When I was in my mid 20s I would go skiing and be in such pain from sciatica that it would bring me to tears. The weight of my legs along with the boots and skis hanging off of the chairlift was just too much for my hips and back. I thought it would be this way forever…
Fast forward 25 years (uh-uh!). I am now 50 and spent this past Family Day weekend skiing with my wonderful family and friends for three days at Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon BC. Over the past two years I had only been out for one short ski day. What I found absolutely incredible was that I was not stiff from skiing after day one, two or three! Amazing!! I thought, ok, that is awesome, but surely after sitting in the vehicle for seven hours on the way home I would be stiff – nope!! Fantastic!! Truly, I was in a place of disbelief… How was this possible?
Well, I have been dedicated to my practice of SomaYoga. I feel the benefits of this practice in my own body from addressing where I hold habituated tension in my muscles and releasing the tension through SomaYoga movements. I am also aware of how it only takes one day of slipping on the ice, being overworked or other life experiences to bring the tension back. I feel how those days affect my body in what unfolds in my practice at the end of the day. This is how I know my daily practice is so important. I can resolve the tension, but it can come back through daily life experiences and become habituated if I don’t address it regularly.
I love skiing with my family. Spending that time together is so precious. I truly believe that if I did not have this practice I would not have been on the hill enjoying family time as I was blessed to do. I became a Certified Yoga Therapist because I found this practice to be so powerful in helping me manage, reduce or resolve chronic pain. That is why I love to share SomaYoga Therapy with people who would like to get back to the things they love to do! I know what that feeling is like from firsthand experience and how good it feels to get back to what I love to do!
If you are curious and would like to explore the benefits of this practice or know of someone who would benefit from SomaYoga Therapy, please feel free to pass my experience along.
Blessings,
Alana
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
