Trying Something New

I’ve never really thought much about my pelvis.

The space framed by my hips is not really a space I notice much. It isn’t like my left leg; sprained ankled, broken leg, and now, dog bite. My left leg, I have no doubt, is well-mapped in my brain.

My pelvis, aside from the obligatory pelvic floor exercises and the occasional period pain, I suspect, is hardly mapped at all.

I went my first stretching class last night.

We had to focus on our pelvis, tilting, and stretching. Thankfully, we started on some easier areas first; arms, upper body, neck, that sort of stuff. By the time we got to the pelvic area, I had gotten used to the way the instructor guided us through the moves and had grown comfortable with not knowing if I was “doing it right”.

When we got to the pelvic area, I wasn’t at all embarrassed. I was simply focused on what we were doing.

‘Lift the pelvis.’

Um, pelvic floor?

‘You know you can’t really lift the pelvis,’ he continued. ‘It’s an idea to help you focus on the right area.’

Phew.

‘I’m talking about the area between your hips. The bowl shape they create.’

Okay.

‘We’re learning how to bend from the pelvis, not the lower vertebrae.’

That’s a thing?

We did small, tilt exercises, lying on the floor.

Wait. What?

I was doing it! I could feel the difference between my pelvis and my lower vertebrae. What a marvelous thing to learn! All this time I had been living in this body and had not known that there were two ways to bend. Now I do.

All because I tried something new.

I’ve always considered myself an opened minded person. I’m not easily offended or shocked. If I do get upset, it takes me a long time to get there.

I am surprised to see that I have fallen into certain ruts despite believing I love change. Of course, I only love change on my terms.

Don’t we all?

We won’t be told. No matter how good something is for us, until we experience it for ourselves we will resist it. Ironically, we won’t even try because we’ve rejected the whole idea. Broccoli is green. I don’t eat green—unless they are jelly snakes. So I won’t try. Not even when disguised.

A cycle of only doing that which we have done before begins. By the way, I love broccoli…and brussel sprouts. Especially the sprouts…mmm…

Usually, people suggest we try something because they tried it and liked it. They had a positive experience and want to share it. Of course, we are all so used to being advertised at, that we don’t buy it. What’s in it for you? Is this some sort of pyramid scheme..?

Truthfully, if someone is wanting you to part with significant amounts of money or is asking you to go against your better judgment (aka, values and integrity) then you have a case to make. But if it is $10 for a stretch class and they simply want to share their enjoyment, encourage the instructor, and simply be nice to you, what’s the harm?

And you should probably get over your Covid-induced reluctance to go out…

Between my Ph.D. and Covid, I became quite the hermit. Happily so. I like being alone. But I can also see that life is not quite all it could be. There are no shared silly moments or laughing for laughter’s sake.

And my body is telling me a story that begins ‘Once upon a time there was a woman who sat on her butt for a very long time’.

One of the reasons I struggled to identify my pelvis is because when sitting, the pelvis remains still and unidentifiable. We use our backs to bend and twist. Our hips are holding us up but unless we are being mindful of the area, the hips themselves may not be moving much at all.

When sitting, the hips do the heavy lifting of holding us up without the benefit of the increased blood flow that movement brings. Less blood flow means that it takes cells longer to repair, they aren’t getting the energy they need for when you do want to move (stiff when getting up?), and natural toxins aren’t been flushed out. There are other implications, too. Our digestive tract and sexual organs are cradled by the pelvis.

All of this, from one new thing. One little stretching class.

It was hard. My goodness.

I felt clumsy and awkward—especially with my bendy friends. I fell over a few times and simply couldn’t do one of the moves—thank you, dog bite. By the end, my muscles were shivering and wobbly. I wasn’t entirely confident I could walk down the outside steps without falling over. But I had fun and I laughed and I did not think about work or anything much, for a whole hour.

Later that night, I fell asleep watching a replay of Le Tour Stage 12, missing who won the stage and whether Vingegaard is still in yellow. That was 9:10.

I went to bed and slept ten hours. This morning I am acquainted with my newly discovered muscles but not too sore.

It’s time to question some old habits.

And maybe try something new that isn’t full of sugar and fat and goes well with coffee.

Hmm…too much too soon?