Dance to your own rhythm

This is me………………………………I am starting to emerge from wherever it is, that I have been lying dormant, waiting for this moment.

Life has been a bit of a struggle the last couple of months and I been battling with my health, not necessarily Fibromyalgia, but a lot of chronic fatigue and issues with coughing and the infection in my lung. Having had all the tests and the medical profession finding nothing to report, I had a bit of a déjà vu moment, in 2014 the day that I got my Fibro diagnosis, the life changing label. Only this time it was different. Nothing to report, no diagnosis, no further treatment. I was going to have to find my own way out through this again… I still had the cough, I still had the exhaustion and I still wanted to feel well again.

Having not been to a yoga class for 5 weeks, I decided now was the time to try to find a different sort of yoga, having been practicing a similar type of yoga since my fibro diagnosis, I wanted a more dynamic class, but one where I could still do my own thing, if all became too much.

Well I found it and the venue has a heated floor as well, luxury. It looks out onto the lush green valley side and whilst practicing you have the sound of nature; the screech of a buzzard, the chatter of nesting birds and a small brook babbling away. The class is so different from any other yoga I have taken part in, it is more active with options given for each pose. The session starts with mediation and breathing, which flows on into and through the practice. At the end of the class I feel more energetic, grounded and at peace with my body, mind and soul.

With my new found energy, I also decided I wanted to try out a new fitness class, I’m not a gym bunny and the ideal opportunity arose with a Zumba class. I went to the first session before I had my chest infection, and then unable to attend due to lack of breath for some weeks, I have now returned and I love it.

The fantastic movement that Zumba allows, even for those suffering from chronic pain is that you do what you can and what you want, within your own range of mobility. Even my lack of coordination doesn’t matter, my feet are often going the wrong way, but who cares there is no one watching; well at least I hope not! Apologies to those lovely ladies who end up behind me.

I think I shocked a few people at first, when they heard I had been to a Zumba class, “that’s fast going isn’t it?”, “you be careful” and “wow that’s amazing”. Yes it is amazing, and no matter how young or old you are, or feel, you are given a warm welcome and there are no judgements, your body joins into the rhythm of the music and it becomes contagious. After the class a few of us may even head to a local hostelry to replace our lost fluids!

I gradually started to feel better, the more I stretched and exercised my lungs, through walking, yoga, Zumba and a bit of light digging in the garden, the more the coughing ceased, my lungs felt more open and the tiredness began to evaporate. I even noticed that I danced across the lawn when the sun was out last week! I have started to feel more alive, energised and ready to absorb the new wonders that are awaiting me whilst I continue on this magical journey of self-healing, soul expansion and enlightenment.

I believe, if you really want to do something and improve your quality of your life, you just need to give it ago, do it your way. Listen to your own body, let your breath be your guide in dancing to your own rhythm, do what is right for you.

‘Dance like nobody’s watching. If you sense they are, let them make eye contact and smile, show them that your soul is free.’

Behind the Mask

I’ve been really struggling this month, pretending to the outside world that all is well. I am not struggling with chronic pain, but I am struggling with my health. When suffering with Fibromyalgia it can mask other things, so when I feel a bit unwell, I put it down to Fibro and dismiss it. This has resulted in yet another battle I am fighting against ‘holistic versus modern medicine’.

I had another session on the Crystal Healing Bed at Lupton this month, I think they forgot about me so I was on a bit longer than usual and although I did cough a few times, I was left feeling very invigorated with a zest for life. So much so that I even gave a new dance fitness class a go, and discovered the joys of Zumba, I loved it. Knowing I needed to pace myself after completing a vigorous form of exercise, I decided to give my weekly yoga practice a miss. I felt good the following day, apart from an annoying cough that I have had since October.

Towards the end of the week, I was finding myself wheezier and the cough keeping me awake at night. So I made that call to the doctor, I even started apologising for calling them and said I feel a bit of a fraud, as I don’t really feel ill, I just have this annoying cough and its causing some pain when I take a breath in. Turns out the doctor I saw thought I had pleurisy, so given antibiotics to take and rest.

Not one to take antibiotics, I was anxious as to how they were going to impact on my body. I felt a whole lot worse, I started to actually feel and believe I was ill. The mind is so very powerful. I felt sorry for myself and lying around resting, meant not doing anything. I should have gone to have my monthly gong bath, but felt too unwell as my cough seemed to have become worse since visiting the doctor.

A week later, I still had the cough so returned to the doctor, this time sent for a chest x-ray and given a short course of steroids. Expecting the steroids to kick in and the cough to ease, I couldn’t have expected the reaction I had, on the first day of taking them; I thought my blood was boiling, I had a massive pulse in my neck and could feel the blood pumping down into my legs. I took to my yoga bolster, and put my legs up in the air in a supported shoulder stand and gave my body some long gentle breaths until I felt calm and grounded again.

Having had antibiotics, steroids a chest x-ray that shows nothing sinister. The doctor seems to be at a loss, so I’m now waiting to have some blood taken. In the meantime I have been battling with fighting this holistically and the intervention of modern medicine.

I went for healing this week and whilst receiving my treatment, the healer working with me started to cough, I however did not for the whole session I lay there and at the end I felt a lot lighter, my energy had shifted, my wheezing eased.

I am a strong believer that we all have the ability to heal ourselves, but when your energy levels are so low, it ok to ask for help. That help can come in the form of holistic therapy healing or with medical intervention.

Thinking back, our ancestors must have asked for help and advice and would maybe have visited the local shaman or wise person, who using their skills and knowledge would have prescribed a medicine made from natural ingredients or a ritual to carry out to rid you of your disease.

I think it is about balance, the battle I have going on is of my own making.  It is important for me to live by the values that are important to me and my lifestyle. I don’t pretend to be someone who is pure and perfect and living this wonderful holistic dream. This is part of my journey and I have free will to make choices about how I treat my health. If I decide that modern medicine and holistic therapy can work together to help heal my body; then so be it.......

“Remove the mask, and be that magical, beautiful, genuine, and not quite perfect person, you really are”

The Crystal Healing Bed

This month has been a struggle, I suffered from a massive flare up, which caused all my joints to burn and the excruciating pain meant that I could not sleep at night, even the duvet touching me made me cry with the pain. I knew this was not just a pain flare up but was caused by a virus probably flu that meant my body was unable to fight it. I ended up taking some pain relief if only just to be able to function as a human being. I rested and tried to remain focused on healing myself slowly using self-reiki treatments, honey, lemon and ginger drinks, I even made myself a fresh turmeric and puy lentil soup to ease the inflammation (if using fresh turmeric remember to put on protective gloves, I didn’t and ended up with bright yellow fingers. Not a great look!) .

Having rested for week, I started to feel better and then last Tuesday took myself off to Lupton House, Brixham to the healing cafe for some much needed me time. It was while I was waiting for healing treatment that I enquired about the Crystal Therapy bed and was told that is was available now and would I like to have a treatment. I agreed, having never experienced this type of therapy before I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

I was shown to a room upstairs above the crystal shop and adjacent to the Sanctuary, it contained a bed with a stand above it with the crystals pointing down. There are 7 crystals that each have a coloured laser light relating to each of the Chakras, I was invited to remove my footwear, lie down covered with a blanket on a really comfortable bed with an eye mask, some candles were lit and some beautiful music put on to accompany me on my healing journey and I was left alone.

I lay there not sure what was going to happen and as I started to relax I felt very calm and serene and experienced lots of, as I can only describe; shards of rainbow light. I thought that there must be something like a crystal hanging in the window causing this effect, so I lifted my eye mask and looked about the room, nothing, but still the rainbow lights glistened in my vision. So I shut my eyes and went with it. At one point I felt as if my forehead was being gently massaged, it was so reassuring that I did not feel the need to take a peek. Knowing that I was alone, tucked up and very comfortable.

As I lay there for the whole treatment I did not cough once, having been so poorly the week prior this was a truly a blessing. I’m not sure if I stayed awake or dozed, but I knew I was experiencing something very special and profound I could almost describe it as celestial.

At the end of the session I was left to collect myself together and make my way downstairs. I found it difficult to put into words how I felt, it was very special and very powerful.

Since my treatment, I have been feeling much better and straight afterwards I was surprisingly tired but had lots of energy about me. So I went home and rested and it has taken me some time to be able to put into words how I felt, I'm still not sure how to describe the treatment. So maybe give it ago for yourself.

Whatever treatment I try, it is about healing me, and is my journey. Sometimes I meet people who have read my blog and then go onto to try a treatment for themselves and they tell me it hasn’t work for them. I have found it is best to try therapies a number of times, to see if it makes a difference. I believe our own energy systems resonate differently to various stimuli and it takes a while for our bodies to adjust to a new treatment or therapy. The propose of my blog is to share with you what I am doing to help deal with a chronic pain condition. What works for me, may not be for you, but that's ok. We are all individuals, all on our own healing journeys and using our energy to help heal our body, mind and soul.

I would never have believed that 5 years ago my life would be so dramatically different. I had not even heard of a Crystal Therapy bed let alone considered having a treatment. This part of my journey, giving my body the opportunity and space to heal itself would not have been possible if I had remained blinkered with conventional medicine methods.

Lupton is truly a very magical place and I always feel like I am cosseted in a big universal hug as I make my way down the tree-lined driveway, leaving the chaos that is modern life behind. Maybe I will see you there too?