18/02/2023
On reflection
On Australia Day this year I went for what I thought was going to be a lovely easy walk around Lake Parramatta. I often walk through this area, however, on this particular morning I had a fall, (no, that only happens to old people, doesn’t it?) I took a dive down a rocky track ! Unfortunately, the track came off better than me. I skinned my hands and knees, and badly bruised my knees, and my ego! Until today I always blamed the new shoes I was wearing, thinking I caught the tip of the shoe on a rock.
Jumping forward a bit to this week; I recently started a new sport and the trainer said to me “always aim above the net and you’ll get it over the net” – simple and logical instruction and yes, it worked every time – except when I forgot to aim of course! Then another thought came to me this morning, my old climbing partner used to say, “reach higher than the hold and you’ll land on the hold”.
On reflection of my week, and pondering my aching hips from my game on Thursday night, whilst walking around Lake Parramatta again this morning, a revelation came to me; what if I’m not lifting my legs high enough? Yes, of course, what about that fall I had months ago (oh no, I am old!), and what about when I’m working in the studio, I often feel like I drag my heels. What if all these things are happening to me because I have lazy or weak hip flexors?
You know the old high knees exercise we used to have to do in school sport training? Well, maybe, just maybe they were onto something there! If I lift my legs higher than is needed to step up over the rocks rather than thinking of only stepping onto the rocks, and then I push off with more agility and strength, I WON'T ‘connect with the rock’ and take a tumble. In doing so I’m building strength and flexibility in my hips and legs and will be much less likely to strain my hip flexors.
With all these thoughts spurring me on, I'm pleased to say, I completed my walk without any mishaps. I definitely felt stronger when walking this way. I could feel my abdominals naturally kick in and I was utilising my leg strength a lot more. By the time I finished my walk, my legs were actually tired, not a normal occurrence on an easy 1 hour walk.
Now I only need to remember to do this every time I’m out walking!
Being out in nature is such a great inspiration for reflection isn’t it.
