I’ve been a Physical therapist for over 15 years and have realized the diagnosis of the body movements is not black and white and the best test subject I have ever had is ME.
I attended my first yoga class like many young guys. I arrogantly went to that first class with the expectation that it would be very easy and very boring. I was wrong on both counts! The class challenged me in new and exciting ways, leaving me humbled, yet thirsty for more. I couldn’t believe I was so restricted. So many of my limitations and weaknesses were exposed that day.
For many people, the word “yoga” conjures up images of hippy-looking folks contorting themselves into unrealistic positions, or a bunch of poseurs thinking they’re spiritual because they burned some incense and followed some stretches along with a DVD.
While those stereotypes are not totally without merit, they make it easy to write of mobility training as a waste of time, which is a huge mistake. Don’t be so quick to dismiss the value of flexibility - mobility – and Stability or you will not only miss out on a great deal of physical wisdom, you will also predispose yourself to injury.
After my initially humbling experience, I paid very close attention during my other athletic pursuits including CrossFit, cycling, running, weightlifting and bodyweight workouts. I discovered that my limited Range Of Motion in some joints created compensations and overworking muscles in other joints. It just so happened that those overworked joints were the aches and pains I was experiencing.
Eventually started bringing some of the things I was learning from John Barnes Myofascial Release, Ki-Hara resistance stretching, and yoga into my workouts. I was enjoying the new challenges and it was a nice change of pace from my usual routine. It gave me the opportunity to re-tool my body and eliminate all and any aches and pains and potentiality for injury that may have existed.
After some time, I came to find that many of the stretches, releases and postures had direct carryover into my strength and endurance training.
Over the years, I’ve taken hundreds of various classes and learned from dozens of different teachers. The best teacher of all, however, has been my own body. I’m still learning new lessons every day. The greatest lesson learned – awareness. Awareness of my own limitations – physical, spiritual and emotional. Now all I have to do is - Let Go! Simple, right?
