Why Physiotherapy is Important
The quote above really encompasses, for me, the beauty, complexity and holistic modality that is Physiotherapy. I feel so lucky to have found this profession and truly feel that it is what I was meant to do and be. As May is National Physiotherapy Month, I thought I’d write a little something to tell you what it means to me.
Movement, sport and being active have always been a part of my life. Growing up I always knew I wanted to be in health care and after exploring a few other options, Physiotherapy seemed to be the perfect fit. It’s funny that growing up I didn’t really have that much awareness of Physio, despite numerous sports injuries (which is why awareness campaigns like this are so important!). It was only after working as a Physio for a few years, and completing my Yoga Teacher Training, that I truly understood the interconnectedness of body, mind and spirit.
My entire being needed not only nourishing movement but also variable exercise of the breath, mind and body. This meant less athletics and competition and more subtle and supportive forms of movement. It meant less time comparing and more time being. It meant more connectedness with family and the world around me. It meant slowing down rather than speeding up. It meant tuning in and really listening, not pushing through stronger, harder, faster or doing more. It meant finding the subtle in-between movements or pauses that are like the spaces between these words and letters. It meant having fun, being creative and playing outside the box.
This did not come over night and I was very lucky to be able to pick and choose my support team. Of course, having the knowledge to be able to identify a bit more specifically whom I needed help from and when is an advantage I have as a Physiotherapist. However, it also took me some time and trial and error to understand what treatment and what therapist I needed and when. When something wasn’t working the way I expected, I gave it a bit more time and then tried something else. The interesting part is that the more I explored (independently or with the help of a practitioner), the more information about myself and where I need to build resilience came to light. I found I needed more meditation (and I still use my Calm or Insight Timer apps btw;)), more time outside in nature, more time being active with family and friends, more time building strength while also giving myself space.
That’s the part of being a Physiotherapist that I love: helping someone to reflect on their life, movement, function, performance, etc. to understand their story, find out what their body, mind, and emotions are telling them and figure out how to reorganize, re-engage, reconnect, and restore so they can continue to move, play and do what they love.
What have you learned along your health journey? Have you had help along the way? How has a Physiotherapist helped you with your movement goals?