By Susi Hately, B.Sc. Kinesiology

Many of the people that I work with are executives, entrepreneurs, and self-employed business owners who have become unwell. They have been referred by their doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, spouses and friends because their usual method for achieving success – “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” are no longer working. Their “full focus, full time” is wearing them out, and the more they push the gas pedal, the slower and even the more backward they go. They are feeling broken, as if their body has betrayed them. They are frustrated because they simply want to get back to the clarity of mind, strength of body and solid and steady stamina that they have been so used to in the past.

So what do I do and how do I work? Very soon into a session it becomes apparent that their ambition and their drive is pushing their body too hard and is preventing them from getting well.

How do I know this? I can tell by watching them move. Each time they move into a rehabilitative movement or a basic yoga position, I see them them pulling hard, holding their breath, and digging in figuring that by getting a “big stretch” they will get better.

I then suggest to back off and move in a range that is more appropriate, one which has the proper body parts doing the movement – i.e. more purely and less compensation – so that other areas of their body can become relaxed, like their eyes, jaw and state of breathing.

Invariably they will tell me that they now feel nothing. I respond with a “well nothing is better than pain isn’t it?” What follows is a knowing smirk. Some will even laugh. They will also nod knowingly when I tell them that I have yet to meet an ambitious, driven individual who doesn’t know that these traits, which provide so much success, have also led them into trouble. I add that while the traits are good, they currently are being misdirected, and that part of my teaching them how to get out of pain and back to living their life, will require me to not only show them how to move better and to use their muscles more efficiently, but to also teach them how to recognize when they are using the traits of drive and ambition for good or not. We then focus on helping them to recognize for themselves the early signs of misdirected talent so that they can make quick and decisive change that will truly serve them.

The process can be initially challenging for some. They’d like to get better “last week already”. They don’t have the time to be exhausted, in pain or limited. They have things to do and life is already feeling too constricted. Many will outrightly say, “why me? Why can’t I do what everyone else can do”. I look at them squarely and say quite simply and clearly, “you have no idea how many people in your inner circle are so exhausted and unwell from overwork and misapplied focus.” They look at me incredulously like I have just opened the lid of something akin to Pandora’s box. However, step by step, as they gain the necessary awareness and are able to apply it, they see a positive change. There is an added benefit – as they become more aware of themselves, they become more aware of others, and they now see the exhaustion of those around them. They can see the struggle that they couldn’t see before.

What happens next is a result of consistent practice. Many will make a shift in just a few weeks – they are able to see some very simple distinctions in how and where they direct their focus and how that impacts and influences the pace at which their their body heals, how they sleep and how their energy levels feel overall. As they feel more restored, they gain both confidence and competence in this new understanding for how to apply and work with their energy.

If you are finding yourself in this predicament and want to start the process with me send us a note through our website and connect with us. We can send you some downloads to explore or book a 1:1 live session in person or on Skype.

To your success.