Body tales…so many chapters…
Dear Bella,
Oh those body tales of woe…our stories. Myriad chapters spread over time. My current troubles began as many do. Insidiously. Which the dictionary defines as “proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.” Right? A shadowy ache in forearm, there one day, gone the next. Elusive then lingering. Lifting a full tea kettle: ouch. Tenderness in elbow. Not debilitating, but unpleasant, worrisome. And after wishing it away a bit too long, I deeply massage forearm and that definitely helps. But right hand starts to complain about so much tedious work.
And then magic happens. A déjà vu moment that’s regularly recurred in this life dedicated to treating body ailments…mine AND yours. So I’m minding my own business, tennis ball rolling out my shins when the bulb lights up. Shin. Forearm. Same! Two parallel bones spanning knee and ankle just like the two bones that connect elbow and wrist. In a posture of utter supplication, I roll the forearms just like the shins, cruise up into elbow and dig into triceps. Which are, of course, part of the drama. Such a tearful moment: relief, gratitude, awe…all wrapped into one juicy sensory experience. Quick video:
Here’s the rest of the story. A variation on this synchronicity has occurred countless times in my work. The very next morning a young cello player comes to my studio with chronic left forearm pain. We had work to do in her thoracic spine, scapula, rib cage. It’s all connected. But we finished the session with this very technique. I kid you not.
I am not a traditionally religious person. But every so often I feel god working through me. Bestowing me with ailments to feel into, move through. And then this gentle nudge to pass the healing magic on. Is this forearm thing behind me yet? Well, no. Just like you I do the self-care I need and then get busy or neglectful or fate-tempting or downright stubborn. Resistant to the obvious: this body needs consistent care and attention and love. And then I come back. Just like you.
It’s that coming back that I am here to support. Read on a bit about these two juicy things if you want a leg up:
About Yoga: a triplet of free videos to inspire you. Pull out your mat and jump start your practice. New offerings on this page as the spirit moves me. This triplet is to help you foster a rib cage loose, long and strong.
Release and Realign: we finally named this Friday morning drop in class that officially begins January 6. But don’t wait…come out for the free class December 16 10:00 Clara and meet the “we”.
Who is this “we” of rotating teachers? Kim Wagaman and I met in 2007 at Yoga Solution. Her openness, attention to alignment and breath and balance and asymmetry, her sparky curiosity and sprinklings of poetry utterly moved me. Ever since those early days we’ve been mining possibilities. We’ve taught workshops together and went parallel online when Covid came to call. Jeanne Munoz was in my teacher group at It’s All Yoga 2012. As soon as we completed training we collaborated on a Friday night Roll & Release class. Until she had twins and we had to take a pause. We knew we’d be back together someday. It was meant to be. That day has finally come.
If you have a body tale of woe–a current story or multiple chapters spread over a lifetime, maybe something insidious that is proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, with harmful effects—I’m right here for you. Did you know that back in my clinical era I used to see 12 patients a day? That was hecka training. Now? One a day. Love it. Because it is so nourishing relaxed, focused and creative, spontaneous yet individualized. So utterly uncompromised. I adore this work.
No matter where we meet—on the dance floor, on the mat, on the treatment table—-please be welcome. Join me for a tearful moment: relief, gratitude, awe…all wrapped into one juicy sensory experience.
❤️Bella