028: The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Injuries

Nobody likes getting injured. They wreck your routine, undermine your mental health, and stop your progress towards your fitness goals.  But they're a natural part of working out. And when you understand why injuries happen, they can actually be an opportunity for growth.  For example:  When I was 11, I had a recurring patellar subluxation in my knee that lasted until long after I graduated from college. Surgery at 16 didn't help. Wearing a knee brace throughout my collegiate lacrosse career didn't help. Then, I had a terrible episode at the World Lacrosse Games, which kept me sidelined for months.  This injury coincided with the start of Man Flow Yoga. In fact, it's one of the main reasons I created the Strength Foundations Challenge. If you've been through that program—or Man Flow Yoga's Bulletproof Your Knees course—then you know that we focus on your hips and ankles more than your knees.  Why? Because the site of your injuries isn't the root cause of your injuries. This mindset shift changed how I approach injuries forever. And in this episode, I'm sharing everything I've learned about injuries with you.  You'll discover a few more mindset tweaks that keep your progress moving forward (even when you're injured), how injuries reveal "unusual" weaknesses, and the best way to recover from injuries, so you heal faster and prevent future injuries.   Want to use your injuries as an opportunity for growth? Listen now.  Show highlights include:  Why injuries are a normal part of working out (and how to use your injuries as an opportunity) (2:02)  How exercising through minor injuries actually accelerates the healing process (3:06)  The simple "prevention" mindset tweak which dramatically reduces your risk of minor, soft tissue injuries (8:18)  Why realizing your body will recover from injuries—even gruesome ones—jump starts the recovery process (8:55)  The weird way past injuries motivate you to exercise today (even when your life's chaotic) (13:52)  How a knee injury when I was 11 inspired Man Flow Yoga's Strength Foundation course (17:13)  The counterintuitive reason the site of your injury isn't the root cause of your injury (18:01)  Why the "RICE Method" of healing is backwards (and the proper way to recover from injuries faster and prevent future ones) (22:19)  How your hips and ankles are the two biggest culprits for your knee pain (25:27)  3 simple ways to tell if you're in pain or just dealing with discomfort that you need to push through (29:07)  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.