Self Healing Through Nia

Last week I hastily got on a bike that was too big for me. Stubbornly, I rode it as I was in a rush to get where I was going. Despite the fact that the bike was uncomfortable and awkward to ride, I convinced myself that it was ok. That was until after I got off the bike and realized my left knee was not happy about being put in a compromising position. With a crack that left me wincing, my kneecap seemed to pop out of place momentarily before resettling.

I’ve written previously about self healing and all that Nia has taught me on the subject.

Knowing that I had done something to my knee, I knew where to focus my attention: my feet, ankles, and hips (the joints above and below where I’d injured) and of course, my knee.  I know that the direction of my feet and ankles and hips can directly affect the functioning of my knees. Yes, I know all of this, but am I continually practicing it?

Debbie Rosas, the co-founder of Nia, teaches that our body is purposefully designed and that our  movement should follow that design. That is, we need to respect The Body’s Way: understanding that our bodies are meant to move in some ways and not in others. Debbie also teaches about listening the “voices” of the body – that is paying attention the feedback that our body gives us to learn when something is off.

This blip of a knee injury has reminded me that in fact, I am not listening to the voices of my body, at least not all the time.  I felt discomfort on that bike, but I stubbornly pushed through.

The good news is that I know I can heal my body through Nia, so that’s what I set about to do. How?

By doing the 5 stages of Healing daily; being mindful of the placement and alignment of my feet, ankles, hips and knees (all facing in the same direction); listening to my knee and practicing Nia at level 1; by making statements to others about self-healing (e.g., saying “I am healing my knee” vs “I have injured my knee”; by “talking” to my knee, and by consulting a physiotherapist.

Looking for the “lesson” here, I also took a look at what Louse Hay had to say about how I might be able to self heal. She indicates that knee problems have to do with “Stubborn ego and pride. Inability to bend. Inflexibility. Won’t give in.”

Hmmm. That certainly applies to my bike ride, and I wonder if there’s truth to that in other parts of my life…