Navigating Injury — an Imperfect Journey

Navigating Injury — An Imperfect Journey

The experience of having my foot immobilised in a moon boot for six weeks — and then gradually emerging from it over the following two — has reminded me, in a very real and embodied way, just how interconnected our bodies are.

The effects of the immobilisation didn’t just stay in my foot. The impact rippled upward. One of the first and most painful areas to suffer? My knee — on the same side as the injured foot. Bending it, straightening it, even doing kneeling side plank (which I’d hoped would help keep my hip abductors strong) — it all felt tight, awkward and painful.

Without the natural flow of movement from foot to knee to pelvis, things began to unravel. My pelvic balance was next to go. Not being able to sit cross-legged or squat deeply disrupted the balance of my pelvic floor, and that in turn has led to acute back pain and hip discomfort — symptoms I am very much still navigating.

Now, you might be thinking — surely as a Pilates / FAMO teacher, I wouldn’t experience this! Surely I’d have the perfect movement practice to prevent it.

Ideally, yes — but life is rarely ideal.

I’ve returned to teaching. I still have my daughter to care for. There are house chores, daily demands, and life rolling on. Although I’ve been diligent with my movement practice most days, sometimes the imbalances are simply too great to correct in one go. Recovery is not linear — it’s a process of some gains, then setbacks. Forward, backward, forward again.

I realised this in a particularly revealing moment: after a full day of teaching, rushing to a physio appointment, doing a last-minute grocery shop, picking up my daughter, prepping dinner, the usual bath time routine — I hit a wall.

My body was telling me, very clearly: SLOW RIGHT DOWN.

So I am.

I’m walking more slowly — and it’s already helping ease my discomfort. I’m taking the time to lie on my mat and simply breathe before beginning any movement. I’m even putting my foot up in the five minutes between clients — something my physio will no doubt be proud of!

And here’s something else this experience is teaching me: Recovery is about balance, not perfection.

It’s tempting to expect a smooth, upward trajectory — but the reality is, healing is rarely linear. It’s a dance: progress one day, a step back the next. Some days you’ll feel stronger, other days not so much.

The important thing is to stay tuned in. To notice when your body needs rest and when it’s ready for gentle challenge. To give yourself permission to move at the pace your body requires, not the pace your mind demands.

When you’re recovering from injury, it takes extra energy — physically and mentally. And sometimes you simply can’t do it all. Part of me still feels like I should, but I’m learning (yet again!) that this isn’t always realistic — or helpful.

So why am I sharing this personal tale with you?

Because perhaps you are here too. Or you’ve been here. Or maybe you simply need a gentle reminder that slowing down, listening, and regulating yourself is just as valuable — and just as productive — as all the doing.

Sometimes in healing, it’s the pauses that allow progress.

💛