Is fashion dangerous? Well, with platform shoes once again in vogue one might think so! Certainly they can make legs look long and sexy however equally awkward they can make the walk look. Let’s consider other fashion trends and possible hidden or unknown dangers there. What about body piercing? It seems these days I see body piercing elegantly implanted on everyone from young teenagers to middle-aged individuals. For example teeny, tiny elegant diamonds nestled in the nose to more elaborate schemes boarding on outrageous but supposedly cool. But are they an innocuously cool thing? After you hear the story I’m about to tell, you might be more cautious with your cool.
A student taking the Living Anatomy Series class in Boulder would take private lessons with me a day or two before each course. She had challenges in thoracic articulation and the upper thoracic curl with corresponding tight erector spinae and protruding ribs. A fairly common duo, however, this student was very strong and fluid in her movements. Like most accomplished students, she was both aware of and a little frustrated with her situation.
During one of the LAS courses Lori Hayne, PT spoke about the dangers of body piercing, their disturbance to the meridians and the consequences. It was fascinating. Originally when Lori and I spoke about what to deliver in this particular course, she wasn’t sure if her research on body piercing would be important. But because so many of us (teachers) work with a variety of clients – many of whom have body piercings, I thought it pertinent.
During the course Lori asked if anyone had body piercing and a student raised her hand affirming she did. She had a navel ring. Lori worked with this student through several movement patterns with the navel ring in and with it out. Resulting patterns without the ring was markedly different and the student was brought to tears. She felt energetically different and her movements were greatly altered. We could all see it too; it was quite an instantaneous and obvious change. The ring had been in for 18 years! Lori spoke about other problems navel ring wearers’ exhibit and privately this student confirmed that she too had many of them. She never in her wildest dreams contributed it to her navel ring.
Since that time I have worked with this student once again and the lesson was quite different than previous ones. She was working to her ability and potential fully. A week ago I had the opportunity to see this student at a conference. I couldn’t help but notice the difference in the shape of her body from just six weeks prior. She’s not a big person, but rather lean. I used her as a demonstrator for advanced exercises and it felt like I was working with a completely different person both physically and energetically. She confided afterwards that everything has changed for her and that her body is continuing to process, that taking out the navel ring was life-altering.
If I hadn’t been a witness to this transformation I’m not sure I would have believed it could be so great. Lori Hayne reportedly works with athletes and sees improved performance, such as was experienced from this student, from taking out body piercings including those found up the outside of the ear, on the tip of the tongue, nipples and other areas.
If you or a client is having specific challenges and you have body piercing, consider taking them out and getting some real body work done. You might be surprised and pleased at the results. Yet fashion does call, so keep your earrings on, at least the ones on the lowest part of the earlobe. It appears that is an innocuous spot so fashion can prevail there…thank goodness!
- Colleen Glenn, Peak Pilates Master Trainer