“Healing may not be all that good about letting go of everything that isn’t you. ~Rachel Naomi Lemen
For years, yoga has been my safe space. It’s where I felt strong, grounded and whole. My practice was not physical. It was my sanctuary, my inspiring meditation. So when a shoulder injury forced me to change the way I practiced, I just wasn’t in pain – I was lost.
At first it looked minor. Nagging pain, nothing I had not worked before. I’m sure more movements would help. I stretched, fixed, and I doubled my alignment. But the more I tried to push, the worse it got.
Ultimately, even the simplest tasks are difficult, with dressing and washing your hair. That’s when I finally asked for medical help. Diagnosis: Shoulder collisions and frozen shoulders. The combination of overuse, aging (humble realization when I turned 40), and factors that no one could fully explain.
I asked the doctor how to prevent it from happening again. The answer was not clear. There was no complete formula or guarantee. That uncertainty made me uneasy.
Suspension to the process
The healing wasn’t linear. It was slow, frustrating, and sometimes discouraged. I spent several months circulating my physiotherapist, reluctantly taking medication and correcting my movements. But the most difficult part wasn’t the pain. It was a mental and emotional struggle to let go of my practice once.
I lamented the loss of old yoga practices. I felt betrayed by my body and replied that what I loved most had opposed me in a way. Still, somewhere in my frustration, I realized. This was also part of my practice.
Yoga is more than just movement. It’s about existence. accept. Succession.
I began to lean towards the lessons the injury was trying to teach me:
Ahimsa (non-harming): I had to stop fighting my body and expand it to do so for my loved ones who were struggling with instead. Satya (truth): I had to admit that my practice would change. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Aparigraha (non-attack): I had to let go of my strict expectations and open myself up to another gentle way. Santosha (satisfaction): I had to find what my body could and peace, rather than lamenting what I couldn’t do.
As soon as I stopped resisting something changed. My body didn’t heal overnight, but my perspective was. I began to see healing as a continuous relationship rather than a destination. I gave myself permission to slow down, listen and trust.
I will rebuild with compassion
When I fixed my practice, I didn’t fight them, I discovered a new way of movement that respected my limitations. My yoga practice has become softer and more mindful. I focused on breathing work, grounding posture, and gentle movement. I let go of the idea that I had to push myself to prove something.
I also noticed something deeper. Healing isn’t just about returning to where we were. It’s about growing into who we are.
We are all faced with moments when we are forced to slow down, reassess and shift. And at those moments, we have a choice. We can resist and suffer, or we can soften and grow.
If you are navigating injuries, set-offs, or unexpected changes, know this. Your healing doesn’t have to look like someone else. You are allowed to grieve. You are allowed to be irritated. But you are also allowed to find joy in the process. Discover new ways of being. Even slowing down, to trust that there is wisdom.
Healing is not about going back to what it was, but about accepting what is and finding beauty in what is possible now.
About Michel Ramansky
Michelle Lamansky is a trauma-consent yoga instructor (RYT-500) and Holistic Health & Wellness Coach, who helps women overcome high-performance stress and anxiety with compassion, breathing and body-based tools. Through private sessions and self-paced programs, she brings students to a sense of calm, connection and home within herself. For more information, please visit www.balencedyogatn.com.
