I’m currently in PT for some chronic hip and back pain that started postpartum over six years ago. Yes I’ve been living with this for years. I haven’t done nothing. I did virtual PT during the pandemic when it started, which helped it go from disabling pain to manageable. After that I did yoga and in last few years strength training which seems to help only if I do it several times a week.
I finally got convinced to go to an in person PT about a month ago. Within three days my pain was reduced. The wild thing to me is that my at home exercises are all stretches I’ve done before in Pilates or yoga. The difference is I am not allowed to go super deep into them. I hold back to focus on my problem area. I finally feel like it might be possible to not have this pain the rest of my life. It’s annoying because going to PT in the morning has messed up my strength training schedule and I know I’ll need to use lighter weights again for a bit to build back up. But I’m grateful to myself (and insurance) that I’m finally showing up to solve this problem.
This is incredible, Katie. Just wild that you started to feel relief after 3 days when it’s not as though you hadn’t been doing anything to try to improve things! Such a solid investment in building the foundation you need to do all the other great things you want to do <3
I’ve been in PT for almost 2 years, after 2 shoulder surgeries. I am extremely grateful for my heath insurance, which has paid for twice a week sessions. I’m also grateful that I can walk to my PT, can arrange my schedule to go during the workday, afford to buy equipment for doing the exercises at home, and have an awesome physical therapist. All of this has made going to PT easier for me to do over such a long period of time. Without all of the support and time I know I would not have been able to be consistent with PT and regain as much mobility as I have.
I'm actually preparing to write about something similar! But for now I'd simply add that suggesting that "yoga should be free for everyone" (like yoga with adriene does, famously), doesn't democratize the practice of yoga; it diminishes it.
Yes, I want movement to be accessible, which is why I have a free youtube channel.
But I also have an online membership (which is not insanely expensive and even has levels of payment access based on needs). I've been teaching for 20 years. I am very good at what I do. Paying for expertise is important.
I think this is true for the complicated body stuff you mention, but also just for the fact that teaching movement is a skill.
Yes, moving your body is free. But having the support of a highly qualified teacher can make a big difference in how you move.
Thank you, Mara! I’ve been thinking about it for MONTHS but couldn’t quite articulate it. Then wrote this a few weeks ago and sat on it for ages because I just wasn’t sure. Your enthusiasm means so much!!
I think this is a more well-thought out way to explain (and certainly better than I can) to people that paying just a smidge more for tailored care, if one has the means, is way better than “dogging it out” and hoping indirect approaches will eventually help oneself out 😅 I’ll be sharing this!!
I’m currently in PT for some chronic hip and back pain that started postpartum over six years ago. Yes I’ve been living with this for years. I haven’t done nothing. I did virtual PT during the pandemic when it started, which helped it go from disabling pain to manageable. After that I did yoga and in last few years strength training which seems to help only if I do it several times a week.
I finally got convinced to go to an in person PT about a month ago. Within three days my pain was reduced. The wild thing to me is that my at home exercises are all stretches I’ve done before in Pilates or yoga. The difference is I am not allowed to go super deep into them. I hold back to focus on my problem area. I finally feel like it might be possible to not have this pain the rest of my life. It’s annoying because going to PT in the morning has messed up my strength training schedule and I know I’ll need to use lighter weights again for a bit to build back up. But I’m grateful to myself (and insurance) that I’m finally showing up to solve this problem.
This is incredible, Katie. Just wild that you started to feel relief after 3 days when it’s not as though you hadn’t been doing anything to try to improve things! Such a solid investment in building the foundation you need to do all the other great things you want to do <3
I’ve been in PT for almost 2 years, after 2 shoulder surgeries. I am extremely grateful for my heath insurance, which has paid for twice a week sessions. I’m also grateful that I can walk to my PT, can arrange my schedule to go during the workday, afford to buy equipment for doing the exercises at home, and have an awesome physical therapist. All of this has made going to PT easier for me to do over such a long period of time. Without all of the support and time I know I would not have been able to be consistent with PT and regain as much mobility as I have.
I’m SO glad you’ve been able to get coverage for this! And so glad that you’ve been able to stay so consistent.
I'm actually preparing to write about something similar! But for now I'd simply add that suggesting that "yoga should be free for everyone" (like yoga with adriene does, famously), doesn't democratize the practice of yoga; it diminishes it.
Yes, I want movement to be accessible, which is why I have a free youtube channel.
But I also have an online membership (which is not insanely expensive and even has levels of payment access based on needs). I've been teaching for 20 years. I am very good at what I do. Paying for expertise is important.
I think this is true for the complicated body stuff you mention, but also just for the fact that teaching movement is a skill.
Yes, moving your body is free. But having the support of a highly qualified teacher can make a big difference in how you move.
This is such an important point too. Look forward to your piece!
This is so great Anna... Such a helpful way of framing all these big questions.
Thank you, Mara! I’ve been thinking about it for MONTHS but couldn’t quite articulate it. Then wrote this a few weeks ago and sat on it for ages because I just wasn’t sure. Your enthusiasm means so much!!
I think this is a more well-thought out way to explain (and certainly better than I can) to people that paying just a smidge more for tailored care, if one has the means, is way better than “dogging it out” and hoping indirect approaches will eventually help oneself out 😅 I’ll be sharing this!!
Thank you so much, Kirk!