Exercise with autoimmunity can be challenging. I struggled with energy, endurance, difficulty breathing, incoordination, joint instability and muscle pain. All these problems kept me from exercising…which made all the problems worse…which made it harder to exercise.
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It was a vicious cycle. I finally broke that cycle with the support with 3 things:
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Bodywork: Treatments included simple brain-balancing exercises that didn’t stress my system too much. (Eye movement therapy, slows spins in a chair, figure 8s with one arm/leg and chiropractic adjustment, all focused on the right side of my body.)
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Functional Medicine: I used to be somewhat anti-supplement and still only use them modestly. However, a natural process that is imbalanced can use supplementation as a catalyst to get back to better function. For exercise and circulation, a combination of Vipocetine, Huperzine A, Alpha-GCP, Xanthinol Nicotinate and ATP really helped get me on my feet (literally). These natural compounds improved my brain fog, energy levels and circulation. (I used to have TERRIBLE circulation. My hands and feet felt like ice blocks. I was the girl with the down coat, wool socks and portable heater…even in the summer. Nowadays, I’m still shocked when I touch someone and my hands are the warm ones!)
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7-Minute App: This was a game-changer for me. I used to get down on myself about not being capable of doing crossfit, rock climbing or triathlons (like everyone seems to be doing in the Bay Area). So I thought it was impossible for me to be an athletic person. As much as I love hatha yoga & meditation, I wasn’t getting the cardio and movement I knew I needed. Then I learned that a daily 7-minute high intensity workout provided the same benefits as a full 2-hour exercise routine! These body-weight exercises are easy to do at home. I can vary the intensity (by speed or number of reps) based on how I’m feeling that day. And it’s all done in 7 minutes! DM me if you want a link to the free app I use!
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All this allows me greater energy/focus, better posture/movement, stronger immunity/ metabolism. And most importantly, allows me to hike and ride horses!
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What’s your favorite way to move?