Welcome to my journey.

    I've been meaning to journal my journey that I've been on for a long time. Especially since I started practicing yoga to make it a party of my life, instead of an occasional activity that I was actually very passionate about. This journey of mine, started about 5 years ago or so, in my late teens, as a quest to find a lifestyle that rids me of chronic pain. 
     Through out the past give years I have learned many things, done on my own, some through classes and massage therapy school. Recently, I came to the place where I was fed up with some of my bad habits that I knew were an unhealthy part of my lifestyle. I gave up some things, dedicated to some other things, and have been in a place of a lot of growth and learning in and about the health of my whole being.
      I chose to begin journaling tonight with this entry because I feel like I just learned a head-load in the yoga class I just left. I am also pretty caffeinated, which is the big thing I learned tonight.
    I quit my habitual morning coffee on December 1st because I knew it was wreaking havoc on my health. My moods and emotions were such a roller coaster, most days I would be absolutely drained from the  multitude of ups and downs I would experience in one day. I have been in a significant period of mental and emotional growth in my life for the past year, so it was not the caffeine alone that was causing my mood swings, but it was most definitely making it much more difficult to center and calm my thoughts and emotions.
     Since I quit, I have had a couple of caffeinated treats. A cup of tea here or a chocolate there. I could feel the effects, and one day when I had a tea and chocolate, I knew that I wouldn't be doing that again.  So this evening, I went to my yoga class with one scoop (half the recommended amount) of my boyfriends' protein shake that has added caffeine before going to the class. I was exhausted because I've been so busy at work with a lot of massages, using a lot of little muscles of mine way too much. So I thought it would be beneficial to amp up my workout a bit and wake up those big, important muscles that I need to learn to use more while I give massage.
     Well, I won't be doing that again. we started the class in a seated pose. I felt normal, until the instructor told us to close our eyes. I did, and noticed that my eyelids were fluttering rapidly and I couldn't still them. uh oh. through out the class, I didn't feel like I had more energy, but I did strain the right side of my back going to far into side angle pose. what!? I have never strained anything in yoga before! I'm always very mindful of my 'edge'. This time, I was less mindful, and my muscles were slightly cramped from the dehydration they were experiencing from the caffeine.
     I realized today, I no longer enjoy the feeling of being caffeinated, at all. My breathing is short and shallow, my hands are on the edge of being shaky, I keep becoming aware that I'm clenching my jaw and I keep having to let it go. This is horrible for my body! I can't wait to get this out of my system! bleh!!
      On another note, I did get into  crow pose tonight for the first time ever! I couldn't hold it for long. Only about one second, but that's one more second than I've ever done before! I knew I was going to get it this week!! We also did a lot of hip openers tonight, and I noticed a lot of emotion rising up in me at a couple of points. Almost every yogi will tell you that tight hips hold a lot of emotions. I'm interested in what more I'll find as I gradually become more open in my hips.
     I apologize for any spelling errors made on this post, and in future posts, because I am writing this and will probably write many more on the bus coming home from yoga.
Namaste!

What is a trigger point?

Mending Hands - Melissa Finley Massage Therapy Park Slope Brooklyn 11215 Swedish Institute: What is a trigger point?

Whatever you focus on increases. Focusing on pain? Negativity? Worry? Change your focus, change your outcome.

Hello readers!

     Welcome to my blog, Free Rein from Pain! This blog will supply you with tips, tricks, thoughts, and information for living pain-free, healthily and happily affordably and holisticly!
     I decided to create this blog because I am avidly seeking out healthier lifestyle for myself,  and in the business of helping others find options and answers for a healthier body and lifestyle.
     I look forward to sharing many exciting and revitalizing tips with you for your being!

Thanks for reading