Back in June of 1987, my knee blew up after a vigorous cycling workout.
One minute my knee was totally fine, the next minute it was the size of a cantaloupe.
A similar situation happened a few months earlier – but corrected itself within a couple hours.
This time was different. The swelling didn’t diminish.
I let the swelling linger for another day, hoping it would abate, and this lead to an infection. The infection lead to a trip to the E.R. wherein an orthopedic surgeon showed up to drain my knee. He ended up draining it three times, wherein he proposed I have surgery to remove the bursa sac.
Being I didn’t immediately acquiesce to the barbarism being proposed, the doc suggested I get a second opinion. He gave me the name of another surgeon (wink, wink, I’m sure they were friends), whom I met and who, unsurprisingly, proffered the same diagnosis: Surgery.
That was 33 years ago. Think of it. I could have had my bursa sac removed in my 20’s, and lived in pain forever after.
Funny how things work out when you are willing to question the experts.
Today, thank goodness, there are more and more western doctors on the other side of the aisle. They look for the least invasive solutions to help you fix what’s ailing you. They stay abreast of what truly does cure disease. And they’re not swayed to make their decisions based upon what they hear on the news.
Now, you might be wondering what I’ve done over the years to avoid the knee surgeon and stay out of pain.
The answers are simple.
First, I do Hindu squats, wherein your heels are off the ground and your knees go over your toes (the opposite of what the fitness industry teaches). This is important for strengthening the tendons of the lower leg.
Second, I practice a lot of twisting and coiling movements that wring out the tissues and strengthen the fascia.
Third, I train in reverse.
Reverse training is what I began teaching to my clients over 15 years ago – and my DVDs on it, Dao Zou, are best-sellers because the program friggin works.
Not only does it strengthen the tendons and help eliminate joint pain, but it also affects your brain and nervous system in a dramatically positive way.
The unsettled nature of things in the world today can get to us. This can lead to angst, anger, fear, worry and a host of other negatives.
But when you practice Dao Zou the way I teach it (with deep breathing and other activations), you may be amazed at how the fog lifts and the ugggghhh-factor is no longer operating in your life.
The good news is you can and should begin your Dao Zou training slowly and with simple movements. Focus on the breathing and the visualizations. If you attempt to complicate the movements in favor of bigger, faster, stronger, you may end up disappointed.
As the saying goes, Make Haste Slowly.
Start slowly and allow the momentum to build naturally and spontaneously.
Momentum is the key. When you establish momentum, nothing can or will be impossible for you.
Kick ass – take names.
Matt Furey
