nathalie shushan

I have one last trip in me before the year is up. In November, I’ll attend a Yoga Teacher Training in Costa Rica. My experience in India forcefully reminded me how sacred my yoga practice. Because it was as painful as it was enlightening, this next trip has required a lot of physical preparation (if only to avoid the sequel to Crying in Yoga). After a month at the yoga center, I had a renewed determination to fortify my body so it could withstand the postures that left me feeling broken. I got back into physical therapy and started weight training, building my strength and mobility for yoga postures. Throughout this healing process, acupuncture has made the most noticeable difference in reducing pain and bringing my body back into alignment.

My first experience with acupuncture was about a year ago. There was some residual discomfort from the car accident, a tightness in my shoulder that therapy alone never fixed. I didn’t know much about acupuncture at the time but I felt drawn to it, and the results exceeded my expectations. I sang its praises to anyone who would listen. Since then, I have tried just about every variation, from Katrina’s living room in Dharamkot to more conventional doctors’ offices in New York. The relief acupuncture provides is immediate: increased mobility in my shoulders, less tension in my back. Now, because I’m working to heal a specific and relatively fresh injury in order to prepare my body for an intensive 3 week yoga practice, I have been consistent with my visits and it has made a world of difference. 

When I started healing my injury, Yoga Teacher Training wasn’t looking likely. I could hardly stand upright at the end of a day with the tiniest bit of physical exertion. My left arm felt loose out of its socket, like my shoulder wasn’t strong enough to keep it in place. Over the course of a week, the pain would compound instead of alleviate. The fear of my pain becoming chronic was just as debilitating as the pain itself. I knew I had to take action and, on an afternoon when I couldn’t stand up any longer, I stumbled upon ORA like an actual Room of Requirement. I felt soothed from the moment I walked in; it’s the kind of space that allows you to quiet down just by being inside it, an oasis in the middle of the city. The shelves were lined with teas, herbs and salves, design immaculate but not sterile. The staff was knowledgeable and sweet, answering all of my questions and helping me make an appointment right away. It was just the beginning of feeling like my prayers were being answered.

It’s been 6 weeks of consistent sessions to heal this injury. I am grateful every day for the difference it’s made. Acupuncture has enabled my body to heal more effectively (because it already loves to heal efficiently). The nuanced signals of injury that I have become all too attuned to (pain, fatigue, clicking in my joints just from breathing) have decreased significantly and some have disappeared altogether. My back can get tired after a day of actual overexertion, instead of just existing, and I feel confident that the pain isn’t permanent. With a little bit of rest, I’m back to normal. 

The best part about acupuncture is that I am reminded of the resilience of the human body. The practitioner is the facilitator (and @Max, if you’re reading this, you are my hero, the best facilitator a gal could ask for) but my body is the true healer. Each needle produces a micro injury at the injection site to show the body where it needs to respond. Every week, I leave ORA feeling completely blissed out – but that happiness pales in comparison to how I feel when I wake up each morning, pain free and ready to take on the day.