes on. I can’t wait to get training.