As we wrap up another snowbird season and I come up for air, I realize it’s been a minute since my last blog. It’s something I enjoy doing but when the studio gets so busy, it is something that can be put on hold. We love our snowbirds and miss them when they are gone but now is a chance to play catch up!

Another reason I’ve delayed posting a new blog is because I hurt my back. As a Pilates instructor that is hard to admit! I spend my days helping others feel better and relieve their back pain. How could I hurt my back?? In the past I may have had a little ache or pain and I went to the chiropractor a few times a year. That and regular Pilates were what I needed to keep my back healthy. This was different. It was 24/7 aching and limited movement, multiple Chiro visits, and an Xray followed by about a month and a half of very limited activity.

I started to really examine my lifestyle and habits to figure out what got me to this place. What caused this and what could fix this? Fortunately, the Xray showed no signs of fracture or displacement of the discs in my thoracic spine - where my issues resided. (For reference - the area where a bra strap runs across your back was my area of pain and trouble). I examined which Pilates movements felt good (extension) and which did not work for me (flexion). I started doing research on pain in the Thoracic Spine and what could be the cause. At the end of the day it seemed I most likely had a buiging disc. My Chiro felt this was the case and PT exercises for a bulging thoracic spine disc seemed to help.

As I read more about bulging discs in the thoracic spine, I discovered that it’s not that common unless you have a job that requires repeated forward flexion throughout your day. It was no coincidence this sprung up in the middle of snowbird season where I repeatedly throughout the hour and day bent over and changed springs on seven reformers over and over again! Of course I know and I preach squatting and sparing your back but in the rush of a busy class that’s not what I was doing. Once I made this correlation, I decided to try for a week not changing springs and asking students to do it themselves. Admittedly I felt a bit like a jerk standing by instead of helping! My students knew why and were supportive to point of scolding me if I tried to help! In that week my back calmed down and begin to feel a little better. I was on to something!

It’s been three months now and I have resumed most normal activity. There are still a few movements that don’t work that well for me. I am continuing to do my PT exercises and listen to my back. I am continuing to not change springs even though I would prefer to help!

This whole experience hit home for me the movements that we do throughout the day can be to our betterment or detriment. Even though I regularly practiced Pilates, that could not offset a faulty movement pattern I was using throughout the day. This experience also gave me a new level of empathy for my students with back pain and the fear of movement that can come from that uncertainty. I am grateful for my Pilates knowledge that helped me get back to movement and changed my daily pattern for the better.