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?
i tried aerial yoga recently (this is the one with the hammock things hanging from the ceiling, right?) – it is way less scary than i thought it would be, but make sure to position your hammock in the correct spot on your body, otherwise it is extremely uncomfortable!
aha yea I could see that…
Oh mann there are SO many things closed up on me! But I always try to see the positive in it and see what God’s purpose is regarding that. And I’ve never been more BLESSED and happier to go with the alternative route rather than what I THOUGHT was best. One simple example is when I was about to go to college. I didn’t get accepted to my desired school, but in the school I did study, I met my now (super recently married) husband! :D What a great and inspiring post Angela!
Take it easy, and let your body heal. I teach aerial yoga, so let me know if you have any questions. Check out this post, I recently wrote on my blog entitled, “Is Aerial Yoga Cirque du Soleil?” http://charmedyoga.com/2012/04/02/is-aerial-yoga-cirque-du-soleil/
Thank you I will check it out!
Hope your knee is better soon. I’ve been battling with knee problem and now had to slow down. I do like walks and yoga. It’s more gentle on my knee. I felt in love with yoga years ago. Good luck!
Ah yes. I’m still recovering from hip pain from my half mary, so I’ve gotten into heavy lifting again. It’s great stress relief!
I ran the Chicago marathon in 2010, and then was training for the 2011 Ottawa full last May. At the beginning of May, I had to make the difficult decision to stop training due to an IT band injury. I was devastated, especially being so close to the race. I took the rest of last year off, started pilates, and TRX. I love pilates, but TRX has seriously become a new love. I’m addicted to it! And it’s made me a stronger runner… I’m running the Ottawa half next month, and will run the Philly marathon in November. I love discovering new things! Good luck with your recovery!
Fantastic thoughts, Ange! I have been where you are too many times, but too stubborn to listen to my body. You are much smarter than I was at your age (and we both have similar ED histories.) Focusing on what you CAN do is the way to go – both physically and mentally the wise choice. All best for quick healing (and much enlightenment in the meantime!)
What a beautiful message – you are taking the ultimate – taking a curse and turning it into a blessing – learning to listen to your body more and more and that ‘slowing down’ (no matter what we replace running with it initially feels that way – even though it is not necessarily so) can be so healing….and that maybe that injury happened for a reason…our bodies are so wise and can tell us so much if we are willing to listen… Thank you for a wonderful post once again
What a lovely comment, thank you Suzanne!
I have always wanted to try hot yoga! I think that’s so neat that you’re exploring different classes and seeing what’s out there. Sometimes a change is good for us all!
I’m such a wimp when it comes to working out. I can’t stand being hot. Not sure how people can do hot yoga.
I might add, I couldn’t help notice the comments from all the people who have had injuries from running. There are better ways to workout, no?
I got injured a while ago, and I am still healing so having to give BodyPump classes a miss at the moment as their vigorous squat routines and lunges aggrevate my poorly leg :( At first I was raging about it, so disappointed, but now I am actually enjoying doing my own thing in the gym and adapting the techniques and principles I learnt doing Pump but in my own kind of way. It’s actually working, I feel a lot less restricted as I can go at anytime and I am not losing any of the condition I got from 2 Pump classes a week.
I have a blog article awaiting some pictures on this very topic, that I am going to post asap. You beat me to it! I am glad though that you are able to find fulfillment in yoga and enjoy it so much. Having to take a break from running is hard….
Glad that you have been able to
I am not a big runner by any means. The furthest I have ever run was 5 miles. I signed up for my second 5k a few weeks ago. Excited to add a third road race to my list. On Tuesday, I suffered a really bad sprain and torn ligaments in my ankle. I will not be able to race. I was at first devastated, that I couldn’t run or walk for a few weeks. Embarrassed that the injury took place. And finally, lucky that it wasn’t broken. Thanks for always being so inspiring Angela. Xo Jenna
It’s so strange… I’ve followed your blog on and off for the past two years, but I moved to Oakville in late 2010 and over the last few months, I’ve walked past you three times!
I thought I recognized you at the Valentine’s Day run, but I wasn’t sure until you posted about it. Then I thought I saw you at Some Like It Hot on Saturday morning, but I was chatting with a friend after our class in the changeroom as you were heading into your class. And finally, I spotted you and Eric leaving Whole Foods on Sunday evening as I was entering with my boyfriend.
The next time I pass you, I’ll have to stop and say hi. I really appreciate all of the recipes you provide and I’ve recommended your site to many of my friends over the past few years.
I made the mini peanut butter cups a few nights ago and they were fantastic! Thanks for all of your healthy inventions!
Hey Rosa! hah that’s awesome…sounds like we have many things in common! Please do say hi if you see me again. I’d love to meet you!
For me I have Patella Tendonitis, which basically means runners knee and I was told to lay off exercise, that moment was in slow motion. However I’ve just had to adjust my exercise, I’ve been Belly Dancing for seven years so I get to keep doing that but I found gentle yoga has been a blessing whilst my injury heals.
I would love to know what knee exercises(pt) you were doing to help strengthen your knee.
Love your site and you fun, enjoying life, attitude! Thanks!
I also fell in love with hot yoga when trying to recover from a running induced fasciitis. That was in 2009, and I have quit running for good about a year ago. I now walk and do power and yin hot yoga -2-3 times a week and never felt (or looked!) better. I realized that I was not running for the good reasons (e.g. to do like others), but I hated it. Down side of becoming a yogini: Lululemon is not good for the bank account!
Ack, I’m so sorry your knee is still tweaked — knee injuries are so frustrating and debilitating. (I had a rough case of ITBS in January, and MAN was it pesky!) But it’s pretty badass of you to let it push you out of your comfort zone and try new things, or at least get a chance to focus your energy on fun nonrunning things.
I’m really intimidated to try yoga, but bikram is really appealing to me. I wish I could just get over that self-consciousness! You’ve gone at least a little of the way toward inspiring me to conquer that feeling…
I want to try Bikram too!
As an avid runner, I get knee injuries frequently. I’ve found that by wearing an open patella neoprene sleeve on my knee when I run eliminates any issues I may have. Give it a try!
I’m an aerial yoga teacher. It’s really not that scary! You just have to trust the hammock and yourself.
I admire how reasonable you are in dealing with any injuries. As a still recovering anorexic, who runs cross country competitivly in high school, and has dealt with compulsive exercise, in particular with running since the age of 12, I find it very near impossible to back off even in the face of health issues and injuries. Although throughout my running career I have managed to stay relatively injury free, I need to take a break from running for other health issues. Thank you for demonstrating such a positive outlook while dealing with injuries. Hopefully I’ll be able to take a page from your book and give my body a rest.