Diary of The Life of a Trainer when Injured

This is probably the most dreaded thing of any Health and Fitness Coach or Trainer. And, it's the one thing that can really "break" us.

Trainers are usually unstoppable, highly motivated, inspiring, very positive, and happy. Ha! Actually those things are usually pre-requisites. Being all those things is the nature of our job.

But, what are we to do without our health, both physically and emotionally? What is to happen to our livelihood when we are injured? How can we demonstrate exercises, how can we teach others proper form? How can we continue to work and earn our living? How can we possibly motivate and inspire others?

These are all thoughts that cross a trainers mind I'm sure, and then some. At least, these are the thoughts that have crossed my mind since I recently became injured; Someway, somehow, I have hurt my knee. In fact its not even my knee, but a muscle that is not allowing my knee to properly extend or flex. I am literally not able to walk without dragging my hurt leg at the speed of 1 step per 1.5 seconds or so. This is the first time I am unable to demonstrate exercises for my students. Normally when a sport injury has occurred, I recover real quickly, specially because i always see my sports therapist and chiropractors right away. I don't mess around.

This time, it's been 3 days since my injury and it hasn't gotten any better; even after seeing my sports therapist, Electro Magnetic Pulse Therapy practitioner, and Chiropractor. One of my docs. mentioned if by Monday, since i was treated on a Friday, I didn't get any better, I would have to do an MRI.

I was hoping that it wouldn't go that far, instead heal right away like it normally would. But, that does not seem to be the case this time around.

These past few days I haven't been my upbeat self. I have to admit, I've been through certain emotions of sadness, depression, anger, and even moody. However, it's so interesting that someway my true loving nature pops up and says "maybe this happened because you are supposed to learn more compassion", "maybe this is a way to learn to let go of attachments, expectations, and the ego".

Perspective is EVERYTHING...

You see, all those thoughts that have crossed my mind, like: "OMG, how am I going to work now?" "How am I going to inspire and motivate my students" "I have a huge event coming up where I am the main attraction and what will these people think of me now?", are all part of the ego**. These things are only existing in my mind! I am creating a problem that really doesn't exist. The "real" reality is that: I am injured at the moment- that's it! Anything else that I attach to it is not real.

The solution is really to stay in the present moment. Live every moment as it comes. And have a more positive outlook and perspective.

After meditation this morning, my "light bulb" lit up. It said, call Sean ( a trainer friend of mine) and see if he can do the exercise demos for your students. So I contacted him, and he said he would, "No problem". So as my body is healing itself, I will simply have to use other alternatives for teaching. Until, eventually, I will be able to teach again on my own.

So if you are injured, work around that injury, do what you can, and try not to "get stuck in your head". Don't forget, they are just thoughts, and the negative thoughts that you attach to what is actually happening, are your only limitations. Your thoughts do create the "reality" that you are experiencing, so make them positive if you are going to think.

Buddha once said, " We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thougths, we make the world."

If you are an injured trainer, hire someone or ask a friend to help you. Also, you can Look at this as a way of getting more creative, aquiring patience, developing compassion, and many other great things. Perspective is everything.

With love, inspiration, and light,

Coach Yari

P.S. Everything happens for a reason. These are all learning experiences for growth and awareness.