Amidst Difficulties Lies Opportunity ~ Einstein

This picture was taken with my kids, a year and a half into my neurological & vestibular symptoms. It was a Mother's Day celebration planned to play volleyball. However, two weeks prior, I had tripped in flip-flops and torn my hamstring from the bone on the right leg. Not only did it foil Mother's Day volleyball, but it killed my plans to run a triathlon sprint that coming July. Needless to say, I was still high functioning with my dizziness & vertigo. (I was still one year away from the second head injury, that would change my life forever.)

After that second head injury, I needed help desperately. I had pushed through without a proper diagnosis for too long. One specialist after another said they couldn't find any explanation. No one seemed to care about my dizziness, vision issues or balance problems. I felt crazy, hopeless and "not bad enough" to pushback on their incomplete answers. Their apathy was a disguise for their not-knowing. It took me a while to lose my own apathy and to fight for an answer.

When I finally stepped into a neurological physical therapy practice, I felt seen, heard and understood! (Shout out to RE+Active PT, You are Amazing!) The first day, I cried in their office, and it was not uncommon for me to cry during exercises. Their treatment activated my symptoms, but also provided a safe pathway through them. The atmosphere was uplifting, despite the devastation of the broken bodies receiving their care. The staff was incredibly kind, encouraging and patient. However, since my diagnosis was incomplete, so was my therapy. I had to leave treatment and use the basic concepts I had learned to work with my body... on my own.

I had no job, no insurance, no support. Just a faulty brain, a broken body and the will to take one step every day to improve my health. My idols were the "truly injured" community of paraplegia. Their courage became mine; I determined to start small, but find what I COULD do, EVERYDAY. Foam Rolling and Stretching became my entry-level tasks, no mater how I felt. Often this was followed by: Walks in Nature. Music & Dancing. Prayer & Meditation. The commitment to these activities was constantly tested by the stress of financial ruin, the grief of lost abilities and the loneliness of being undiagnosed, misunderstood and unsupported. But I no longer allowed myself to linger on how much my life had changed, just where it was for the day. I HAD TURNED A CORNER, from focusing on what I could NO LONGER do, to what I COULD do. That acceptance finally permitted growth & healing.

ReBalance Fitness was born amidst this acceptance. The difficulties I faced during this process taught me much about the body, and the process of healing. I decided along the way, that I wanted to provide the support & skills to others that I didn't have in my early journey. Each day, I become more confident in the methods of symptom management and personal health. The nature of my disability means that it often feels like "two steps forward, with one step back". Therefore, I have to have a fluid attitude in all my physical endeavors. (BTW, that is the hardest skill to grow!) However, ReBalance has become the "opportunity" amidst my own disability. Helping others resume an active lifestyle & enjoy life is my mission. No matter how differently "active lifestyle" looks, it is possible to enjoy life when you have support and a new perspective.

ReBalance Fitness isn't just for people with my disorder. Good balance helps everyone, and requires practice by all, whether you're an athlete or an aging person. Deepening your connections to the body increases your capacity to move efficiently and safely, for longer. I have learned the anatomical & physiological components of good balance. In my classes, I take a wholistic approach to reinforce visual, vestibular and sensory connections in every session. I teach skills from these key areas that allow you to move more freely, with more control, and less symptoms. My Pilates Certification reinforces the mind-body connections needed for recovery, while my certification in Integrated Somatic Trauma Therapy helps me to respect your body's unique needs. I have found nervous-system-regulation & mindful-self-compassion to be indispensable in my journey. I incorporate these skills along with strength training, stretching, fascial release and yoga.

You will learn curiosity, patience and courage, as much as, you learn exercise. Imbalance can occur for many reasons. Learning what causes yours is the key to overcoming your difficulties. I believe that every person should be an expert of their own body. By understanding your unique needs through trial and experiment, you will increase your ability to collaborate with medical professionals when it really counts. More importantly, you will decrease the chances of being tossed aside with apathy when it matters most. This is the essence of somatic wellness (body awareness) and personal advocacy.

No matter who you are, this kind of personal awareness can be daunting. Often, athletes tend to take their bodies & skills for granted, while the disabled feel hopeless to even trust their bodies again. For people with injuries or disabilities, the process can be frustrating, at times. That's why I offer support groups & community events to this subset of people for free. Attending to my emotions & mindsets was crucial in my healing progress! I experienced significant help from nervous-system-regulation, mindful self compassion teachings, trauma-informed care and Polyvagal Theory practices. Dr. Peter Levine, Bessel Van der Kolk, Kristen Neff, Deb Dana and Gabor Mate's books have greatly shaped how I view somatic healing.

After being in this body for decades, I have finally begun to listen, in order to, understand this body of mine. I have chosen to be curious about many parts I don't understand. I practice compassion towards the parts that cause me grief. I can stay present in stressful situations, as well as, cultivate peace from sheer panic. For the first time ever, I feel "Safe in My Own Skin", which seems ironic in the most malfunctioning season of my body's life. But thank God. I do.

I often tell others to "Listen to your body, because it is smarter than you think"! When they embrace the idea and begin to hear their body's language, I feel ecstatic! If I can help you start your journey of somatic healing, it would be my honor. ReBalance Fitness is progressive, never done, just one small step at a time. Please book a free 30" chat, or see my website for other pathways to somatic wellness. ~Christina