What did I learn from my root canal?
Hi Athletes!
Well I promised that you would hear more from me… looks like you are going to see more of me too! Lol. How is my tooth looking? Fabulous right?
I had meant to make Monday’s my regular email day but I had a portion of a root canal yesterday that knocked me down for the better part of the day.
The fun thing about the root canal (yes I said that), is I have nothing to do but lay back and let my mind wander for 1-2 hours and think about all the things I want to write you about. It’s been a crazy week and there are so many things going through my mind and lessons learned. It is definitely a good problem to have a busy mind when there are bright lights, scary drills, and bleach going down into your face.
I had so many different topics that I had thought of to write you all and now I have totally forgotten them. Seriously, I have a bit of an idea of what was going through my head but no one clear and concise topic for today. So let me know what I DO know from this little exercise…
Letting your mind wander can be super helpful for your body. I know you hear lots about meditation and clearing your thoughts and how good that can be for you. I have never been able to do that. I just CANT sit and do nothing AND think about nothing. I am just not programmed that way.
I DO zone out down long sections of trail in an endurance ride or on a particularly intense run or lifting session, but that is the closest I have ever felt to a meditative state. Moving my body settles my mind.
The dentist was the opposite, I needed to move my mind to settle my body. Believe it or not, my heart rate was consistently at least 20bpm below what it was during my drive to/from the dentists office.
So if you are like me and antsy, excitable, curious and just can’t seem to find a way to BE still, why not try what I did? Try one at a time. Pick which you want to settle (based on your current situation and feelings) and move the other.
I like to say, sport is 20% physical and 80% mental. Let yourself wander and see where the amazing interaction between the physical and mental will take you.
-Sarah
PS extra bonus of being at the dentist, I am forced to take long deep breaths through my nose and concentrate on that. This is your reminder to take a few moments to BREATE today!