Me, Moving (not that Moving)

Around the end of August I pulled something in my back and got a terrific case of sciatica. It was brutally painful. Nothing would ease the pain, not painkillers, not heat, not cold, nothing. 

I knew that strengthening my "core" and stretching was the only way through. In my small town there is a professional physical trainer who opened a small business called Flexable, offering Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching, which according to his documentation, is "a technique that relies on the body's own reflexes to produce deeper stretches with its contract-relax method."

I won't bore you with how I discovered them, but I booked a appointment and was matched with Madisyn, a young woman 50 years younger than me who did more magic in that first 60 minutes than I could ever have believed. My pain was instantly less. It took two or three more visits before I was almost completely without pain, so I was more than just a little bit impressed.

The long term answer, of course, was to MOVE. Madisyn certainly helped me get to back to "normal" so I could move. I joined the local YMCA, (I am embarrassed to say it is literally next door,) and now I am going four to five times a week.

There is an "Arthritis Swim" class/workout every weekday at noon. It's mostly full of gray haired ladies like me. I go three times a week. Sure, I'm up to my chest in 95 degree water, but lemme tell ya, I get a workout. On the other two days, I go to a Chair Yoga class. Don't let the chair part fool you. It's a full workout. After Christmas a new session of Tai Chi will start, and I will join that. Right now I'm taking "baby steps" to build my strength and endurance.

I had a swimsuit, but I had to get some swim shoes so I could stand up in the pool and not slip around. I bought a microfiber towel that was super absorbent and didn't take up the whole gym bag. I had to buy a gym bag. I bought some "croakies" so my glasses wouldn't fall off when I was in the pool (because I needed to see the teacher.) I had to get a lock for the locker.

I love going and the workouts don't really feel like work. They are also fun. It's a good way to get out of the house and "get social." I've already noticed that it's easier for me to pick up something off the floor.

I've been told that the most important thing to do as I age is to "keep moving," so I'm doing it. One of my neighbors fell in her home and she couldn't get up, and had to call 911. That is not going to be me.

So let me ask you, how are you keeping moving?