Me, alone. Life after loss.
In our unique human capacity of connecting movement with breath and spiritual meaning, yoga is born. ~ Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
As the diabetic neuropathy in my legs and feet gets worse, my balance suffers also, which is a bit disconcerting for me. I will need a cane soon. I'm actually looking for one, but I want one of those cool, old fashioned, gentlemanly canes. Not the kind you get in a medical supply house. Something along these lines:
I haven't pursued it as I don't want to order it online. I want to see it, feel it, the height and grip. Around here I use one of the antique golf clubs Errol inherited from my friend Fran's father-in-law. It's the perfect fit, but not sure if I should take it to town or not. Maybe, yes? Still, a cool cane would make the transition easier for me (the one to wobbly old woman, yes).
I'm a firm believer that there's usually something you can do to help yourself get better. In my 30s and 40s, I did a lot of yoga. I loved it, I loved the spiritual aspect of it, I loved the peace of a yoga class ending with relaxation like none you would ever feel anywhere else.
Then I stopped. I have tried many times to pick it up again, but I've never overcome the initial hurdles of my inability to do things correctly, my lack of balance, my general stiffness, my breathing issues even.
Tired of excuses, I used the last money on the Amazon gift card I got for Christmas from my friend Judy to buy a yoga mat, much like the one above. Determined to do yoga again, I tried for a while, then stopped. Again. Why I don't know.
I want to promise myself, here and now, to begin again. Once a week, is all. Sunday mornings would be perfect.
Will let you know how it goes.
Will let you know how it goes.
Well, I tried yoga once, well actually a few sessions, and then I pulled a muscle near my ribs so badly, gave the whole thing away. Cane, I called mine a walking stick, and the right height is so important. I used one for years, after spinal surgery ( and before) and was told that the height was right when I bent my arm so slightly, and the level should be somewhere near my hips.Don't be afraid to use one, one day my PRIDE got the better of me, remember I was only 43 or so,and I went to town without it. Pain struck, so badly, I must have looked a sight walking, limping, shuffling back to the car, I had to have one hand on all the shop windows to make sure I didn't land on the pavement.Never again, I had it all the time after that.Love your example, and I am sure you will find one.And your header photo, what a beautiful landscape.
ReplyDeleteHi Inger - I can't do Yoga - too inflexible .. maybe it was the hip and its birth defect ... I'll never know now. But exercises of some description will definitely help ... gentle ones and doing a few everyday I'm sure will help. I love the idea of the golf-club walking stick .. I'm sure someone in town will find you one that suits you ... if you appear with a golf-club?! Love the thought of it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck .. I'm sure you'll start and the habit will be ingrained by the colder days of winter ... when the old joints feel less rarin' to go ... take care and congratulations on Y ... cheers Hilary
Good for you! Although we are at different life stages, I too am trying to pick up yoga and physical activity again. So, I will pledge along with you to do yoga at least once a week starting on Sunday. Will keep you posted.
ReplyDeletehello inger
ReplyDeletei'm a first time visitor.
i have stopped by from kim's 'life at golden pines.'
and having read this post...
and i'm about to do something I NEVER do!
i too love and practice yoga and have for years. i couldn't do without it.
but the reason i'm commenting... i'm having some neuropathy now too.
i have done some research on it and recently found this site.
neuropathytreatmentgroup.com
it's a totally natural supplement.
i haven't ordered any for myself yet so i can't give a first hand account.
i DID however read well over 120 individual responses to them from people who tried it and were amazed.
people who had suffered terribly with it for years. and the supplement simply stopped it.
you might take a look. see what you think.
i NEVER push this kind of thing onto people. especially to someone i don't even know!
and i do apologize! for i know it probably seems terribly intrusive and brash.
but i also know the misery now of neuropathy myself ... and thought it worth sharing.
and best of luck in finding a beautiful cane like you want.
but perhaps with your yoga and that natural supplement... you might not even need it!
all the best to you!
There are many benefits.
ReplyDeleteYou might check resale shops for your idea cane.
Have a blessed weekend.
i've always wanted to try/learn yoga but never have. i hope you'll pick it up again.
ReplyDeleteI've never really gotten into yoga but I'm going to try it now before I get any stiffer!
ReplyDeleteI tried yoga for a while when I could still get off the floor. I do not have the 'stick'to'it'iv'ness' required to get any good out of it.
ReplyDeleteI have a generic aluminum geriatric cane - I would love one of those interesting canes, myself.
Those Yoga positions are way too uncomfortable for me. Tai Chi exercises I hear are good for balance and flexibility. Perhaps a DVD of simple Tai Chi exercises? I hate to hear that about your feet and legs. :-(
ReplyDeleteLike you, I did a lot of yoga in my 40s. I also stopped -- don't know why, really. I really enjoyed yoga class -- and the relaxation at the end was the best. I have my mat and blocks and blanket at home but rarely use them. I know there are restorative yoga classes that focus on, and are structured for, people with medical issues. We took classes from one when we were in Orange County -- it was really good for Brett with his joint issues. My balance is awful. It never was great and now its just horrible. I should start doing yoga too. It would be neat if you could find someone who makes custom canes - then you could get one long enough, that is stylish, and doesn't look like it came from the hospital. (they are so ugly).
ReplyDeletegood luck with the yoga, i find the pool helps me so much, but i know you dont have easy access to a pool. i am way to fat to do yoga but i can dod a lot of exercises in the pool and when i get out if feel just like you said yoga did for you I say if the golf club works, use it.
ReplyDeleteI used to do yoga too and gave it up when I had the early stage of Rheumatoid Arthritis - now I'd love to get back to it, but just can't seem to get motivated enough to go to a class - perhaps I'll join you on your once a week challenge and report back .
ReplyDeleteI did yoga in my twenties and early thirties, but due to foot operations, I can't do it any more. I can't hold the poses which require a strong foot position. So I turned to toning with free weights and still think that is the best for anyone with injuries as you can gradually increase the weight as you get stronger. I also do some exercise ball workouts too. Good luck, Inger.
ReplyDeleteI tried Yoga once. It just wasn't for me! But I agree that whatever we do that helps ourselves makes us better people. Luck to you on finding that awesome cane.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do. It is so good for us in so many ways. I miss yoga and wish we had classes here. It is exercise that both relaxes and energizes. Besides as an old gal, I need to work on flexibility. The first thing to go.
ReplyDeleteTried Yoga but just couldn't get into it. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteAs you know walking is my thing. : )
once a week, on Sunday mornings...sounds perfect.
ReplyDeleteplease let me know how it goes dear. my neuropathy is worse, and worse.
ReplyDeleteI never tried Yoga. Recently I think about to do Yoga to learn to be and feel more relaxed and unstressed.
ReplyDeleteI will think again about it. My daughter Sofia do Yoga and love it. I hope you begin again.
Love your header photo!
Have a nice weekend!
Perfect start....you won't need that cane in no time. I started (I am 70) 5 years ago and I had terrible balance and planter fasciitis and it's gone and I have great balance. It was a life saver. You can do it.
ReplyDeleteI start some things with great enthusiasm, but too often give it up because, deep down inside, I really don't want to do the work. I have always wanted to try yoga, but found excuses to put it off. I got so far as to buying a mat and pants. The pants are great and my cat likes to lay on the mat.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought of having someone make you a cane for your needs? Maybe your doctor would know of someone and It does not hurt to ask.