Well that was NO Spa Utopia
massage but let me tell you I am definitely awakened in a whole new way!
Bring it on...
Cracking open the honesty
here, I had been suffering with a sore hip for some time and sleeping was grueling,
I felt stiff and then it started affecting my hiking and my everyday
activities. Despite trying to stretch and drink lots of water, and pretend it
didn't hurt, I started feeling OLD. THE worst ever. With hockey coming up in
the fall, I had to do something!
That was when my personal
coach (aka my wonderful daughter who graduated in Kinesiology last year) introduced me
to the blue foam roller. If you have one and know about this, fine but
for those of us who don't frequent the gym, boot camp or have personal trainers
then you should know it is an odd thing.
The first time she told me
to roll on it was awful. Remember I am intimidated by Yoga, so even
getting to the floor into the position on top of the roller was grueling
and quite hilarious. I thought she would die laughing, as my execution
was anything but graceful! Apparently I needed to stretch the fascia that surround
my muscles.... ok, so lay this way and roll on the pain spot back and forth.
Good God it was so painful I squealed like a wild cat and sadly one of my
kids has it on video.
Hated it and avoided
rolling despite her constant reminders.
Until we intrinsically want
to make change there is no hope. I knew I had an issue and had to
face it. Growing old sometimes sucks.
Into the picture comes this
wonderful kind and compassionate Registered Massage Therapist Holly at MoveoSport & Rehabilitation Centre whom I saw this week. I am an open book so
she knew me in the first 10 min and she gained my trust instantly. Yes
the rolling apparently was a good thing but for me likely incredibly painful at
the onset. We needed to start slow (Plan B) and she spent 45 min working
more then my sore hip muscle. Apparently it's all related and she dove
into my body with oily hands and nothing like at Spa Utopia. OMG, its a
technique where the RMT digs her thumbs into the upper fascia and I guess pushes the knot along. She did this all over my body - gluts, calves, back
etc. Honestly I thought I would throw up, but she coached me in her sweet
gently voice, "it's good, it's doing the work we need and I can stop at
anytime". At one point I had to divert my mind and started counting down from 100, then I was imagining myself at the beach, but I
have to say Holly coached me along and explained everything she was doing.
She encouraged me that my
own active lifestyle was enough (well above the average) and that for me, at my age; I was doing
the right things. This was all I needed to hear. She commented that my body was responding well and
loosing up quickly because of my active lifestyle and it was
making a difference in my healing. She couldn't comment on how I got so tight, but I guess the blue roller will be in my future.
We talked Yoga and the lack
of places supporting newbies and those who don't fit the "typical
image". She did give me a referral to Yoga teacher who might be a fit. I shared with Holly my passion for helping other Boomers by sharing my stories. She too supports healthy living and Moveo will consider working more with Boomers
like me to maybe facilitate hiking groups for those wanting to be
active, social and learn a little more how they can proactively avoid the blue
roller! They already volunteer at bike races, so this would potentially be just
another target group they could gain trust with.
I have 2 more sessions booked with
Holly and I can't wait. I did my homework today with the tennis ball and
I committed to both (she and my in-house Kin coach) that I would see this as a
lifestyle change and take charge.
Looks
like I might be having a new love affair with the blue roller. Like all
relationships it will have peaks and valleys and pain along the way but with
commitment comes happiness.
