Listening to your Body

I have been surrounded by exercise my whole life. But although I am a regular exerciser most of the time this can sometimes be a negative when I don’t listen to my body. I live with lower back pain from herniated discs I did about 10 years ago. (Lifting too heavy things in the garden my body was not designed to do!). Eighty percent of the time my back is pretty good. I run 3 times a week, do triathlons and stay off pain medications. Twenty percent of the time I have tightness, stiffness and pain.

When I experience stiffness, my head says “Get out of bed and run you will feel so much better when you finish”. This is true and I do. Sometimes however there are periods when for whatever reason the stiffness continues and other “signs” creep in. Nerve pain and continuing tightness that wont seem to settle.

What I need to do in these times is listen to my body. Have a good remedial massage (which I did yesterday, thanks Mel). Do some gentle yoga (which I did this morning). Quiet the mind and do some meditation (Love Headspace App).

There are different types of exercise and sometimes our body and mind needs restorative exercise. By listening to your body you will know when you need to switch a gear and slow down.

Vicky Graham – Accredited Exercise Physiologist