From The Professor:
Modify any language, technique or guideline that feels like this. Then consider whether one or a combination of the following are the right approach – awareness, regulation, discernment.
Being Pain Care Aware is not only about ‘feel-good’ techniques. There will be times when it is helpful to continue with techniques that are difficult. However, this language is giving you the opposite of what would serve you.
To borrow from the movies, Pain Care Aware concepts are more what you’d call guidelines than rules. We are exploring new techniques and approaches, to find new ways to move forward – ones that serve us.
The Pain Care Aware guidelines have been passed to us from people in pain and from our teachers, so we know they work for many. Yet, we also know that it is important to make them individual.
This question draws our attention to another Pain Care Aware concept – guiding individuals to listen to their own ‘alarm’ signals. Often this includes awareness of pain, breath, body, energy and the mind. Each of these can provide guidance for when to push and when to stop. Sometimes the best movements will feel good, and sometimes they will be difficult. If we avoid all unpleasantness, this might not let us move forward. Yet at the same time, the answer is not to ignore pain, and only learn how to tolerate unpleasantness.
From The Swami:
Begin where you are at. Be kind with yourself and use compassionate care and discernment to allow a different question to come to you. One that supports kindness in action, and that avoids ignoring any prediction of the outcome of your actions. Choose a question that will move you closer toward your goals and not take you further from them.
Think about the movement guidelines as not being right or wrong/ good or bad but rather ask, “How can I make them work for me?”
Another approach might be to ask “if I continue with this effort and activity will I be able to take three more calm, smooth breaths”? This will increase your discernment and regulation process yet not take you far from the present moment. Continue to be kind and loving as you move forward allowing for adjustments to effort and regulation, working with three breaths at a time while using all of the other guidelines.
There are many ways to use the PCA movement guidelines. We hope that they are foundational skills, connecting you to the Yamas and Niyamas, and rooting you into living well again. These guidelines are not just for practicing yoga and recovering ease of movement, but once you have gained some skill in them they can provide benefits through every aspect of life when pain persists.
I’ve personally used the movement guidelines in many ways while road biking, weight lifting, surfing and hiking, as well as many other activities and through many emotional triggers as well. Recently the guidelines have been a wonderful reminder of my ability to use Self-awareness to transform my experience. Some days they serve me better than others, and some days I need to ask different questions to create the best outcomes, but serve me they do and I wish the same for you, fearlessly.
Being Pain Care Aware offers options when protective mechanisms are engaged, including awareness, regulation and discernment.
Change is possible.
Be curious. Be fearless.