Dance after Fibromyalgia

[danielle77]

Hello all, 

I'm new to the forum and have spent the past week foraging through the topics, trying to familiarize myself with the techniques and school of thought. You all are very deep thinkers! I have four young children so it takes me a while to get back into adult speak. I'm a 36 year old female who has always loved to dance, but I have spent the past 5 years or so in chronic pain and fatigue. Finally a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia has helped me understand what is going on in my body, and studying inner healing has helped me figure out how it got there. 

Anywho, I landed on these forums after searching across the interwebs for stretching and flexibility help having to do specifically with fascia - it seems very few people/teachers understand the importance of the fascia. I feel pretty blessed to even know about it. 

I'm coming out of fibro, and it's an exciting time. I'm so ready to dance freely - but of course, flexibility and strength are issues. Also, more pointedly, the age old dancer questions: how can I increase my foot arch for ballet? How can I increase my turnout? What's the best method for achieving front splits? I've searched the forums but wanted to ask more specifically about these topics. Thank you to anyone who has some tips to offer, and thank you Kit for your helpful introductory email.

Danielle

[piotro]

Hello,

All the best for the successful fibro fight :).

Best method for achieving these? Probably to experiment, find right tools and do them correctly and systematically :).

Kit has good foot sequence on his youtube (linked below) it has ideas for stretching toe point, starting at around 11min mark.

 

[danielle77]

Brilliant!! Thank you so much @piotro for your response. This is extremely helpful!! Thank you for the well wishes. 

[Jim Pickles]

Do you know the site Ballet Talk for Dancers? It has highly knowledgeable contributors and moderators and I am sure will be the best source for information on how to increase your arch (how much should be passive, and how much should be active, coming from the foot muscles themselves). This is a specialised area which I think should be taught by ballet teachers. As for front splits, there are some good videos from Kit and Olivia on Kit's Youtube channel (search for Kit Laughlin) and also they have some (very inexpensive) paid for videos which you will be able to link to from this site. And this has given me more of a stimulus to produce my own splits video which will be appropriate for adults.

[danielle77]

I have not heard of Ballet Talk for Dancers - I'll look it up! I'll also head over to Kit's and Olivia's YT channel. Thank you!!!

[Tones]

 

Introducing the work of Dr James Stoxen.

Anthony Field's body had so much pain and inflammation the dopamine he was producing no affect in his brain. He was in a chronic state of pain and suffering. He's agent hook him up with Dr James Stoxen and after completing his initial treatment/s with him it inspired him to write a book. 

https://www.amazon.com/How-Got-My-Wiggle-Back/dp/1118019334

A massive part of Dr Stoxen's work is looking at the spring mechanism within the body and no doubt the feet is a massive factor.

http://www.petrozziwellness.com.au/services/human-spring-approach/

The other part of the formula Anthony used to back on track was nutrition. He talks about that and gut health in the book. Personally I've always stayed on top of awesome nutrition (ferment our own food, have our own garden, and chooks) but it wasn't until I started taking the highest grade supplements on the Australian market that I could literally stretch for 4-6 hours a day consistently with nothing but benefits.