My spectacular scooter fail (and what it taught me about you)

Last week, I took a proper tumble on an e-scooter. Nothing serious, just bruises and scrapes.

But what happened next fascinated me.

In the moment, I was mainly focused on the fact that I was going to be late for my class and needed to get moving. Adrenaline was rushing through me, and the pain faded into the background.

During the session, focused on my client, I barely felt my injuries.

But that evening, alone at home with my laptop, the pain came roaring back. And over the following days, it fluctuated depending on my state: stronger when I was tired and stressed, almost non-existent when I was relaxed.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because it's exactly like your back pain after 8 hours at a screen, or your neck tension that gets worse on hectic days.

It demonstrates an aspect of pain we often forget: it's an interpretation by our brain.

When it deems something else more important, it turns the volume down. In my case, it was being present for my client, but for you, it might be a deadline, an important meeting, a child demanding your attention...

And when we're in a state of alert (fatigue, stress), the brain amplifies it to push us into action.

Pain isn't our enemy.

It's an alarm mechanism, our body's way of saying: "Please, do something for me."

It's not something unpleasant that we need to get rid of at all costs. It's a message from our brain.

Once you understand this, you can stop seeing your body as this frustrating thing that won't cooperate, and start truly listening to it.

This week, I'm giving you a little challenge.

When pain appears, ask yourself: "What is my body telling me?" Then respond with ONE small movement (shoulder rolls, neck stretch, back arch...) or with one intentional breath.

Because the more we ignore these signals, the louder they shout.

This is at the heart of the therapeutic yoga I practise, and that I strongly encourage you to try out with one of my free resources or in 1:1 sessions. You can find it all here.

Take care of yourselves (and listen to yourselves).

Om, peace 🧡

Clem