The Power of Nostalgia

This past week was full of nostalgia. I spent a few days in New Orleans;  the city I spent my college career, met my husband and some of my dearest friends and where I had a really good time! It was a blast to spend time at my old school and with friends (and my husband) reminiscing for a few days. College feels so far away but still close in my heart; the best kind of nostalgia. 

However, leading up to that trip I was experiencing a different type of nostalgia that was more complicated. Several years ago I spent over 2 years in chronic pain. It was so debilitating that while I never stopped teaching yoga, I couldn’t practice it myself for much of that time. Those years were some of the most mentally challenging I have ever experienced and truly set me on the journey I find myself on today.

At that time, I was living with the fear that I might never again be pain free and may have to give up my asana practice permanently. I am beyond blessed to say that with the help of a wonderful PT, an amazing doctor and my mindfulness practice, I found my way to healing.

However, about once a year I have a flare up of this old injury and last week was just that. It often takes a few weeks to find my way back to stability and then the pain subsides. Over these past several years I have noticed that how I handle the emotional side of the pain (the nostalgic reaction) has a direct correlation to how long the pain lasts. The body and the mind are deeply connected so living in the past worry and fear actually causes more prolonged pain in my body. 

The picture above is from June 2017. It was the first time I could access Mayurasana (peacock pose) again after years of pain. I took this photo and sent it to my doctor with a note thanking her for her help in healing me.

In the years since I find myself connecting to that gratitude even more when I am experiencing the flare ups….because despite the physical and emotional discomfort, I know they are temporary. I look at it as my body reminding me of all of the time I have had and continue to have largely pain free. These flare ups offer me gifts; the gifts of perspective and gratitude and the nostalgic reminder of where I was and how far I have come.