When Your Body Is A Wreck

I have heard that the human touch during a yoga practice session can be a very powerful emotionally healing experience. This experience I've been told has the capability of bringing an individual to tears. I have always known at times during workouts or runs on the trails could invoke some pretty intense emotional responses. I have experienced these events from time to time throughout my fitness journey. Mostly when hitting a goal in weight lifting, but more often when running in the woods and experiencing nature's beauty.  That was until yesterday.

I go to a Tai Chi massage therapist once a month to help take care of my body from all the workouts, running and coaching I do. Let's face it, at age 53 you need to listen to your body if you want to keep this pace up and living this type of lifestyle. As I said before my massage therapist does Tai Chi Yoga on me, which is basically a very intense healing stretching therapy. Yesterday I was having a very difficult time letting my therapist stretch me to where I am normally capable of letting my body going to. He kept commenting that my body was really a wreck and I needed to try to let my mind and body relax and let go. Much easier said than done if you have ever had a hard time stretch tight muscles.

I decided to tell my therapist about what I thought was a bit of a funny story about how I thought Sunday was December 16th instead of the 15th. You see December 16th was my mom's birthday and she would have been 75 this year. I lost my mom earlier this year to cancer. I was telling my therapist about how I thought about posting a remembrance on social media about my mom, but decided against it. I decided I wanted to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself and celebrate my mom by myself. Later on the night as was getting ready to go to bed, I was flipping through the channels and saw the Kennedy Center Honors on TV. I notice the singer, who I think was Carrie Underwood singing the song Blue Bayou. It was Linda Ronstadt's version and low and behold 30 seconds later their was Linda up in the honorary balcony with Kennedy Center Honorary Metal on. It was at that point in my story that I found myself at my healing moment. My story stopped. I could not talk anymore all I could do was feel the tears come from my eyes. A few moments later as I looked up and through the ceiling, I smiled and my body relaxed and I let go. It was an extremely strong and emotional experience that I am so happy that I got to experience. I was able to finish my story by telling Jeff that Linda Ronstadt was my mom's favorite artist and that I had been listening to here albums since I was about 8 years old. I knew my mom was having a grand birthday celebration that night. 

I and so thankful and grateful to have found this personal growth and vulnerableness yesterday. I walked out of Jeff's studio feeling physically and emotionally better than I have felt in a long time. The human touch is an amazingly strong and powerful force. It is capable of so many great experiences in our lives.  Thank you Jeff for all your help and care.

Michael Meeker