Seems like the saying “No Pain, No Gain” gets used quite a bit in the fitness world.  I however would like to say with pain, no gain.

So, what does this mean?

For me, it means when you are in pain or sick, there are no gains, it is time for healing.

Recently, I allowed myself to suffer needlessly.  Some  say I have a high pain tolerance which I would agree with.  I can lessen the intensity of pain simply through breathing techniques I have learned over the years.  This can help tremendously and it can also hurt.

I had some ribs out and didn’t realize the magnitude until I shifted them a bit more while squatting.

Needless to say, the day after squatting I felt excruciating pain in my back and stomach.  I felt like my ribs were poking my lungs. The following day, I started to notice a rash starting to form on my torso, along with even more pain.  I had no other choice then to pay attention and find a solution.

Jay and I were to be in Mexico in 2 days and my body was breaking down.  We scheduled a trip to the chiropractor Monday (which was the following day).  As a matter of fact, I had a few ribs out which after some massaging, the chiropractor manipulated back into place (as I screamed with tears rolling down my face).  It hurt so good because I knew it was fixed.

Now, what was this rash forming on my body?

I showed it to the chiropractor and he informed me I had shingles.  FUCK!  I was  leaving to Mexico the next day!?

Luckily, I was able to get an appointment with the dermatologist the same day after we finished with the chiropractor. She prescribed some medication and indicated I was not contagious and the trip would actually help me to relax.

With my rib fixed and medication in my system, I was ready to go to Mexico.

Let me tell you, this dis-EASE has taught me so much about paying more attention to my body and the feedback it is giving me.

I love to look at Louise Hay’s Book “You Can Heal Your Life” when I have any type of ailment as I feel this can at least give me a starting point of where the underlying issues could be.

I looked up shingles and it stated:

Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fear and tension. Too sensitive.  

She indicates a new thought pattern could be:

I am relaxed and peaceful because I trust the process of life.  All is well in my world.

So what now?

What do I do with all of this and how do I get better?  I had plenty of people urging me not to go.

I know if I stop and take some time for me to get away from all the chaos going on, it would help.  I have a knowing that all will be well when we go on the trip.  So, we continue our plans as scheduled.

I learned so much on this trip and dealing with shingles. I actually detached from any expectations of how and what the trip would like.

This was to be a fantastic trip to connect with some of Jay’s friends, see pyramids, dance and simply enjoy time away.  I went knowing it could and would turn out much differently then I had anticipated.

The trip turned out to be an amazing trip.  Jay was able to have guy time with his buddies and enjoy time away from me as I slept in the room.  When I was feeling good, I went out and enjoyed time with them.

I actually danced all day (2 days) at pool parties and crashed out at night to recover. We were able to visit the ancient ruins and have some amazing dinners.

Getting shingles was actually a gift.  I was able to rest, take a step back and heal.  So many times I go and push through but does this really help at all times.  It is so important to listen to your body and give it moments to rest otherwise it will come back and make you listen.  The shingles also reminded me, I am more than my body.  I can and do exist far beyond this skin suit I wear.  I choose to experience fully this journey of life.  Part of this is to not hold back if I know I can handle something.  Shingles is not the end all be all.  It can feel like someone is stabbing me then feel like I have bugs crawling in my skin.  Yet, if I sit and focus on the pain, it is magnified.  If I breathe through it, it dissipates.

Remember to not let your ego run the show when you are training or exercising.

Your ego may tell you “no pain, no gain” but do you want your gain to be a long time injury?

Be smart about what you will push through and KNOW your body.  If you do get hurt, don’t play victim to the pain.  Allow yourself to heal and make compromises to allow yourself to heal effectively.  At some point, we may all get hurt and get a sickness yet who do we choose to be when this occurs?

Keep living fully and completely peeps! There is so much to experience in this big, beautiful world!

Know thy self and BE the BEST YOU EVER!