The Power to Heal Thy Self – Fact or Fiction?

Saturday was a beautiful day and I was excited when I woke up because I was going hiking with my sexy, athletic husband Brian and my adorable dog Bailey. We set-off to do the Diez Vista hike aptly named as it boasts ten beautiful viewpoints along the way. An excellent day trip from Vancouver, you can hike the fifteen kilometer route all the way around Buntzen Lake or simply hike to the first few peaks.

It’s not an overly technical trail with only a few steep ascents and some good downhill sections. The views over Indian Arm are spectacular and it’s a trail we like to do annually.

I was having a terrific time enjoying the sunshine and the walk. We were about four kilometers from the end of our perfect day and ice cream when WHAM! I went over on my right ankle. We were walking around the lake on a gravel section of the path when it happened. Not a root or rock in sight, just smooth even trail. I remember thinking how nice a time I was having just before it happened.

I bent over in agony as the pain surged through my ankle. Tears started welling up and I was just about to lose it when two hikers walked passed and asked, “Are you okay?” To this I replied, “Yes I’m fine thanks” while choking back tears.  Brian told me to sit down but I knew from experience that I had to keep moving otherwise I would never be able to get off the trail under my own steam.

I’ve sprained this ankle numerous times so this wasn’t my first experience. Brian got me a branch to help me walk and I hobbled at a snails’ pace thinking about all the distance we still had to cover. By my calculations it would be another hour to hour and a half before we reached the car. I had to get that thought out of my head if I was going to make it out.

Every step sent shooting pain through my ankle. The swelling was immediate and already my ankle was the size of a small cantaloupe. I was shocked at how quickly the swelling started. I couldn’t look at my ankle anymore because all I could think about was how I wouldn’t be able to do the grind or go to yoga. More tears welled up. I was frustrated that this happened and not even on a technical section of the trail.

Then I remembered my yoga breathing. I began to breathe slower to control my emotions. Then I focused my breath on my ankle and found myself in an almost meditative state. I didn’t feel the pain any longer and I found I could make my ankle move properly and I stopped limping. I started relying less and less on my make-shift walking stick and started walking as if the ankle was perfect.

We were soon able to pick up our normal walking pace and by the time we got back to the car my ankle felt a lot better. It was still swollen but it no longer hurt and I had more range of motion.

Then we got big, fat ice cream cones and I felt better.

When I woke up the next day my ankle was still swollen but I went to a yoga class and I was able to balance on it and do most of the regular poses with only a few modifications.

After all the sprains I’ve had in my life this one felt completely different. I normally would have been flat on my back with an ice pack and unable to walk properly for days. It would have taken weeks for the ankle to recover and gain back its range of motion. There’s no way I would have been able to weight- bear so quickly.

I read somewhere that our brains are so powerful we have the ability to heal ourselves. I don’t know if that’s true or not. After this incident I am beginning to wonder. With the help of breathing and visualization I tried to see my ankle as normal. I refused to limp and send the message to my brain that I was hurt. Whether this was the power of my mind to heal or not something made the difference.

So this got me thinking about other things that we can change about ourselves if we just try. I believe we have the power to change how we feel in a nanosecond. If you’re in a bad mood, POOF! Change your mind and be in a good mood. If you don’t think you’re a good student, KAPOW! Believe you are an incredible student. If you think you’re the worst parent on earth, ABRACADABRA! Now believe your are the best parent alive.

For all you naysayers out there who think this is just airy fairy stuff and don’t believe, then for you I say, “Whatcha’ got to lose?” I believe we are stronger then we dare to think or give ourselves credit for. We have the power within us to change so much about ourselves if only we believe.

I never would have thought that I could recover so quickly from a sprained ankle with the power to heal myself and now I have some proof that this stuff can actually work. So why not try it on yourself. Whether it’s an injury you’ve been struggling with, a personal belief you would like to change or just to be more positive. Flick the switch in your brain and up tap into to your power to heal thy self.