From Injury to Insight: A New Kind of Yoga Practice

“Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you—all of the expectations, all of the beliefs—and becoming who you are.” ~Rachel Naomi Remen

For years, yoga was my safe space—the place where I felt strong, grounded, and whole. My practice wasn’t just physical; it was my sanctuary, my moving meditation. So, when a shoulder injury forced me to change the way I practiced, I wasn’t just in pain—I was lost.

At first, it seemed minor. A nagging soreness, nothing I hadn’t worked through before. I convinced myself that more movement would help, that yoga—my forever healer—would fix it. I stretched, I modified, I doubled down on my alignment. But the more I tried to push through, the worse it became.

Eventually, even the simplest tasks—getting dressed, washing my hair—became difficult. That’s when I finally sought medical help. The diagnosis: shoulder impingement and frozen shoulder. A combination of overuse, aging (a humbling realization as I turned forty), and factors no one could fully explain.

I asked the doctor how to prevent it from happening again. The answer wasn’t clear. There was no perfect formula, no guarantee. That uncertainty unsettled me.

Surrendering to the Process

Healing wasn’t linear. It was slow, frustrating, and at times, disheartening. I cycled through physical therapists, reluctantly took medication, and spent months modifying my movements. But the hardest part wasn’t the pain—it was the mental and emotional struggle of letting go of what my practice used to be.

I grieved the loss of my old yoga practice. I felt betrayed by my body, resentful that the thing I loved most had, in a way, turned against me. And yet, somewhere in the frustration, I realized—this was part of my practice, too.

Yoga isn’t just about movement. It’s about presence. Acceptance. Surrender.

I started leaning into the lessons my injury was trying to teach me:

Ahimsa (Non-harming): I had to stop fighting my body and instead extend it kindness, just as I would for a loved one who was struggling.
Satya (Truthfulness): I had to acknowledge that my practice would change—and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Aparigraha (Non-attachment): I had to let go of my rigid expectations and open myself to a different, gentler way forward.
Santosha (Contentment): I had to find peace with what my body could do, rather than mourning what it couldn’t.

The moment I stopped resisting, something shifted. My body didn’t heal overnight, but my perspective did. I started seeing healing as an ongoing relationship rather than a destination. I gave myself permission to slow down, to listen, to trust.

Rebuilding with Compassion

As I modified my practice, I discovered new ways to move that honored my limitations rather than fought against them. My yoga practice became softer, more mindful. I focused on breathwork, grounding postures, and gentle movement. I let go of the idea that I had to push myself to prove something.

I also realized something deeper: healing isn’t just about getting back to where we were—it’s about growing into who we’re becoming.

We all face moments where we’re forced to slow down, to reevaluate, to shift. And in those moments, we have a choice. We can resist and suffer, or we can soften and grow.

If you’re navigating an injury, a setback, or an unexpected change, know this: Your healing doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. You are allowed to grieve. You are allowed to feel frustrated. But you are also allowed to find joy in the process. To discover new ways of being. To trust that even in the slowing down, there is wisdom.

Healing is not about returning to what was—it’s about embracing what is and finding beauty in what’s possible now.

About Michelle Lamansky

Michelle Lamansky is a trauma-aware yoga instructor (RYT-500) and a holistic health & wellness coach who helps women move through high-functioning stress and anxiety with compassion, breath, and body-based tools. Through private sessions and self-paced programs, she guides students back to calm, connection, and a sense of home within themselves. Learn more at www.balancedyogatn.com.