When I was a child, I used to trip and sprain my right ankle all the time. You see, I was born with flat feet. To help correct and strengthen my arches, I had to wear braces and hard-soled shoes on my feet. These made my legs and feet feel very heavy, and so I would trip often. The other kids at school used to tease me. I felt awkward and clumsy all the time. I was ashamed of my body. I felt like an ugly duckling. (Pardon the pun!)
It's been many years since I was that shy, awkward, scared, little girl. However, just the other day, I was walking down the street when I tripped slightly and sprained my right ankle. All of those painful memories came flooding back! The teasing, the lack of self-confidence, body anxiety, and the negative self-talk all came back to the surface. Suddenly, I felt just like the scared little girl I used to be.
Isn’t it amazing how one little incident triggered an avalanche of emotions that I had not expected to feel ever again? Up until the tripping, I thought had all those emotions tucked away. However, I did not let myself become a victim to those emotions. I was able to master those overwhelming feelings and come to a sense of peace because of the healing movement work I had worked to make part of life.
Does this story seem relatable to you? Haven't we all had an injury that comes back to haunt us? Something that causes physical pain, anxiety, depression, or gut issues?
Over the years, Pilates has enabled me to strengthen my foot as well as improve my body coordination and awareness. Movement with Pilates and the breath has created in me an inner calmness and ease. Through healing my own trauma, I have gained confidence and conviction.
Healing trauma has many ebbs and flows. It is not linear. You will never know when a trigger may come up. Because of this, it is vitally important to do the inner work to create a calm nervous system within your students by creating a safe, trusting, and supportive environment to move with curiosity.
Have you started your own healing journey? Are you afraid or in denial? Unhealed trauma can and will show in your teaching if you do not set boundaries. It is time to let go of your trauma and to start investing in your healing, both for your sake and your students. Let’s begin today.