Skidoosh!

I watched Kung Fu Panda again last night. I really love that movie, as it never fails to both entertain me and inspire me.

I have started physiotherapy for my ankle. However it may help, I find that a lot of the exercises I am supposed to be doing, I actually do in Kung Fu. Tai Chi requires me to use balance and control on both feet/ legs, and in the kids classes, by throwing kicks with my left leg, I can work on some strength and balance in the right ankle.

I am still frustrated with it however, but feel better about accepting where I am at. I have been able to adapt my training, and while I still need reminders to be careful, I am more at peace with the injury. Not completely, but more than I have been. I do long to go harder in class, and push myself, but that will come with time.

It is interesting to see how injuries change your approach. You never realize how much you take your body for granted until it forces you to step back.

I have been reading a little on overuse injuries, and sports injuries. And of course the way to prevent and treat them. Obviously a main treatment is rest. Most of the time, that is easier said than done. You need to have a sensible approach to your training, and you need to be aware of your body and what it is telling you. Stretching mindfully is important, as is training mindfully.

Without that awareness, it is easy to push yourself too far and find yourself dealing with an injury. Not all injuries are preventable (such as getting tangled in a lion cloth during a head stack dismount), but using awareness and mindfulness is vital in recovery. That is something I am still learning. I still want to push my limits, and I have a difficult time babying my injuries.

But it was cool the other night that I was able to throw a few really weak kicks, with about 5% contact to a shield. That rocked, and made me happy. It might not have been smart, but I made sure I used extra care.

Skidoosh!