On the Body

I decline the PT under the advice of another physician (friend) who sends a packet of at-home exercises which cost approximately 41 cents postage, as opposed to $70 twice a week for several months.

I sign on for a 5-session deal with a local Feldenkrais movement therapist at $45 a pop. Not cheap but not expensive and it comes recommended from my acupuncturist. Part of this plan also gives me access to audio CD’s I can work with at home to deepen my healing practices.

I review my little food and exercise notebook, which I began the day after I passed my blue belt test. I have exercised 14 out of the last 18 days. My pain has not lessened but it has not gotten worse. I could be eating a little better (those sugar cravings that parallel the menstrual cycle are something else!) but I’m eating better portions, so that counts for something.

Hanshi has asked Jeff and I to start training for the Pine Tree test. That’s the one wher eyou have 60 minutes to run three miles, do 500 front kicks, 75 punches holding a 10 pound weight, 10 push ups, 30 sit ups, 2 minutes continuous sparring on the bag, 200 jump rope jumps (no misses), and probably something else I’m forgetting. Jeff wants to do it by this summer. I feel I’ll be luck if I can do this within two years.

…But I have to start somewhere. Right now, my starting steps are tiny and they have to be at the level of home-physical therapy and work with the Feldenkrais audios. I’d like to lose 25 pounds but I can’t seem to make that happen. I weigh the same I’ve weighed for the past year and a half, although I know my legs are stronger because I can actually see where the muscles are developing more. Still, if I’m lighter on my joints I’ll heal better and stay better longer and I’ll be that much faster for the test.

One day at a time, right?

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