Tag: pain
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Injury Troubleshooting
Several months ago, Terry, a yoga student, felt pain in her left hip flexors. She saw a physical therapist who recommended several exercises. When that seemed ineffective, she tried forced rest for two weeks. Then she did two or three private sessions with her longtime fitness trainer. Still in pain,…
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Lifetime Physiotherapy
At my dentist’s office, I was sitting in an exam chair before my appointment. Nearby, I heard her talking to another patient, who sounded male and youngish. I vaguely made out the conversation. “So, when can I use my front teeth,” he asked, “to bite into something like an apple?”…
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Constant Vigilance
For six years now, I’ve gone on daily walks with Stella, a Giant Schnauzer / Labrador Retriever. We’re out for an hour or two and it never fails: At some point, a phrase from Harry Potter springs to mind: Constant vigilance. CONSTANT VIGILANCE! I’m always glancing around, scanning our surroundings…
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Trouble Getting Started? Make It Doable
In May, walking past a Little Free Library in Kitsilano, a book title caught my eye: 3 Minutes to a Pain-Free Life. That very day, I was finalizing a blog post on chronic pain. What a coincidence. The book was “like new” and I couldn’t resist taking it. Written by…
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Nagging Aches and Pains: An Introduction
When I first tried yoga two decades ago, I was coming off a back injury. Well, not an injury per se. Just inexplicable, transient discomfort in my lower back. At work, sitting at my computer, I’d feel restless and just plain achy. My employer was very accommodating about ergonomics. My…
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Aches and pains: My favorite home remedies (Part II)
Here are my favorite home remedies for routine tweaks and twinges–and a word on the psychosomatic factor. RICE (Rest Ice Compression Elevation) Rest. The best and simplest remedy is hardest for me to comply with. When I notice a twinge or tweak, what do I do? I might ratchet down, but short…
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Aches and pains: Are you “injury prone”? (Part I)
Last month, eight colleagues and I faced our Intro II assessment for certification as Iyengar yoga teachers. Before commencing, the assessors asked us about injuries or health issues: “Do you have anything new to report?” When my turn came, I said, “Nothing new to report.” I entered the exam “healthy.”…
Yoga Spy 