It’s now been about 3 weeks since I decided to take a break from running due to aggravating my knee while lifting a heavy box during the move. I thought I would give you guys a bit of an update and let you know how things are going. Of course, running on an already sore knee wasn’t going to improve the situation no matter how badly I wanted to keep up with training for my races. I decided to drop out of my planned 10km races (one last Sunday and one this weekend). It just isn’t worth it to me to go against what my body is telling me. In fact, the more I listen to my body, the better I feel.
My knee is feeling a bit better each day, granted much slower than I’d hoped it would. We all know our bodies the best and it’s pretty easy to feel when something still isn’t 100%. I did a short test run a couple weekends ago (with Eric who is actually getting into running believe it or not) and it felt pretty good during the run, but a bit sore for my liking following the run. I’ve been icing, doing strengthening exercises (as suggested by a PT), and lots of yoga. It’s never fun to get excited for races and then realize that you can’t take part, but I’m just trying to stay positive and focus on what I CAN do with my body.
Like yoga and strength training! If you were reading this blog last May, you may recall that I fell in love with hot yoga. It was one of those moments when I asked myself, what the heck took me so long to try it? This came as a huge surprise to me because I previously tried yoga at home with DVDs for a couple years and I could never get into it. Trying to teach myself at home was like nails on a chalkboard most of the time and I felt like I was forcing myself to get through just 15- 20 minutes.
Many of you told me that my entire perception of yoga would change when I practiced in a class setting. Boy were you ever right. After I stepped out of my first class at Moksha last April, my perception of yoga was forever changed. I felt invigorated, calm, and happy and I already couldn’t wait to go back the next day. Everything finally clicked.
This experience made me realize that sometimes the things we resist the most are the things we actually need the most. As someone who struggles with a ton of anxiety and a mind that never sleeps, I naturally resisted yoga because I was scared. Of slowing down, perhaps? Was I worried about being still? As it turns out, it was the best thing I could have done for myself.
"Be open to everything. Your most valuable lessons may well come from the things you’re resisting the most." ~Melody Beattie
At first, I took about a week and a half off of all exercise until my knee told me it could do a bit more. After my time off, I decided to try out many of the wonderful yoga studios in my new town. So far I’ve tried Some Like It Hot and Clarity yoga studios and I plan to try others eventually. The great thing about trying yoga in a new area (or for the first time) is that you can take advantage of all of the cheap intro offers that many yoga studios offer. I can basically do several months of yoga for $1 per class if I take advantage of all the studios intro offers. I’m going to ride the intro train as long as I can! hah. After that, I plan on finding deals on Wagjag and other daily deal sites.
I’ve also challenged myself to step outside of my “yoga comfort zone” as I used to be quite comfortable with Moksha’s style. So far, I’ve tried Power yoga, Vinyasa, Hatha, and even hot Pilates (which was amazing for the core). Other classes I want to try include spinning yoga, a barre class, and maybe (if I can get over my fears) aerial yoga! Still can’t quite wrap my head around that one. Thankfully the yoga and strength training hasn’t been bothering my knee, so it’s a safe way for me to enjoy moving my body and clearing my head.
When things happen in our lives that take us off our planned course (and they will), it’s a great time to stop and think about what other doors have opened. It can take time to figure out, but that’s ok too. Do a bit more of what feels good to you each day, and a bit less of what doesn’t.
Have you ever found yourself with a sudden closed door, only to discover other open doors in the process? Or have you resisted something for a long time and then discovered that it was something you enjoyed?
Wonderful post. I’m sorry about your knee and I hope that it is back to racing in no time!
I am no stranger to knee issues and I understand how frustrating it is!
That being said, my knee issues, which prevented me from running, allowed me to fall in love with biking and strength training! Now, back pain has me switching up my fitness routine yet again, from a strength training heavy regimen to a more cardio focused one.
It’s so important to be able to see the good in the bad!
Sorry to hear you knee is healing so slowly. I know how hard it is to take it easy on something like that, but it really is best to just let it take its time.
I, too, love hot yoga! I did Bikram for over a year awhile back, but haven’t gone in a while… I’ve been recovering from a lot of physical things that have closed a MANY doors for me. I’m just beginning to be well enough to move again, and I’m so glad you reminded me about yoga. I crave that feeling of serenity as I leave the class!
HI am glad you are enjoying Oakvile’s hot yoga studios;)Hope to see you in one of my classes.
“the things we resist the most are the things we actually need the most” — isn’t that so true about most everything in life.
Yoga came to me about 12-13 years ago at a time when I was a party girl, going on, never able to sit still, thought that a workout meant running 6 miles rain or shine, couldn’t quiet my mind or ever be really present; and I went to yoga because the girl that did my nails went. Seriously. And it changed my life. Became a yoga teacher, and could not imagine a day in my life without yoga today; both the asana practice and the gift of yoga that I carry around with me. The yoga off the mat stuff :)
Hi Angela! I struggled with ED for over ten years, and about six years ago discovered yoga. It was a life saver…literally. Almost a year ago I left my professional job to become a full-time yoga teacher. Outside of marrying my husband, it was the best life decision I have EVER made.
Thank you for always sharing your musings. I love your blog!
Wow, good for you! That is an amazing story. :) I’ve also found that yoga is healing in many ways. The other day I had tears streaming down my face as an instructor read a passage that really hit home with me. I must say, I don’t usually feel such a change mentally & spiritually with any other exercise that I’ve done. I bet you are a great yoga teacher!
Core, core, core! When you’re walking, running, swimming, living life full out. Add a little Pilates to your routine and read, ChiRunning, so you’re ready with a new foundation. And keep eating ofsohealthy! You’re an inspiration and one of the few blogs I read.
I agree, the core is in everything we do. Maybe I wouldnt have hurt my knee if my core was properly conditioned! It sure will be soon :)
I’ve been doing similar re-evaluations as far as fitness goes since I’ve noticed my energy levels decreasing lately…trying to give myself a rest and trust that pushing myself at this point isn’t going to help anything! Instead, I’m looking into trying yoga again, along with more moderate forms of activity until I’m back up and running 100% again!
I’m sitting here on the bus reading your beautiful post and suddenly there’s tears in my eyes. Thank you for sharing your wisdom in every post you write with us.
Thank you for your comment, that means a lot to me!
I have recently had to take 3 weeks off of running too :( It was more due to a virus though :P Then I had this cough that persisted forever!!! So I just had to wait it out and give my body time to heal. In the meanwhile instead of yoga I was stuck studying for my exams :( But hey I discovered greek yogurt in the process and spent a lot more time with my family while being sick (despite being in a half conscious state) :D
This post couldn’t have come at a better time. I have been thinking about taking yoga for the longest time because like you I need to slow down and relax. I have been afraid to take it because I have never done it before and didn’t want to look bad. This Saturday will be my first class at a studio in my area (Grimsby) and I am super excited about it. Thanks for post and for making it easier to have the confidence to go :)
You will do great! Don’t worry about getting everything right…I’ve taken a lot of yoga classes now and I still “mess up” poses or lose my place in class. It’s really no biggie. You will probably find that no one is looking around anyways. :)
This time last year my boyfriend dumped me out of nowhere, and I went into a crazy downward spiral for two weeks, until I stumbled my butt into a hot vinyasa class for the first time because it was the only thing I could think of that would be more intense than what I was going through. The next day I went again, and again, and again. Eight weeks after that I signed up for a yoga teacher training program, and my life has been thoroughly recreated ever since…except one thing. My ex and I got back together. And, wouldn’t you know it, like some sick twisted de ja vu, here we are again and he and I are definitely in the middle of breaking up and it’s awful and bitter and really painful but now I have the practice of yoga and that helps keep me balanced, present, and most of all kind to myself, because I really could be sitting here beating myself up for being so stupid but instead I went to my favorite teacher’s class today and she started to talk about what it’s like to share something with someone for a long time, have a really serious connection somewhere, and then just have it end- and the fact that although at the time the ending feels like absolute death, absolutely the worst thing on earth that could have ever happened, in time we will come to regard it as the seed from which so much positive change grew- and even if we can’t see that now, to embrace the hardship and pain and the letting go and the changing of identity that comes with loss. So yeah, I’m not less hurt but I am much more comfortable with what I’m feeling. And in the past year my life has flourished SO freaking much that I know there can only be up even though right now I’m in so much pain.
Thank you for sharing Ilana. It’s amazing the transformation that can happen on the mat. I think you are right that it’s ok to just feel the pain when we experience it, instead of thinking there is something wrong for feeling that way.
<3 Sending you wishes for a speedy speedy recovery for your knee. Physical injuries are just about the worst!!!
I’ve totally been going through this with climbing. Because of my shoulder injury, and my recovery time after I have surgery in May, I haven’t been able to climb; which is my true passion. Through this, I forced myself to start biking. Now, although I’d pick climbing over biking, I couldn’t imagine my life if I didn’t cycle. I’ve gotten stronger, and I’m really proud of myself for doing something I never really thought of doing. This post hits home with me :)
Hey Angela I just saw this link (http://thefloursack.blogspot.ca/2012/03/swiss-chard-sweet-potato-feta-tart-with.html) on tastespotting and i immediately thought “wow angela would be great at making a vegan version of a tart!” so i wanted to share and inspire!
mmm looks good!
This post spoke to me in so many ways I can’t even describe it! First of all, I am so sorry to hear that your knee is taking longer to heal than hoped, but I definitely think that there is a silver-lining there. Yoga, in all it’s forms, is AMAZING!!!! I myself have been training for a half marathon since December, and now it is only 7 weeks away… But I haven’t been able to run for 5 weeks! I have achilles bursitis and what should have only taken 2-3 weeks to heal will probably end up taking 6 weeks because I did not rest when I was told to. My GP told me not to run, and also sent me to an orthopedic surgeon (to make sure it wasn’t torn) who told me not to run, and the orthopedic surgeon sent me to a physiotherapist, who also told me not to run. So you’d think with 3 different medical professionals telling me not to run, I’d listen. Unfortunately, everytime I thought it felt better I’d get right back on the treadmill at full speed and within a mile I had to stop. So finally after 4 weeks of the same routine, I decided to listen. My physiotherpaist is confident that after another week I should be ok to finally start back running, but SLOWLY. The good news is that I have been able to keep up training by cross-training (I absolutely love spin and had been missing it since I had to give it up in Dec. for my running) and I have also been using the elliptical, both of which don’t bother my achilles. The silver-lining? My physiotherapist thinks that the reason behind my achilles injury was because my left hip was locked and not moving at the same extent of the right. So what does that mean? More yoga!!! (Not exactly doctor perscribed, but it makes sense to me as there are so many “hip-openers” in Yoga) I love everything about Yoga, from how much more flexible I have become, to how “zen” I feel after a class. I would love to try ariel yoga but it isn’t offered anywhere close to me.
Good luck with your healing, and in the meantime, enjoy Yoga! :)
Thanks for sharing! I’m glad you are finding relief with yoga…I hope you find relief soon.
I hurt my hip flexor at hot yoga last year. It put all my marathon plans on hold up until recently when I started to be able to increase distance. Be careful!
I’m so sorry you are injured! I injured my knee over a year ago, and I still can’t run. :( I’m going to try out my first yoga studio class next week. I have done yoga at home, but never in a class setting. I’m intimidated! lol!
You will be fine! I like to place my mat at the back of the room when I’m taking a new class. I just feel more at ease until I get used to it, but I find no one really looks around anyways. Hope you enjoy it!
Wow, your post today is so fitting of where I am right now with my own body and running. I am suffering from a sore hip flexor on my right side. It is so hard at times to listen to your logical thinking brain when all your heart wants to do is run, run, run. I am a 3rd grade teacher by day and former sprinter turned 10k racer by night. My heart is wanting to run off the busyness of the day and cleanse my mind with a good run, but some days I take off to prevent further aggravation of the soreness. Your post today was a hint, a reminder, to listen to your body. Thank you!
I’m happy it helped Kara! Hope you heal quickly.
your reasons for yoga resting are the same as mine but now I find I need my weekly yoga as a time to just relax and enjoy slowing down.
I tried aerial yoga recently and was disappointed, it wasn’t a very good experience. Unlike other yoga classes there wasn’t much purpose or unity to the class as a whole, it was almost all simple calisthenic (sp) moves on the floor holding the hammock. The only pose actually in the hammock was tree which was just awkward. By all means try it but a good teacher and your own hammock at home to try out the cool stuff is maybe a better way.
I’ve heard similar things about it, thanks for sharing your experience!
The same thing happened to me. For years I didn’t understand why everyone was so into Yoga. My friends in college used to always try to get me to go to a class but I thought it wasn’t enough of a work out or I’d get bored. Boy was I wrong! When I moved to NYC I couldn’t’ afford the gym or any classes so I decided to give Yoga a try because they have a donation based studio here- and I feel in LOVE! And it completely changed my life- everything started to align and fall into place.
xo
Jocelyn
Oh that was so me too :)