by Marcey Klein BS, CNC
Everything is a balancing act, life itself is not static. We need to be flexible if we want to survive our hectic lives – or our not so hectic lives – even too little stress on us isn’t good. Our bodies and minds need us to be flexible and able to have a balance between the yin and the yang. I had for so many years rushed and rushed. I was very academic, and athletic. I pressed, I pushed: I did bodybuilding. I was always building, tightening, doing the yang. Then in my adulthood this yang life style really caught up on me. My tight shoulders, my tight neck, my tight back caused chronic pain and super hard neck and back muscles. I always thought those tight muscles meant I was super strong, until my chiropractor told me those were chronic muscle spasms and burst my bubble. Well I realized that this tightness causes more fatigue and pain in those areas since blood isn’t able to freely flow there to bring oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. These out of balance muscles eventually caused a problem in my shoulder that I just couldn’t ignore anymore. For me surgery seemed like the best option. I realize it is not a fix all, and I have really decided to take my health and body into my own hands during my recuperation and beyond. I am doing the yin now. I am really enjoying stretching and listening to my body. I am creative with my activity, as our bodies love to have variety. Every day is something different. For far too long did I do the same thing over and over again. I mostly do a variety of stretching, balancing, strengthening, and incorporating a movement that will bring my heart rate up – to work that muscle as well. I just have fun and try to play like a kid. And you know, my body has really responded well to all this variety, stretching, and cardio. I have released much tension, I have gained strength, tone and stamina. I still have the world’s tightest neck muscles and I am still working on that shoulder, but I have hope that this pain will eventually go away. I am working on the pain and inflammation by doing intermittent fasting, drinking alkalizing smoothies, and taking nutrients to support muscle relaxation. Yes, you take your