Soon after I made the decision to train for the century ride in Tahoe, I knew I wasn't going to be able to do this by myself, I would need help. I knew that the staff of LLS was there to help me with fundraising, and that the coaches were there to get me trained, and that the mentors were there to fill in the cracks and keep me headed in the right direction. I also knew that in addition to training for the ride, I needed to get more fit. So, I enlisted the help of a personal trainer. I work out once a week with him and a small group of like-aged ladies, we get good workouts in and have fun at the same time.
Now, I also, know myself very well, and I know I am more than a bit of a klutz, so remaining injury free was through all of this was going to be a bit of a challenge. So, I enlisted the help of a wonderful, beautiful, talented, gentle-spirited Buddhist massage therapist. He has kept me stretched out and my muscles from getting too angry at me from all of the new work I am asking them to do. When I took a tumble off my bike in March, I increased the frequency of my visits from once a month, to every other week. He has patiently worked on the separation of my shoulder (acromioclavicular joint), as well as all of the old crepitis in my neck, ankles and hips.
Rick practices Thai massage. It is really deep work, not for everybody, by 'mybody' really takes well to it. It is sometimes called "Thai yoga massage" and uses muscle compression, joint mobilization, acupressure and yoga like stretches. It is hard for me to describe, but I usually finish the sessions feeling relaxed, a little out of it, but very energized.
After my session today, I found that my shoulder had much more range of motion, and was far less tender than it was the last time Rick worked on it. I am finding that I am getting far fewer leg cramps, and that while my back and shoulders still get tired and sore towards the end of my long rides, each time the discomfort is less than the time before. While part of me wants to say that Rick is a miracle worker, he isn't. He works hard, he knows his stuff, and is able to put his knowledge of the anatomy and his craft to use, and he knows how to best help me. He has provided a safe, relaxing environment. I go into his space, wound up from work, tired, hurting, frustrated with my life, fed up with being pulled in too many directions at one time, with too many things to think about, and way too many things that need to be done. I smell the incense, feel the warmth of the heated pad on the floor where we work, and I find, that when I enter that space, I can allow everything to go away, and I can just ... ... be. And perhaps that, being able to just 'be' is what is making the shoulder more mobile and all of the other improvements to keep happening.
So, my damaged shoulder was able to do a 60 mile ride in the Northwest corner of CT last Saturday, and is looking forward to doing the 65 mile 'Cookie ride" this Saturday.
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