Living with fibromyalgia
means more than experiencing daily pain. It is about
navigating a constant cycle of flare-ups, unpredictable symptoms, fatigue,
and emotional overwhelm. For many people, exercise becomes a difficult,
sometimes impossible task. The very idea of movement can trigger fear because
it often worsens pain
temporarily or leads to physical setbacks. Yet movement, when done correctly,
can be one of the most powerful tools for managing fibromyalgia symptoms. What’s
needed is a new kind of exercise—one that doesn’t push the body into sickness
but supports it in regaining balance. This is where the concept of “I feel I
was sick” emerges—not just as a reflection of the past, but as a gentle
reminder of transformation through movement.
This new fibromyalgia exercise is not based on
intensity or endurance. Instead, it is founded on restoration, body awareness,
and emotional connection. The idea behind the phrase “I feel I was sick” is
that the body remembers trauma, pain, and
exhaustion—but it also holds the potential to remember healing. This unique
movement approach guides individuals to reconnect with their bodies not through
force, but through softness and trust. It blends gentle physical motion with
emotional processing and mindfulness, helping to retrain the nervous system and
unlock long-held muscular and psychological tension.
The Foundation of
Movement in Fibromyalgia
Traditional exercise
recommendations often do not work for people with fibromyalgia. High-impact routines,
cardio-heavy workouts, and repetitive muscle strain can all lead to worsening
of symptoms.
This is because the nervous system in fibromyalgia
is in a constant state of hyperalertness. Any stress, including physical
exertion, can push it further into a pain response.
This is why a different model of exercise is required—one that respects the
fragile communication between body and brain.
The new fibromyalgia exercise, referred to here
as the “I Feel I Was Sick” method, is built on five key principles: nervous
system regulation, slow rhythmic movement, sensory feedback, emotional
integration, and micro-awareness. Each session is about reconnecting, not
pushing. The goal is to shift the body from survival mode to a state of ease
and safety.
Nervous System
Regulation Through Movement
Many people with fibromyalgia live in a sympathetic
nervous system state—commonly known as fight or flight. This means their body
perceives threat all the time, even in the absence of danger. Movement
practices that help regulate the nervous system can reduce this chronic stress
response.
In this exercise
method, each session begins with grounding techniques. This could be as simple
as sitting in a chair and feeling both feet on the ground. Breathing deeply
into the belly and softly exhaling helps calm the heart rate and signals the
body that it is safe to begin movement. Unlike traditional warm-ups, this stage
is about entering stillness before motion.
This stage can
include body scanning. Starting from the head and working slowly to the toes,
individuals notice areas of tension, numbness, heat, or pain. This
practice is done with curiosity rather than judgment. It helps reestablish the
brain-body connection, especially in places that have been frozen or
disconnected due to chronic pain.
Slow Rhythmic Motion
for Healing
Movement in this
method is based on slow, repetitive motion. It may look like a gentle shoulder
roll, a soft knee bend, or a rocking motion while seated. The key is rhythm.
When the body moves rhythmically at a slow pace, it begins to downregulate the
stress response. This creates a wave of calm throughout the nervous system.
Each motion is
repeated between six to ten times with a focus on how it feels rather than how
it looks. The intention is not to stretch or strengthen, but to sense. For example,
rotating the neck slowly while exhaling helps release pressure in the upper
spine and calms the vagus nerve, which is central to regulating inflammation
and stress.
Even simple
activities like moving the fingers in a wave-like motion or rolling the feet
over a soft ball can create significant shifts. These movements activate the
proprioceptive system, which helps the brain understand the body's position in
space—a sense often impaired in fibromyalgia.
Sensory Feedback and
Inner Listening
“I feel I was sick”
also refers to the sensory memories locked in the muscles and fascia. People
with fibromyalgia often experience
strange sensations—tingling, burning, heaviness—without visible causes. These
sensations can be frightening and disorienting.
This exercise
approach teaches participants to engage with these sensations without panic. As
movement continues, each sensation is labeled—not with fear, but with
recognition. Saying “my shoulder feels warm” or “my hip feels buzzing” becomes
a way to integrate sensation into awareness rather than resisting it.
This sensory feedback
builds trust with the body. Over time, individuals learn to distinguish between
pain that
signals harm and sensation that signals change. This is an essential skill for
people with fibromyalgia, who often
struggle to read their body’s messages accurately.
Emotional Integration
During Movement
Fibromyalgia is not purely physical. It
is closely tied to emotional trauma, unresolved stress, and mental exhaustion.
The “I feel I was sick” method honors this by weaving emotional processing into
the movement practice.
After each movement
sequence, there is a pause. This is the moment for reflection. Practitioners
are invited to journal, sit with their eyes closed, or place a hand on their
heart or abdomen to observe their emotional state. This might bring up sadness,
frustration, or even relief. Rather than push these feelings away, they are
acknowledged and welcomed.
This part of the
practice helps dissolve emotional tension stored in the body. It also rewrites
the internal narrative from one of punishment or failure to one of compassion
and healing. Many individuals report that they feel lighter after these
sessions—not just in their muscles but in their emotions.
Micro-Awareness as a
Tool for Empowerment
The final component
of this exercise method is micro-awareness—the ability to notice subtle shifts.
These may be tiny changes in breath, warmth in a finger, or a moment of mental
clarity. Celebrating these small wins is a powerful motivator for people with fibromyalgia, who often face
discouragement in traditional fitness settings.
Each session ends
with a gentle body wrap. This involves wrapping arms around oneself in a hug,
lying under a heavy blanket, or using compression garments. These provide
sensory input that soothes the nervous system and signals the end of the
practice.
Over time, this
method helps people with fibromyalgia
build a new relationship with their bodies. Instead of seeing their body as an
enemy that causes pain,
they begin to see it as a living system that can learn, adapt, and heal—at its
own pace, with its own wisdom.
Living the
Transition: From “I Feel I Am Sick” to “I Felt I Was Sick”
What makes this
exercise revolutionary is its perspective. The title “I feel I was sick”
carries a subtle shift in language that matters. It acknowledges the past while
hinting at recovery. Even if pain is still
present, the very act of movement begins to change the story.
This method doesn’t
promise to eliminate symptoms
overnight. It is not a cure. But it is a reorientation—a way of living inside
the body with awareness, with gentleness, and with hope. For many, that alone
is transformative.
Through this new
exercise, people with fibromyalgia are
reclaiming their agency. They are learning to trust their inner rhythms, honor
their limits, and celebrate their aliveness. That is the essence of this
practice—not to forget that they were sick, but to remember that healing is
possible.
For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:
References:
Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly
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Official Fibromyalgia Blogs
Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates
Fibromyalgia Stores
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