Muscle Activation Technique - Ira’s Journey
I remember some of my older friends warning me about menopause: the anger, the brain fog, the hot flashes and the acquisition of stubborn belly fat that would become my new life partner.
What I didn’t see coming was the joint stiffness. Because of my post-care breast cancer medication, I was abruptly ushered into a chemical menopause and before I understood what was happening, I found it difficult to get up and down off the floor during yoga, people on the sidewalk seemed to breeze past me even though I was moving as quickly as I could, and then the pain began. I felt like the Tin Man who lost his oil can.
The simple act of walking or getting up from a chair became fraught. My muscles were tight and would spasm unexpectedly. At Skyla’s recommendation I tried Graston , which helped a lot, but didn’t solve it. Massage helped (as it always has), stretching was difficult (but it also helped), physical therapy helped, Dr. Favero’s treatments, in particular, helped, and the cortisone injections (sort of, not really) helped. Everything helped, but I continued to decline, unsure how each step would feel, embarrassed to be walking like Quasimodo, emotionally exhausted and depressed.
I did the best I could, and followed the instructions of my medical team, but I definitely waited too long to get a hip replacement. After the surgery and doing my P.T. exercises religiously, I was unrecognizable to myself: my body felt like a 5’ 8” rectangle of dense, tight muscle. I was absolutely grateful to be walking normally but I still wasn’t myself and the remnants of my muscular tension and inflammation continued.
Over the years, I’ve heard many disparaging remarks about aging and I was afraid that perhaps I was simply beyond hope and would have to accept and acclimate to my new physical condition. Then, one day, seemingly out of nowhere, Melodee suggested I try Muscle Activation Techniques.
In movies, important plot influences are often coupled with dramatic lighting, symphonic background music, and the heightened emotion of characters. In real life, the opposite seems to be true: what moves us in a new and good direction is something subtle, kind and ordinary. This was one of those moments.
After taking Melodee’s advice I had my first session of M.A.T. I walked out to the car with strength and confidence. The muscles of my hips felt alive, with flexibility and increased circulation. I was euphoric and felt hope for my own future for the first time in 2 years. I knew that other people were suffering just as I had been and I wanted them to experience this relief – this happiness – for themselves. I have recently completed my year-long course, and I am now a M.A.T. practitioner, Mastery Level II.
The comedian Emo Phillips once said, “I used to think the brain was the most fascinating part of the body, but then I thought – wait a minute – who’s telling me that??”
But the brain is amazing, our nervous systems are amazing, as is our ability to recover from setbacks. As long as blood is coursing through our veins, there is a healing principle at work in our lives. M.A.T.’s unique approach to neuromuscular function, is a wonderful example of that potential innate within the human body, within us.
I wish I could tell you that I am down to my ideal weight and plan to dress up as Wonder Woman for this year’s Halloween, but that is not the case. I am still a work in progress, but the key word in that sentence is “progress.” I have a sense of moving forward and continue to improve with the help of my own M.A.T. practitioner.
If anything from this blog post resonated with you, I hope you will give this modality a try! Life is short, let’s enjoy it. - Ira, LMT
