IrishOboe

I want to cry.  I want to sing.  I want to dance.  I want to hold on.  I want to fly.  I’m in my room with computer stuff everywhere trying to get organized before I leave.  Praise God that little by little most stuff has gotten done and I’m not panicking.  After crying to some Les Miserables (I’m good enough at piano now to accompany myself now) I danced to some Irish music, which never fails to lift the spirits.  Mom and Dad are off at a symphony concert and I’m supposed to be finished backing when they get back – ha!  I’m close, I think (it’s not the packing, but the leaving everything behind in order and knowing what I need to take).  The inspiration for this post is a back walkover.

Yes, I just did a backwalkover after many years of not even being comfortable in a bridge.  What changed?  Well, it’s at least one blessing that’s come from my troubles with my arms this summer.  I’m not getting paid by Pete Egoscue to say it’s all because of him!  His exercises are simple, and for the most part they are also easy.  It’s much easier than Yoga which I used to love but I let myself get too busy for it.  I’ve been feeling difference upon difference in my posture, energy, strength, and pain level.  I’ve already noted some, but a few recent developments is having an easier, more natural stride with greater strength in my running, and releasing the tension in my wrist so that I can bear weight on it (as in doing a push up) – I haven’t been able to do that since Freshman year of high school!  Yes, I still get into trouble when I use the computer for too long without thinking, but I’m getting there.  Another problem I’ve had at least since college is great tension in my calves and shins.  In college I got massages for my back and arm problems and they’d often do my legs as well, which didn’t hurt until they massaged them then it was all a fire of pain!  I didn’t get it but the Egoscue exercises have been strengthening and loosening those muscles as well and now I can fell more open and relaxed just walking around during my day.  Amazing.

It’s not rocket science.  Basically Egoscue says that the human body was designed for movement.  When we don’t move, things fall apart.  We hardly move at all in our environment today so we’re all becoming dysfunctional.  I’m feeling it at 25, but after five weeks of doing the Egoscue exercises I’m feeling better than I have since middle school.

But how did I get to a back walkover?  While I was dancing around the house, which I used to do a lot but that sort of thing isn’t well received in a college dorm, nor do I frequently indulge when other people are present.  As I leaned back I noticed it felt good so I kept going and was surprised because I haven’t been able to do that in recent memory.  I decided to do a bridge, and it felt fine so I tried to kick my legs up and over and lo!  I was standing on my feet again!  I then tried the back walkover, which would hardly be recognizable to a gymnast, but from standing, I leaned back, put my hands on the floor, kicked up my legs and landed on two feet.  My spine feels open, energized, and in alignment!  This from a girl who saw stars when she jumped on a trampoline in Switzerland!

If Egoscue is right, you don’t really need his method (though it’s simplicity might make it the best place to start), but you do need to move!  Little stuff, everyday, never going to the point of pain, listening to your body, and you will begin to heal.  Ganbate!