What I learned from a toe injury.
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash
I recently injured my toe (ouch!). It hurt immediately as I walked home from the park, both kids in tow (no pun intended). I iced it, elevated it and went on with my day. About 24 hours later, out of nowhere, I became intensely aware of my toe hurting worse. I looked down at my little pinkie; it was more swollen than it had been and now took on new shades of blue. “Great! A yoga teacher with a bad toe!” I thought to myself.
As the day progressed, I began to notice. To notice what made it ache more and ache less. I noticed ways to walk that didn’t hurt so much. Even with the noticing and being gentle, my foot yearned to spread out, to flex and stretch and move in a more organic, yet mindful way.
I tried mountain pose.
Starting with my feet, I grounded down through the pads and the heels, letting my feet feel the ground beneath me while supporting my weight evenly. I let my toes lightly rest on the floor. Hmmmm…no pain. I began to lift up through my spine and the crown of my head, standing a bit taller. Letting my belly gently engage, my shoulders drop down and my gaze shift straight in front of me. I opened my palms to face away from my body, arms at my sides. Mountain pose, also known as tadasana in Sanskrit. I felt sturdy and light. Best of all, there was no pain!
It’s amazing how the body sends us signals and cues when something is off-balance, injured or needing extra attention; however, sometimes it can be challenging to notice these cues – especially when they are subtle. Through yoga practice, we become more aware of our bodies. More aware of when we hold onto tension and more aware of the cues and signals our bodies are sending us. By noticing these cues, we are then able to adapt our practice to what we need each time we step onto the mat. For example, on a day where you feel depleted, a yin or restorative practice will help relax the body and encourage it to rest and recharge. When you feel tired, but need to move, gentle flow or a few rounds of sun salutation will get the heart pumping and boost energy. Or, when you feel frustrated and un-centered, like you are chasing the days’ tasks without ever completing much of anything, a breathwork practice will help boost focus and improve mental clarity.
So what does this have to do with a toe? The toe injury was a not-so-subtle reminder that yoga is a practice that works FOR the body, not AGAINST the body and can be modified to meet YOU where you are EACH day of your life. Instead of skipping your practice when you feel off, pushing yourself day after day, or giving up because you don’t have the time, I invite you choose postures or mindfulness practices that fit your lifestyle and enhance what you need now.
In health,
Lindsay Coward, MPH
Founder, Yoga Nut
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Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash