I read a recent post on Yoga Gumbo called ‘What If’ where Yogamum talks about her injury. “What if my back is always like this? What if I can never do any of the poses that trigger the pain again?” I had to groan, oh *man* have I been there. I injured my rotator cuff lifting weights a few years back and now if I do too much on the mat without regularly babying it with strengthening exercises it blows up every time. So. Much. Fun.

I guess it’s like anything – injuries have their own 7 Levels of Hell. You start off being really pissed off at it – how dare it fail you like this? You go through the frustration that you can’t do the things you want to. You go through the catastrophizing about it and all your statements involve the word *never* – “I’ll never do x pose again” – and *always* – “my body part will always feel like this” – like thanks to the injury you’re now disabled *and* psychic. And then impatience comes in, especially when it starts to heal but not fast enough for your liking. Was that 7 Levels? It feels like 12 when you’re going through it. But sometimes when I’m able to detach myself just a little I wonder – when will I get through the Hell and find a little even-mindedness about this? When will I be able to ease up a little on my painful shoulder?

If you happen to be injured, just know that I can only say this because I’m not in the 7 levels of Hell and did every vinyasa’s in this a.m.’s Ashtanga class: my weak shoulder has been an amazing teacher.

It keeps from being too ‘all or nothing’. I used to think – I *have* to do a full updog in every Vinyasa, I *always* do. Nope not any more. My shoulder keeps me from taking my health and pain-free status for granted. When I slide my arm into my jacket pain-free, it bring a smile to my face – you rotator cuff people know what i’m talking about. My shoulder reminds me that as fun as it is to push hard it’s ok not to too – I’ll get a yoga glow either way. I’ve learned to be a little bit more compassionate with myself and wonder why I’m often last in line for that.