I found my calling! (And other brags)

It was scary.
​
I hadn't moved my body in the water for a year.
​
Could I still ask my body to swim without pain? Would I be accepted into this new sport and find the same community I once had?
​
It was different. Yes.
​
But I was able to find my place again. Although I had pain, it didn't interfere with my movement. 🤽🏻
​
I successfully played three seasons of water polo, competing at the national level and representing Sakatachewan at Nationals. , if you don't know, I don't do anything half way! I even tried out for the Junior National Team. All awhile, still being fascinated with the human body.
​
My mental health improved and I was finding my groove.
​
Fast forward a couple years and low and behold, I was sitting in pre-med at the University of Alberta. I knew I wanted to do something with the human body. I was struggling to find my first year university self (, that's such a tough first year!) when a friend suggested that I go through the University calendar and pick all the classes that INTERESTED me not classes that I had to take.
​
Turns out I highlighted every Physical Education class (now known as Kinesiology) in the calendar!
​
Needless to say, I found my place once more. My undergrad and graduate degrees opened my world of not only understanding movement for others but movement in my body too.
​
I'm not going to lie. I have chronic pain. As I sit and write you, my pelvis is twisted on the right and slightly tipped forward.
​
Ouch! I know.
​
Additional injuries over the years have also left my body altered and changed.
​
But I manage my pain with my yoga practice, massages and acupuncture. Mentally I have recognized that my issues typically show up in my tissues. Although not perfect, I am able to manage my pain. A big part of it is moving my body. I look at each day as a new day to move my body. And so I offer you...

Now, I am so fortunate that I have a career that provides me the opportunity to be of service to people and their pain. I really like what Susi Hately, a yoga therapist from Calgary, Alberta says,
​
I teach people how to listen to their body when it whispers, so they don't have to hear it scream.
​
All and all, maybe my fall was suppose to help direct me into service and to my passion, helping people exercise. Maybe I am a better clinical exercise physiologist because I get it. I've been through injury and pain. AND I still deal with a body that doesn't always feel great.
​
My silver lining showed up many years later. And I found my calling.
​
Has a silver lining shown up when you least expected it?

And with that, I have three videos to share with you (you will see me in most of the videos ). Once we are back to our new normal, you'll see these videos airing in your Alberta doctor's waiting room TVs. Poke around the HUTV website and find some more videos that have credible and valuable information.
​
​Lower Back Pain​
​
​Exercises for Low Back Pain​
​
​Questions and Answers with Exercise - Hurt vs. Harm​
​
Before I go, hit the reply button and let me know how moving your body helps with your aches, pains and injuries. We all have a relationship with pain at some point in our lives.
​
Stay well and happy moving, Lisa