It's been a while since I posted on here. I was sidelined last week by a nasty respiratory infection that wreaked havoc on every aspect of my life - from work schedule to housework to getting bills paid on time. I spent massive amounts of time watching CNN coverage of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. When I couldn't take it anymore I resorted to watching bad "on demand" movies like "Sex and the City 2" and "Twilight: Eclipse". No wonder I was a complete basketcase by the end of the week.
But I'm back! Finally feeling somewhat like myself again. However - I'm extremely disappointed in the fact that as I was diligently attempting to train for my 5-mile piece of the half marathon relay I somehow managed to injure my foot/big toe - or otherwise known to my physical therapist self - my 1st MTP joint on my right foot. Ugh. I prayed for a quick recovery and did all the things I normally would do if treating a patient in this predicament: rest, ice, ultrasound, stretching, massage, joint mobilization, etc. In the end however I realized that running 5 miles on a foot that was only feeling slightly better was just asking for trouble. So now I'm not doing it.
I did however get back into the gym - this morning I took a Pilates class for the first time in a VERY long time. I was struck by the significant difference in atmosphere in the Pilates class as compared with some of the Torture Time classes I had been taking for several weeks, some of which I described in this blog in great detail.
First of all, the music is very different. The standard music of Torture Time is usually some club-mix version of the latest pop songs, usually consisting of a mix of Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake (or is it Justin Bieber?) - played at a very high volume, perhaps to mask the sounds of pain and suffering coming from the class participants. In Pilates class, the music is very gentle and relaxing - so that even though you might be holding yourself in the dreaded plank position while attempting to move your arms and legs into various unnatural positions, you find yourself somewhat soothed. The fact that the lights are turned off too helps a lot.
I discovered a new breed of exerciser in this class - I'll call her The Heavy Breather. Now, in Pilates, much like yoga, breathing is very important. You have to inhale and exhale at the correct intervals in order to correctly perform the exercises and stabilize your "core". I'm fine with that. The Heavy Breather took the breathing to a whole new level. She was positioned right next to me and her exhalations sounded something like this: "(inhale) - - - SSSHHHOOOOOOOOO!" Over and over and over again - man, was it ever distracting. I was trying to listen to the peaceful, relaxing music and all I could hear on my right was "(inhale) - - - SSSHHHOOOOOOOO!" I'm surprised she didn't pass out.
I'd love to write more but I have an appointment with a patient in about 20 minutes. Life goes on. I'm just happy to be back in the land of the living this week!
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