Summary: In this reflection, the writer recounts an encounter with a friend, Jerry, who had sustained injuries while practicing jujitsu. Drawing from personal experiences in combat sports, the writer discusses the inevitability of injuries and the importance of a balanced approach to training. The writer's own journey through various injuries is shared, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned.
Jerry's fitness routine and commitment to growth are discussed, leading to the revelation that yoga could be a fitting path for him. The writer describes their own evolution in understanding yoga's profound benefits, including physical exercise, focused breathing, and meditation. The writer offers insights on practicing yoga without access to formal classes and recommends a balanced routine incorporating yoga, other exercises, and mindfulness.
The essay emphasizes the synergy between controlled breathing, physical activity, and meditation in yoga. It suggests that yoga aligns with various philosophical teachings and provides a holistic pathway to personal growth. The importance of adapting yoga to individual needs, fostering communal practice, and maintaining vigilance to avoid injuries is highlighted as well.
Overall, the essay reflects on the intersection of physical training, injury, personal growth, and the potential of yoga as a transformative practice.
The other day, I unexpectedly ran into a friend, Jerry, from my past while I was in upstate New York.
Jerry is not only an incredibly gifted musician but also possesses a range of other talents that I deeply admire. His dedication to personal growth and development is something I truly value. I was honored when he reached out to me for advice. He shared that he had recently begun practicing jujitsu at a local gym. Unfortunately, he had also been dealing with the recovery process from a broken tibia and MCL injury that he sustained during his training.
Jerry was seeking guidance regarding the possibility that his injuries might be attributed to the gym's supervision of newcomers during sparring sessions. He explained that he sustained his injury due to a new, larger student who approached sparring with excessive aggression while attempting to take him down.
When Jerry asked me whether he should continue his training, I offered him some perspective. I acknowledged that jujitsu is a contact sport and injuries are, unfortunately, part of the territory, especially as one improves and engages in sparring. Whether it's boxing, Thai boxing, or jujitsu, the likelihood of getting hurt increases when you're actively practicing and challenging yourself in these disciplines. I emphasized that even in learning these sports, the expectation of some level of injury should be there. In other words, preparing oneself mentally and physically for the possibility of getting hurt is crucial.
During our conversation, we delved into various sports and forms of exercise. It was evident that Jerry follows a structured routine in his daily life and seeks activities that not only provide a physical challenge but also stimulate him mentally. Given that Jerry is in his early 30s, I understood his desire for an extra dose of adrenaline to keep his exercise routine engaging. There's nothing wrong with seeking excitement in training, as long as he's ready to confront the possibility of injuries.
Reflecting on my own experiences, I recounted my time training in Thai boxing, during which injuries were a frequent occurrence.
Indeed, building physical toughness often goes hand in hand with the process of learning to train more intelligently. It's through these experiences that you start to understand the importance of balancing intensity to prevent unnecessary injuries. In my case, this lesson became particularly relevant during sparring sessions, especially when preparing for upcoming fights.
While I can't claim to have excelled at sparring lightly, I recognize the value it holds. My trainers could attest that once the bell rang, I tended to approach sparring with an intensity that could be likened to fighting for my life. The surge of anxiety and adrenaline that comes from facing someone in the ring often made it difficult for me to control my approach. Additionally, in my early days as a fighter, I lacked the maturity to view sparring as an opportunity to assist my sparring partners in their growth and confidence. Instead, I always felt compelled to prove something, which hindered my ability to spar lightly.
Surprisingly, I never suffered injuries during actual fights. There was one instance where I endured numerous kicks to my lower thigh, resulting in a discolored and bruised thigh. However, I grew accustomed to such experiences, and my body tended to recover fairly quickly from such blows. The takeaway from these encounters was the realization that while physical resilience is crucial, learning to approach training strategically and with a collaborative mindset can be just as valuable in the long run.
My journey through training and fighting brought with it a litany of injuries that read like a catalog of the battles I've fought. These tales include painful and swollen shins the size of golf balls, ribs that bore the weight of cracks, eyes painted in black and blue hues, a nose that once stood unbroken but is now notched with the memory of its fracture, toes that cracked under pressure, eyelids and lips that bore the scars of being split open. But let me assure you, this is merely the tip of the iceberg, for the realm of muscle injuries is a persistent companion in the life of a fighter.
The echoes of pain reverberated in my lower back, upper back, and stiffened neck, while my elbows grappled with tendinitis. My history isn't complete without a curious tale of a third-degree burn etched into my lower shin. It came to be during the frantic rush of preparing for a fight, a swollen shin and a mere month to mend it. Exhaustion once led me to place a plastic ice pack—devoid of any soft fabric—on my shin, a decision that would leave an indelible mark.
Drifting into slumber on that day, the ice pack froze solid and melded with my skin, creating an unexpected icy bond. I awoke an hour and a half later, discovering the situation. What followed was a desperate attempt to separate the ice pack from my skin, dousing it with warm bathwater to no avail. A visit to the emergency room became inevitable, where with careful use of saline water, the ice pack was painstakingly peeled away, carrying with it a layer of skin. The wound mirrored the aftermath of a third-degree burn, an additional chapter in my trove of experiences.
Undeterred by these hardships, I found myself back in training, wrapping the injury in bandages, and hoping for the chance to heal in time for an upcoming fight. Miraculously, the healing did occur, standing as a testament to the resilience that defines the world of fighters. These stories I share, minor though they may seem in the grand narrative of combat, are badges earned in the pursuit of my passion.
Returning to Jerry's story, our discussion revolved around crafting a fitness routine that could be easily executed in the limited context of upstate New York, where diverse fitness facilities might not be readily accessible. We explored the idea of incorporating kettlebells into his yard setup and establishing different stations for activities like dips and push-ups. Jerry exudes a visibly fit demeanor, and his commitment to maintaining both physical and mental well-being is palpable.
The following day, as I immersed myself in a yoga session within the confines of a heated room, guided by a skilled instructor I've known for some time, a revelation struck me. I found myself wondering why I hadn't shared with Jerry the prospect of immersing himself in yoga.
Jerry, by all appearances, possesses a natural inclination toward yoga. His existing practices, such as meditation and methodical character development, already lay a solid foundation for his psychological and emotional growth. He is far from a novice when it comes to self-improvement. Reflecting upon his disposition, I recognized that Jerry is exceptionally suited to embrace the yogic path. His current lifestyle seamlessly aligns with the principles that underpin yoga, and it's a realization that I surprisingly neglected to discuss.
In a city bustling with myriad options, I typically steer individuals towards yoga for its holistic benefits. Yet, Jerry's unique attributes and readiness to embrace both the physical and mental aspects of this discipline make him an ideal candidate to become a dedicated yogi. It's a missed opportunity that I now realize, but one that can certainly be rectified as our conversations continue.
By happenstance, my journey into yoga was far from immediate. It took years of rough tumbles in various sports to ultimately find myself immersed in the practice I embrace today. The presence of yoga has lingered in the background of my life since my early 20s – it's been around 28 years since my introduction. However, for a significant portion of that time, which amounts to roughly 22 years, I didn't quite grasp the essence of what yoga truly entailed.
While I was intrigued by the spiritual teachings that permeate yoga, I didn't initially label myself as a "yoga person." Those spiritual teachings were part of my life, yet it wasn't until around the age of 48 that I felt a true resonance with the practice. This epiphany was a turning point when I recognized that yoga represents an incredibly condensed system of physical exercise, interwoven with two key elements essential to my personal regimen: focused breathing exercises and meditation practice.
In other fitness pursuits, I strive to be present – be it running along the beach or engaging in different modes of exercise. However, the structured and holistic nature of yoga provides an entirely distinct experience. Over time, I've come to appreciate the intricate relationship between movement and sustained motion in the body. Every muscle, limb, and appendage requires engagement to not only maintain its current state but also to fortify itself.
Precision is paramount in my training. I emphasize balance training as a critical component, knowing that this will lay the foundation for enhanced muscle memory and overall conditioning as I advance in age. Flexibility, agility, relaxation, and the ability to reset my body are all areas I target through my yoga practice. Each session presents an opportunity to consciously connect with my breath, a skill I've honed through consistent yoga practice. Breathing deeply and deliberately during moments of stress has become second nature, an invaluable asset when navigating through challenges.
Through my yoga journey, I've absorbed the profound lesson that everything is transient – a concept I comprehended intellectually but struggled to fully integrate with my experiences. Yoga provided the space for this connection between intellectual understanding and visceral experience to flourish. It's through this integration that I've come to cherish yoga as not just a physical exercise but a holistic pathway to personal growth and well-being.
As yoga practices evolve from mere physical exercises, they guide us towards profound insights. Through yoga, we discover the art of relaxation, controlling and timing our breath, and internalizing a sequence of movements. We learn to find joy in routine and methodology, embracing the beauty of repetition. In this practice, we cultivate resilience against the ennui of monotony. But Jerry, here's the crux: within the framework of yoga, we find comprehensive physical exercise that opens doorways to various dimensions of reality.
A pivotal tenet is controlled breathing, a conduit to tranquility. By oxygenating the mind through breath and simultaneously tiring the body, we attain the state needed for deeper meditation. This synergy enables us to delve into profound truths about ourselves, our connection to the world, and the universe at large. Notably, yoga encompasses principles that harmonize with various philosophical teachings. Whether we follow indigenous wisdom, Buddhism, or any other faith, yoga amplifies and doesn't hinder our connection to these teachings.
For those without ready access to quality yoga instruction, a remedy lies in carving out a space, unfurling a mat, and leveraging online resources. The suggestion is simple: explore 1-hour Hot Yoga or modified Ashtanga classes on YouTube. These resources ensure a consistent practice, independent of external constraints. My recommendation is to engage in some form of yoga daily. Four or five days might involve rigorous practices, with two or three days reserved for lighter, restorative sessions that aid relaxation without straying too far from the routine.
In smaller communities, fostering a communal yoga practice at a designated time could be beneficial. Even if just one or two others join, it generates mutual accountability. A mirror, especially during the initial years, serves as an invaluable tool to maintain posture alignment and foster self-awareness, replicating the presence of a teacher.
Having a repertoire of two or three one-hour or 90-minute classes to follow for an extended period proves more immersive than continually encountering unfamiliar sequences. Focusing on the unknown can become a distraction, diverting attention from the intended mindfulness. Apart from yoga, supplementing fitness with medium-weight dumbbells for upper body exercises and squats is advisable. Incorporating some running and ample walking into the weekly routine, provided injuries allow, maintains cardiovascular health.
For quick, effective workouts, consider implementing simple exercises around the house. A jump rope or basic jumping jacks can serve as fantastic tools. And, for the enthusiastic, advanced practitioners can explore challenging postures, like handstands or intricate contortions, pushing their boundaries.
Remember, Jerry, while yoga might not appear as rigorous as some sports, it's a contact sport with the self. Injuries are a possibility. Vigilance remains key, even when tiptoeing to the bathroom at night. Safety becomes a relative concept on this transformative journey.