Ouch!

It started out as a normal morning: an arm workout, a cup of tea like the one to the left. The day was going by wonderfully, just as Mondays should. Monday is actually my favorite day of the week - who can resist a fresh, new beginning? I was standing up at school to go ask my English teacher a question. A question about parenthetical citations, of all things. My foot caught on the leg of my chair, I tripped backwards, and I heard it  - pop... POP! Have you ever dislocated or hyperextended something before? If so, you know how your vision seems to go extra bright, and the pain is pretty darn awful. And how you typically fall on the floor. There I sat, in between the two tables in the very front of the classroom, clutching my knee in silent agony. For me, a reaction to pain is one of two extremes. Either I freak out and start bawling, or I grit my teeth stubbornly. This knee hyperextension fell into the latter category. I was actually relieved, because freaking out and bawling in the middle of fifth period English would be kind of mortifying.
In class, we are currently working on a career research project. I had fallen right behind my friend Charisma's chair; this is ironic, you see, as Charisma wants to be a doctor. I asked her if she was taking notes as the teacher rushed for the nurse.

Luckily for me, it was a mild injury. I should be up and running again in about two to four weeks! While I know this is a rather short recovery period, I was still disappointed. Exercise is one of the best parts of my day. When I wake up to the twittering birds and blinding sunlight, I look forward to my post-breakfast workout. Plus, I tap dance. And currently, that is a definitive 'no,' which sucks, because recital is coming up. Oh well.

While I will really miss my squats and leg lifts, it is also important to me that I recover. According to the article "Back on Track: Fitness After an Injury," it is crucial that you take enough time to rest after hurting yourself. When you think you're ready to get back at it again, you might not be. There are several steps you need to take. Firstly, the article suggests that you consult a doctor or a physical therapist. After all, if you workout on an unhealed injury, it is highly likely that you will worsen it. You should also start slow, easing back into your routine. The webpage has a perfect exemplar of this: "...start at about 50% of your 'normal' level, and increase only 10% to 15% each week -- assuming your symptoms don't flare-up during or after each session. For example, if you used to run 5 miles, you might walk 2.5 miles and add a little more distance each week as you progress to jogging and then running." Finally, it is super vital to listen to your body. Although your heart might be back in the swimming pool, your arm, or leg, or whatever part you have damaged, may not be ready quite yet. Give it time, and you will heal. 
My dad always says that pain is the body's way of telling you to stop. That something's not right. This is why I'm not a huge fan of the quote "No pain, no gain." Pain is bad. I believe that the quote should instead read "No challenge, no gain," but that doesn't really rhyme. Or maybe, "No effort, no gain." I surmise that those two just don't have the same ring. Because, in short, if you exercise when you are in pain, you're essentially backtracking your efforts. Let's face it; you hurt yourself. Take some time to relax - perhaps read a new book in the sun during your time off, try a new recipe, or rewatch Stranger Things!

Bye for now! 
-Maya

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash, Photo by Harlie Raethel on Unsplash