Healing vs. Harming Movement

If you are just starting your journey towards healing your pain through movement practices like Pilates, one of the keys to your success will be learning the difference between healing and harming movement.

If you’ve ever hurt yourself running, skiing, lifting heavy boxes, or even (gasp!) practicing Pilates, you know that movement can cause injury. And sometimes the difference between healing and harming movement isn’t always clear - that’s why you didn’t just stop before you hurt yourself that other time.

In our “no pain no gain” culture, we’re not taught to listen clearly and interpret our body’s signals. Because actually, pain is a sure sign to do something different.

However, when you’re in pain already, sometimes just deepening your breath and feeling into your body can wake up the sensation of pain.

Like, suddenly you’re aware that you have a shoulder. And dang, that shoulder HURTS.

That doesn’t mean you should stop breathing and feeling.

This is when you need the advanced asana of learning the difference between movement that CAUSES pain and movement that EXPOSES pain.

If you’re working with an active injury, when you start to feel pain come up in your practice, ask that body part: is this movement causing pain or just bringing awareness to the pain that’s already present?

And listen for the answer.

If you’re really not sure, back out of the movement or pose partway. See if you can find a more tolerable version. And find out what happens next.

Or, if you would like some expert guidance as you learn this critical life skill, sign up for a Back in Action Pilates Assessment with one of our teachers.

They’ve all got experience working with injuries and chronic pain of all kinds, and will help you learn the skills you need to practice safely and powerfully.

Click here to sign up.