From Frustration to Freedom in an aging body

Back in September, just after I got out of my cast, I fell on my knee. It took about a week to realize just how much I had hurt myself. Knee flexion was virtually impossible for a sustained period of time and knee flexion while in external rotation (which is basically sitting cross-legged on the floor or cushion) was impossible. Yes, quite ironic for a yoga teacher! I tried a bunch of different topical treatments, castor oil packs, comfrey compresses, acupuncture, heat, and some massage. While all of those probably helped somewhat, do you want to know what really made the difference?

Drum roll, please….

The turning point happened in February when I started doing the Joint Freeing Series (JFS) every morning before my shower. My knee was hurting so much during my morning meditation practice (sitting on a couch!) I was considering taking a painkiller before meditation. Then suddenly, I remembered that doing asana is supposed to benefit your meditation by making your body feel good enough to sit still. How about that—the thing I tell people all the time worked for me too.

So I started doing the JFS in the mornings, standing, in my bathroom. The results were remarkable. Not only did my knee improve, but my side seams loosened, my troublesome right shoulder regained mobility, and my overall energy and balance soared. Coincidence? I think not.

My fall wasn't age-related (I tripped on my pants!), but the slow healing likely was. The other aches - tight side seams, stiff shoulder, morning stiffness - most likely were age-related. This experience underscored a crucial point: even with a healthy lifestyle, age requires proactive maintenance.

What that means is we have to do more to keep it at bay. The JFS pinpointed where my range of motion was challenged, and offered the solutions to improve it. A seasoned JFS practitioner might not recognize my modified standing version because I have tailored to my specific needs after the JFS provided me the details of my limitations.

At some point in our lifetime, certain injuries and restrictions will not magically go away. Many injuries and limitations will lead to more limitations. Patience, observation, and increasing the intensity of the movements over time are all contributing to my healing, and you can do the same.

This experience has deepened my appreciation for the JFS, a practice I've taught since 2005. As I age along with many of you, it become more and more clear: the JFS is the foundational practice that can mitigate the body's decline.

I will be sharing many variation of the JFS with you in Yoga for Healthy Aging and more workshops to come!

click here to register for Yoga for Healthy Aging