Working With Injury and Healing

Image by Marjorie Renn & Elizabeth Camp, Healing Media

About a month ago I started a new journey with my body. I felt something coming on on the first day of the Minneapolis Yoga Conference while I had the pleasure of taking an all day intensive with author and world renowned teacher, Rolf Gates. It was subtle, and I ignored it, and in denial I thought it would pass. Later that weekend I had the honor of being a guest presenter during the Devanadi Yoga Teacher Training. In the middle of my presentation when I was standing up to make a point, I felt it. That same feeling that come over me about a year and half ago, although this time I wasn't rollerblading with my Great Dane, I was in the middle of presenting for Pro-Day, to about 30 women, me, a pro. The feeling was immense pain, although this time, it was just a twinge.  It wasn't until I got in my car after my presentation to drive home that I knew this was real and it was not going to be pretty. 

I drove around Lake Harriet to get home and I had to pull over because I was in so much pain. I called my husband and told him. It was Sunday afternoon so I couldn't get into see my chiropractor, but I left a message to get in first thing the next day.  When I got home I put on the old TENS-Unit form my last episode a year and half ago. I also took 2 Advil, which is a big deal for me. This goes without saying, but I also used a lot of my essential oils.

By Monday I had graduated to the leftover pain medication I had from my previous attack and my husband had to leave work briefly so he could drive me to see my chiropractor. I could not operate a motor vehicle. Insert laughing crying emoji. 

When I got to Dr. Kim, I couldn't even lay on the table to receive my entrainment. I had to just sit. I wasn't worried, Dr. Kim always meets me where I am at. It is really great to know that she is there for me. Thanks Dr. Kim. 

My second visit to Dr. Kim that day. Photo by Dr. Kimberly Berkus

​Excluding denial, I always teach that injury has three stages:
 
1) Anger
2) Humility
3) Gratitude

That first day of recovery I cancelled everything and just laid in bed excluding multiple trips to the chiropractor. That week I saw Dr. Kim everyday. I was in so much pain I couldn't even think about getting a massage -- that would be too much.  Over a week later I received some Shiatsu from Aaem Mitchell which was really helpful. It was a gentle way to get my energy flowing and and ease into massage. 

I've continued receiving bodywork, massage and acupuncture from Jason Lee, and chiropractic care multiple times a week this entire month with some yoga here and there. It is really hard for me to get on my mat right now because I am going through all my healing stages: anger, humility and gratitude. My natural reaction is to push away all those feelings and avoid it. Yoga makes me cry because I have to face my new limitations. I am mostly still in anger and humility, I haven't quite gotten too much of the gratitude stage yet. 

I've been going through my days limiting my physical activities to take care of myself and heal. Last week I got to travel to Spokane, Washington to visit my brother, and niece and nephew. I started daily workouts again with my niece, Isabella. It has felt really good. Again, I am frustrated because I lost a lot of the strength and ease I had gained from ramping up my fitness in February, bit still, it feels good to get gently moving again.

This Tuesday I had a photo shoot with Marjorie so she could take some photos of me for this project my company, Healing Media is working on with the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. It was nice to see Marjorie but I didn't feel like myself really. The shoot, thank goodness, was mostly centered on portraiture and personality, not on crazy poses. 

Photo by Marjorie Renn

Triangle pose is not a crazy pose and I thought it could be a good posture for me. You can see pain and anger on my face as I try to get into a once effortless posture.

Needless to say, I won't be submitting this photo for my portrait a The Yoga Center, but I wanted to show you a moment Marjorie captured of what it is like to work with injury. It's like you know your body, but now you have a totally different body with new, crazy quirks. I've been practicing yoga for over 20 years and teaching for over 10. Each time I work through a set-back or an injury I always come through a better, more experienced and more compassionate teacher. I know this, but it is really hard for me right now, when I'm in the middle of this pain. My reaction is to crave the other side of this. The side where I am better for it. The side where I'm not in pain. The side where I have a story to tell. I'm not there yet.  I know this won't last forever, nothing does, but when you're in the middle of it, it is really hard to maintain the clarity of impermanence.  

I came across a quote this morning that makes me feel pretty awesome and also inspired me to write this blog today.

At my visit to Dr. Kim yesterday she assured me that I was going to come out better for this, and that
​I am improving.  I know this is true, but that doesn't make it easy.

This post isn't sponsored but I do love to connect people, it is one of my favorite things to do actually.
If you are looking for a great chiropractor, check out Dr. Kimberly Berkus. 
If you are looking for awesome massage, here are some therapists I love:
Aaem Mitchell, Jason Lee, Cindy Gorbonow, Gary Heyer, Lynda Flores

Please share some of your healing journeys and insights in the comments below. Also, if you are reading this blog but don't live in the Twin Cities, give your city a shoutout and share some of your favorite go-to massage therapists and chiropractors in the comments below, you may help someone who needs it. 

Elizabeth Camp, ​3/31/17

Yoga Camp Founder, E-RYT 500