Floor exercises From Hell
I practiced my exercises diligently. All exercises were done supine with bent knees and all started with the breath. Deep inhales through the nose. Open-mouthed and deep exhales. She said to imagine a football lying length-wise in the abdomen. Squeeze all of the air out of the football on each exhale. Inhale deep into the lower belly while keeping some muscle tone there.
Each GYROTONIC® exercise focused on lengthening the sit bones away and filling and broadening the pelvis and low back with each exhale.
Sadly, my pain was exacerbated during my first week of exercises. I became incredibly frustrated and cried a few times. I’ve always defined myself as an athlete. I’m a yogi and a kayaker, but this winter I am neither. My identity is gone. The pain that resulted from the GYROTONIC floor exercises sent me into a tailspin.
I emailed Nancie and went back for more…
Jane
Tags: athlete, floor exercises, Gyrotonic exercises, Gyrotonic floor exercises, low back, yogi
May 29th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
How frustrating to be trying to do this and feel like somedays you are moving forward and others you are back to the beginning! Hopefully, in the big picture, the general direction will be toward improvement.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Thanks for your comment.
It definitely feels like a three-steps-forward, two-steps-back kind of dance. Like so many physical rehab modalities (including yoga and traditional physical therapy), these things take time.
I have an appointment with Nancie tomorrow. I am really looking forward to more steps forward.
In the fullness of time, maybe I’ll gain some patients along with a supple spine.
Jane