Yoga at the Scene of the Accident
On December 29th I was traveling to Ames via I-35. The visibility was poor, but the road seemed fine. All of the sudden in front of me were what looked like a sea of taillights. I braked and felt like an ice skate. No stopping. I pumped the brakes, stomped the brake……then BAM! I was hit from behind.
Immediately I had a searing, pulsing sensation the length of my spine. I was dazed and frozen. I was holding my breath and had to intentionally will myself to breathe. The pain was significant and I began to panic and thoughts of clients I work with that have been in car accidents danced in my head. Traffic was moving at a snail pace and I knew I could not get out of my car assess the damage. As I crept along I saw multiple cars in both ditches. Some were crying, some struggling to get doors opened, others staring.
I got my wits about me and knew I needed to calm myself. I could sense clenching and tightening everywhere in my body, but most significantly in my low back and neck. I started with measured easy inhale…..exhale……inhale…..exhale. My heart rate slowed, my hands stopped gripping the steering wheel. I began tiny cat/cow movements as I sat there. Each breath I felt a release of tension.
I made it through the pile up and drove the remaining few miles. I kept myself calm, but I did hear a recurring thought, “You are going to be hurting”! When I arrived at my destination I continued to do very gentle movements that eventually grew more “normal” in range. I enjoyed the rest of my day……but was aware of each time my thoughts returned to the incident my body would tense up. The body/mind connection is a powerful thing!
I’m so grateful I had these tools and believe my outcome would have been vastly different had I gotten caught up in the fear of what MIGHT happen. It is said that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and make believe! So if our thoughts are in a pattern of ruminating on what has happened, or what COULD have happened, the body will react, powerful information.
I’m well, my car not so much. I’m trying to stay with the feeling of gratitude that I emerged unscathed……with SO many cars and such a busy interstate. I was driving Michaela’s little Nisaan. She pointed out that her guardian angel pin from her Grandma hung on the rearview mirror. Thanks Grandma!
On December 29th I was traveling to Ames via I-35. The visibility was poor, but the road seemed fine. All of the sudden in front of me were what looked like a sea of taillights. I braked and felt like an ice skate. No stopping. I pumped the brakes, stomped the brake……then BAM! I was hit from behind.
Immediately I had a searing, pulsing sensation the length of my spine. I was dazed and frozen. I was holding my breath and had to intentionally will myself to breathe. The pain was significant and I began to panic and thoughts of clients I work with that have been in car accidents danced in my head. Traffic was moving at a snail pace and I knew I could not get out of my car assess the damage. As I crept along I saw multiple cars in both ditches. Some were crying, some struggling to get doors opened, others staring.
I got my wits about me and knew I needed to calm myself. I could sense clenching and tightening everywhere in my body, but most significantly in my low back and neck. I started with measured easy inhale…..exhale……inhale…..exhale. My heart rate slowed, my hands stopped gripping the steering wheel. I began tiny cat/cow movements as I sat there. Each breath I felt a release of tension.
I made it through the pile up and drove the remaining few miles. I kept myself calm, but I did hear a recurring thought, “You are going to be hurting”! When I arrived at my destination I continued to do very gentle movements that eventually grew more “normal” in range. I enjoyed the rest of my day……but was aware of each time my thoughts returned to the incident my body would tense up. The body/mind connection is a powerful thing!
I’m so grateful I had these tools and believe my outcome would have been vastly different had I gotten caught up in the fear of what MIGHT happen. It is said that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and make believe! So if our thoughts are in a pattern of ruminating on what has happened, or what COULD have happened, the body will react, powerful information.
I’m well, my car not so much. I’m trying to stay with the feeling of gratitude that I emerged unscathed……with SO many cars and such a busy interstate. I was driving Michaela’s little Nisaan. She pointed out that her guardian angel pin from her Grandma hung on the rearview mirror. Thanks Grandma!
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