Pain Relief in 3 Steps đ
Itâs inevitable, somedays we just wake up with pain. Exercising can be helpful but also exercising too much can cause more aches. Nurturing the body on a day-to-day basis with movement is the remedy I teach my clients how to manage pain.
So with the inspiration of waking up yesterday with a sore hip, I dove deeper into the DIY process of pain relief. I came up with three simple steps that will ease chronic or acute pain within about 50 minutes and last longer than a Motrin.
Before I get into those, I wanted to share some insight about why I believe muscle aches and pain occur in the first place.
Maybe it will hit home for you?
Itâs clear to me from working with so many different demographics over the past 12 years that we all have this is common. When we overdo it (expend too much energy) throughout the day or multiple days, our body TELLS US STRAIGHT-UP.
âHey, when do we go on break?! Weâre tired!â Literally is what the muscular system telling us lol
Sometimes we hear it and take time to relax, and stretch (again, nurture the body on what it needs that day) butttt most of the time we just keep going. We pop an Advil, have another cup of coffee, and ignore the symptoms.
The big problem with this is it wears on our immune & nervous system, so much so, that we become numb in our body and WHY it aches in the first place. Which set us up for more painful days ahead, instead of less.
If weâre always in our Yang energy (action, excitement, giving) then we become unbalanced and feel it!
Itâs vital that we spend just as much time in our Yin energy (slow, receptive, patient) to experience homeostasis in our body, mind, spirit and emotions.
Making sense?
So this is how you can re-balance your body in just 3 steps!
Breathe. Take a few minutes to yourself to pause; breathe in and out. Big breathe in, big exhale out. Ask your body what it needs from you today. You might not get an answer in words but most likely in a feeling of discomfort. Follow that! This brings us to step #2.
Move. What area or areas are uncomfortable in the body? Does your neck ache? Feet tired or cold? Shoulders stiff? Back tight? Just to name a few common areas where pain shows up in the body. Once you focus on an area start to move it. Does it feel good when you reach, twist, bend, hold, lift? Most likely a combination of all thee above. Do what feels best until you start to feel the pain lessen.
Dig. Self-massage is the secret to keeping pain away for longer than a Motrin or Advil will! Use your fingers, fist, foam roller, lacrosse or tennis ball right on and around that area of focus. At first, it might be uncomfortable but go easy and be gentle.
After doing these three steps, which took me about 50 mins yesterday from start to finish, you will notice a difference! The physical pain should be less, and your mental space around it should feel better too. You might take note too that youâre not emotionally in the same space as you were earlier and your spirit is more optimistic for the rest of your day.
If you already partake in this kind of pain management approach, you get it. Itâs quite amazing how peaceful and pain-free your other activities for the day become.
Using cannabis in this three-step process can be astounding as a guide in listening to our bodyâs needs and how to nurture it precisely.
If youâre experiencing frequent aches, and pains or think youâve become numb to them, try these three steps and see what results you get. Connect with me for fitness training programs to keep you accountable and consistent on your health goals.
Talk again soon,
Kendra Solow
FAFS 3D Movement Specialist
Cannabis Fitness Trainer
Thai Massage Therapist