Finding Healing Through Acceptance: One Woman’s Journey with Injury and Yoga
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For many, yoga represents a sanctuary—a place of strength, balance, and peace. For Michelle Lamansky, a dedicated practitioner and trauma-aware yoga instructor, this truth was shattered when an unexpected shoulder injury left her feeling lost in her own body.
Initially, what seemed like a minor irritation—a nagging soreness in her shoulder—spiraled into a debilitating condition known as shoulder impingement and frozen shoulder. As Michelle turned forty, she faced the hard realities of aging and the limitations it brings. The injury forced her to seek medical help after simple tasks became excruciating. But the answers she received from doctors offered little reassurance; there was no perfect formula for prevention, leaving her adrift in uncertainty.
“Healing wasn’t linear. It was slow, frustrating, and disheartening,” Michelle recalls, capturing the complex emotional landscape of her experience. Each therapy session and medication felt like a reminder of what she had lost: her dynamic, unrestricted yoga practice. But as frustration set in, she began to recognize an essential truth—this uncomfortable journey was a part of her practice too.
Surrendering to Change
Guided by the philosophies of yoga, Michelle learned that her injury was not just a hindrance but an invitation for growth and introspection. Drawing from principles like Ahimsa (non-harming) and Santosha (contentment), she reframed her perspective, shifting the focus away from what her body could no longer do to what it could.
“I started leaning into the lessons my injury was trying to teach me,” she shares. By embodying acceptance, she discovered that healing involves embracing the present rather than chasing a fading past.
“The moment I stopped resisting, something shifted,” she explains. Instead of forcing herself back to her former practice, she began exploring gentler movements, letting go of rigid expectations and allowing her body to dictate the limits.
Rebuilding with Compassion
In reclaiming her practice, Michelle focused on breathwork and grounding postures, honing in on the relationship between body and mind. This evolution formed a compassionate approach to her healing process, which she emphasizes is not about returning to a specific state of being, but rather about growing into something new.
“We all face moments where we’re forced to slow down and reevaluate. We can resist and suffer, or we can soften and grow,” Michelle observes, reminding others on a similar journey that their experiences are unique and valid.
The Journey Towards Joy
As her healing progressed, Michelle discovered a profound truth: “Healing is not about returning to what was—it’s about embracing what is and finding beauty in what’s possible now.” This message resonates powerfully in a world that often prioritizes speed and perfection.
As she continues to teach and guide her students through their own challenges, Michelle emphasizes the importance of trusting the process. “If you’re navigating an injury or an unexpected change, know that you are allowed to grieve, to feel frustrated, and also to find joy in the process,” she assures.
Today, she helps others move through high-functioning stress and anxiety with compassion, breath, and body-based tools through her holistic health and wellness coaching.
For Michelle, injury was not the end of her yoga journey but rather a transformative chapter that taught her resilience, kindness, and the immeasurable value of self-acceptance.
About Michelle Lamansky
Michelle Lamansky is a trauma-aware yoga instructor (RYT-500) and a holistic health & wellness coach, dedicated to helping women navigate stress and anxiety. Through private sessions and self-paced programs, she guides students back to calm and connection. Learn more about her work at www.balancedyogatn.com.
For more stories and insights like Michelle’s, stay tuned as we continue to explore the delicate balance of body, mind, and spirit in our ongoing quest for wellness.