It Takes a Village

So here we are in November.  In the UAE that means we can get back outside and enjoy bluer skies, fresher air and beautiful sunsets.  It also means the bugs are back and I am currently being eaten alive by the feisty mosquitoes who have been laying low and are clearly hungry and making up for lost time.

Psychologically and physically autumn is the time to get your act together, finish up projects that you have started and put aside the ones that aren't working out the way you had hoped.  We should be cleaning up our diet with a cleanse and plenty of seasonal veg and spices, and getting our respiratory system working with lots of breath work, fresh air and outdoor exercise.  It's also the time of year to focus on commitment, so whatever you say you are going to do, make sure you stick to it.  Get a healthy morning routine in place that you can stick to that wakes the body and stimulates your lymphatic system.  For me that means some dry body brushing followed by a cold shower (well at least for the first few minutes, and admittedly there is no way I would have been doing this bit in Scotland) and diffusing lots of aromatherapy oils that clear the airways (eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme and tea tree are great).  In our practice we focus on using the breath to guide our movements, opening the chest with back bends to increase our lung capacity and starting and finishing each session with some pranayama.

I'm relieved as the slower pace and focus of the flow is suiting my body as I continue to heal my injured back and learn to work with a recently discovered scoliosis in my lumbar spine.  This causes uneven pressure through my SI joint resulting in occasional flare ups and a lot of tightness through the pelvis, hips and glutes.  My commitment this Autumn is therefore to stay focused on this healing process and invest my time and money in working with the right people to keep me on track and guide me in the right direction.  I have been so lucky to find some amazing people who have helped me so far on this journey and I thought I would name check a few of them in this post to say a big thank you and help others who may be wondering which way to turn to fix things when they are broken:

My doctor: The orthopaedic doctor at Harley street medical centre in Abu Dhabi who saw me when my pain was severe, worked out what was causing the issue by giving me an X-Ray within half an hour and then promptly stuck a needle in the sore bits to help me walk out of there. Thank you for your quick, kind and friendly service.

My sports massage therapist: Thank you Google for finding me Claire Wyness who got me on the massage table and helped ease the muscle spasms. She is continuing to work with me to release the tension in the soft tissue that is pulling my spine and pelvis out of shape. She in turn referred me to...

My physio: Amy at BounceBack in Yas Marina, who analysed what is causing the problem, stuck more needles in me to promote healing in the joints and muscles, moved me about to get things back into place and gave me a programme of therapeutic exercises to strengthen what is weak (mostly my pelvic floor and adductors) and release what is tight (hip flexors, hamstrings, glutes). 

My yoga teachers: Santina Giardina Chard from afar and Nea Ferrier slightly closer to hand at Ashtanga Yoga Dubai. Both these beautiful Aussie yogis have stepped up when I have needed them and taken the time and interest to check in with me, keep me motivated and make suggestions that help me stay on the mat and practising in a way which is both safe and healing.  A big namaste to you both.

The anatomy guru: Stu Girling of Love Yoga Anatomy whose workshop in Dubai last weekend helped me to understand what is going on in my body and how to use yoga to both open up what is stuck and protect what is vulnerable.

In AYD's fancy new location at The Westin, Al Habtoor City for some anatomy fun with Stu Girling.

My osteopaths - Lindsey Docherty in the UK, for introducing me to this magical treatment and helping me find someone who could carry on her good work here in the UAE.  I've just started working with Dr Esther Navarro at the Osteopathic Health Centre in Dubai who is taking a holistic approach to healing the mechanical issues in my body with her amazing craniosacral adjustments, whilst also helping me to rebalance my hormones and digestion, releasing tension and rebalancing energy through my whole nervous system.

I should of course also thank all my friends, family and colleagues who have stepped in to lend a hand when I have needed it.  I am very lucky to be surrounded by such awesomeness.

That's a lot of people, and a lot of time and money (thank goodness for insurance), but I only have one body and I have learnt that I can't rely on one person, least of all myself, to fix it.  True healing takes a village and it is up to you to seek out the right people in that village to meet your needs.  

Yoga has taught me that everything in the body is connected - breath, mind, body, spirit.  We are an amazing mix of atoms and emotions magically thrown together and capable of doing great things, but we are also pretty breakable and there is usually a whole host of reasons that lead to any crisis point. True healing is hardly ever as simple as sticking a plaster on something and waiting for it to get better.  My physical problems have been caused by a multitude of factors that have built up slowly over time and it will take a lot more time, effort and commitment to carefully undo them.  However, I quite like my body and would like it to keep working for a while longer yet.  I wish I had sought help earlier, but now that I have found it, I won't be letting go any time soon.