Maybe All We Need Is Sleep

2.6.2020
Having been a professional ballet dancer, instructor, Personal Trainer, etc. etc. for my whole life, my body has suffered some abuse. Now in my 70’s I continue to teach barre and ballet classes demonstrating everything full out because I love it so much.

Lately the doc says I have worn out my lumbar spine. I certainly won’t let that stop me! The Lord is teaching me how to avoid pain there when I am teaching. For me it is all in the posture. If I keep my shoulder blades down and back and my ribs, especially the bottom ones, knit together, it takes the stress out of my lumbar area. With my glutes relaxed, my “corset” of core muscles takes the load. I can move freely and without pain.
Another school of thought that helps take the stress off of the inflamed area is this: If I (intensely) activate my abs and glutes and keep them that way, they take the load and remove it from the lumbar spine. The abs and glutes can take it. The Lord told me how to do this some years ago when I asked Him how to relax a muscle spasm in my lower back. He said, “How do you relax a muscle in ballet?” It is simply that you put the “tension” or tightness into a different muscle, i.e. the abs.

However, when I come home after teaching 3 classes in a row, it is a different story. My whole body aches. I do Epsom salt baths, heating pad, ice, you name it, but what really does it for me is sleep. When I say “sleep”, I don’t mean a 15-minute nap, or even a 3-hour nap. I am talking about 8 – 10 hours of really deep, restorative sleep.

Working out physically tears down our muscles. It is during times of rest that they are repairing and building. When we enjoy that long deep sleep, not only are our muscles rebuilding, but our entire body is healing!
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May this be a helpful reminder to all of us. Wishing you sweet dreams as your amazing body regenerates!.