Backing up your healthy lifestyle by Kurt Larsson

For us boomers, back problems seem to be epidemic that it almost seems chic to suffer. Yet, using common sense and a few simple techniques can go a long way towards making you and your back feel better. Below are a few of these ideas and how they helped transform a nasty ski accident into, among other things, a stronger, healthier and more flexible back.

A number of years before my skis stopped before I did, I started practicing a form of body work called Body Harmony®. Being an international sales manger with an incredible thirst to understand us humans better, I saw bodywork as a way to go beyond the intellectual bottle-neck of our "knowledge based society". Beyond the obvious professional benefits of better “buy signal recognition”, I realized I might even get a bit healthier from this learning process. I did!

Don McFarland, Body Harmony’s founder, taught us various healing methods based upon little more than compassion, common sense and daring to gently touch a fellow human. Having gotten good grades in High School biology, I already "knew" what he was talking about. Yet, with his “hands-on” demonstrations”, it became apparent that these were viable alternatives to the remedies available from the local drug store. A gentle, inquisitive touch was a lot longer lasting, non-addictive and a lot more fun to apply! We learned simple breathing techniques; combined them with a compassionate and curious touch that always ended up bringing a smile to our faces and a laugh from our hearts. Upon reflection, I cannot think of one pill or shot I have taken that gave me the same healing effect.

One day I was skiing down a rather icy slope trying to catch up with some of "the guys" when my skis stopped and I didn't. My head flew straight forward while my feet broke loose from the bindings. In sort of a forced forward roll, I landed on my head just past the top of my skull and then, as if in slow motion, I heard every piece of cartilage between each vertebrae in my upper back go “pop, pop, pop, pop”! It was incredible how calm it felt for the first few milliseconds after I came to rest.

Like a good boy scout, I immediately checked my fingers and toes to see if there was movement and, thank heavens, there was. Then I started breathing like I had learned with my bodywork and have yet to stop! Figuring everything was all right and knowing my friends would be waiting for me, I attempted to get up. I hope I never again have to feel the kind of pain I felt when I tried to stand up.

After a ride on the backboard to the local infirmary I was given an X-Ray. When the slides were developed, there was serious concern about a dark spot on the second neck vertebra. In the Doctor’s professional opinion, it looked broken. With that concern, I was immediately taken by ambulance to the regional hospital 70 miles away. During the journey, I was offered morphine and in retrospect it would have been interesting to experience that. It might have even changed my opinion about shots and their ability to produce smiles... But instead, I went back to my breathing and healing techniques plus experiencing where the pain was and how it felt.

12 hours after the first X-rays were taken the second set came back. These no longer showed any signs of the dark spot or any breakage at all! Even so, I was bedridden for the next six weeks anyway with a very stretched and sore trapezius muscle.

I kept practicing my healing techniques.

To make a long story short, I now have more movement and flexibility in my shoulders and neck than I had before the accident and in the process have become keenly aware of how stiff most of us are in this area of our bodies. Funny enough, I now also do not have the same stressed feeling about all the shoulds and needs in my life. Have you ever thought about that the word shoulder comes from the word should? I urge you to look around at your fellow man and if you dare, peek in the mirror. See if you don't see the same connection between the stiffness in your upper back and the amount of shoulds, musts and have tos in your life.

Some simple tips to relieve your back pain:

- Breathe: We all “know” how to breathe, right? Although this maybe true, “understanding” breathing is both science and art. Simply put, the more air you take in the softer your body’s tissues become. Need proof, try dancing while holding your breath.

- Practice feeling each individual vertebra one at a time. While sitting upright and “square” on a chair, slowly bend your torso and head forward while you exhale. When you have relaxed your head as far down in your lap as you can, begin inhaling and let your breath raise your torso upright one vertebra at a time. With a little practice you will be able to feel each one of them and its condition.

- Stretch forward and back; side to side. During your busy day there are many opportunities to just move your back. Do it sensually! See if you can feel the individual muscles and vertebrae and how they interact. Get to know the body that supports you and your lifestyle. Get intimate with it!

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BIO:

Kurt Larsson was trained as traditional businessperson excelling in the international sales/marketing area yet felt something was missing. Since then has become a certified Body Harmony® practitioner, learning more about body language and the bodymind connection.
He just graduated from a three year coaching skills program at CoachU. For the last nine years he has run Expanding U, coaching both individuals and large corporations to create and enjoy healthy, loyal and prosperous relationships.

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