Skip to main content

Day 281: Therapeutic Tennis Balls to the Rescue!

Tired today. But I am putting one foot in front of the other!

I had a long day yesterday.  Began with early Mass and ended with a late chamber group rehearsal.

At one point in the afternoon, during a break, I lay down on the church floor with my therapeutic tennis balls - two tennis balls duct taped together. I put them on the floor and lay on top of them so that they hit just on either side of my spine. A kind of DIY trigger point therapy. I have a lot of tension in my upper back, in my rhomboids (the muscle underneath the trapezius between the scapulae - the shoulder blades).  I discovered the tennis ball trick years ago when I worked as a chiropractor's assistant.

It's been a God send for times like yesterday.  I let the weight of my body press into the tennis balls which in turn put pressure on the muscles along the spine. I would breathe into the pain and then roll the balls to another spot. I did some yoga stretches and after about 15 minutes of my DIY therapy, I felt good enough to continue my day.

My next student's mom came in looking distraught. She is a massage therapist. Her daughter is one of my newer students. Delightful family. Mom asked if I could help her with an odd request. I of course, said yes. I love to help! It gets me out of my own self.  She said she had a horrible pain underneath her left scapula. I laughed and told her I had the same spot! She asked if I would place a patch on her back. She couldn't quite reach it. I told her I would do even better. I would put the patch on and then let her use my therapeutic tennis balls!

So I put on her pain patch and started her daughter's lesson. I looked over and smiled. There she was, laying on the floor in the middle of the church. And after the lesson, mom was smiling and feeling much better.

I really do like helping people. 

The rest of my afternoon was very pleasant, including rehearsal. Our group has a performance coming up in March with challenging music we have never played before and some guest musicians.  But it was coming together last night.  I think it will be a fun event!

On my way to teach a student. My daughter, son-in-law, his mother and grandmother came to my church today. It was lovely to have the family!  And the church body was very welcoming. :)

Happy Sunday!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Year Three, Day 58: Marilyn Monroe's Measurements

Day 24 of daily hooping. I am determined to shrink these abs, if it is the last thing I do! Perhaps I should have that written on my tombstone: "Here lies Zita". Flat abs at last!! Well I certainly hope to attain my flat abs goal BEFORE I am dead and gone! Today's video was another rush job. But I downloaded some fun tunes to my Kindle last night.  I enjoyed my hoop session more listening to the Punjabi music. It reminded me of the "Maritime Bhangra Dancers".  If you haven't heard of them, you should look them up. They never fail to put a smile on my face! I am not smiling so much looking at this video. My hooping skills have improved a bit, but that menopot has got to go! After my hoop session, I walked 3/4 mile to the bus stop. I was planning on attending the 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Grotto, but it was cutting it close. Plus, I was feeling the need for a Starbucks iced tea.  Today was Iced Passionfruit/Black Tea, no sugar whatsoever.   The ic...

Year Two, Day 274: I Like Me. RIP Packy!

Today's fruit of the spirit that I am focusing on is patience.  This I need more of. And coincidentally (or not), I read in my book Challenge: A Daily Meditation Program Based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius by Mark Link, S.J. the following: "I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, 'No.' He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn't granted, it is earned." Well, not to sound smug, but I am certainly earning my patience award!  :) I am having a good day, however I am a bit over caffeinated. I earned (patiently lol) a free latte today at Starbucks.  On a side note, I love being a regular customer. I walked into my regular Starbucks today, and one of the barista's yelled, "Zita!" from across the room. I felt like I was in an episode of "Cheers"! I love being recognized in a friendly manner. I had a venti "Smoked Butterscotch Latte with soy".   I have found the per...

Year Two, Day 201: "I"

Before my first meeting with "I" I had a wonderful first date last night! We had a lot on common. The conversation flowed easily. We laughed. It was so lovely, that I think I shall not blog about him. Not yet anyway. I am just going to call him "I". I like I. 😉 Today was a long, wonderful family day. Went to church with my daughter and son-in-law. Very powerful, uplifting service. After that we went to the horse races. Had a blast. Broke even. Essentially had a free lunch and four hours of entertainment. After the horses, we had yet another Thanksgiving dinner at my niece's place. It was her first turkey. It was amazing! But thank God I had enough willpower to resist the pie! Tomorrow I go for my first physical therapy appointment. Tuesday it is back to the gym!! Happy Sunday!