Imagine standing on a boat as it’s sailing through a vicious storm with nothing to grasp on to. That rush of adrenaline coursing through your body as fear takes over and uncertainty settles in. This has been my life for one year and two months (as of writing this post)–constant undiagnosed dizziness. Unlike the spinning of vertigo, my symptoms mirror the sensation of a boat rocking from side to side.
Because specific causes of dizziness are difficult to pin point, I have been living with it on a daily basis. As a yoga instructor and movement educator, when your vestibular system is off kilter it makes it difficult to function in front of a class or maintain an exercise routine on your own. Visual stimulation such as lighting, quick movements; sensory overload involving, heat, smell, and sound are all a trigger for my symptoms.
Anyone who has experienced dizziness knows how stressful it can be, especially when you are not sure what is causing it. I have left many doctor appointments with them scratching their head and me clutching to mine in disbelief. At first I felt alone in my condition, but eventually learned that dizziness is extremely common with some causes still a mystery to physicians. About 15% of the population has dizziness and 25% of those cases go undiagnosed (an estimate according to Timothy C. Hain, MD, Clinical Professor of Neurology at The University of Chicago.)
For a while, I attached movement to dizziness and was in fear of doing too much; thinking rest was the best medicine. I spent many days lying down or in a seated position, which was actually doing more harm to my body. Once I made that realization, I started to use my Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® Method techniques once again. I began to form a deeper relationship with Yoga Tune Up® Therapy Balls and the effects that self-massage has on my body.
Therapy ball rolling is a way for me to connect to areas of tension, maintain/improve mobility, and de-stress from constantly feeling unwell. I roll, rejuvenate, and hydrate my tissues with sequences for the jaw, neck, shoulders, and back. I have found comfort in using the therapy balls, as I have often felt unable to accept support or help from other people.
Next week, I will outline the therapy ball routine that I used to help soothe my nerves.
Nice to hear a personal story and how self massage is helping, even if not directly with the dizziness. Will keep this in mind for myself and my students if dizziness arises. Likewise I think it just shows how much of a difference we can make to how we feel even if we aren’t always able to heal the pain/problem.
This is amazing. Dizziness happiness a lot when I stand after rolling. Great blog…
My mum suffers from a disease called ‘Miniere’ and felt very dizzy from time to time. I was very “happy” (that might sound weird) to came across your article, because it expanded my inderstaing of what dizziness feels like.
Through me, she found teh therapy balls and they made her start trusting her body again. Yes! She is now moving a lot more and is enjoying life again!
I suffer from some dizziness as well and it can be scary! I’m equally happy I found therapy yoga tune up balls!
By reading this blog, I was hoping to see that the therapy ball would help this kind of condition that I see in my students. I will continue to follow this author!
The end of your post spoke to one of the key attractions of the Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® Method techniques for me (and I suspect for many other practitioners): that you can access many of the benefits on your own, without requiring another set of hands. While support and help from others is not a bad thing, it’s not always readily available, so it’s great to be able to work on healing on one’s own (and one’s own time).
Thanks! That means a ton to me because my dad gets just like this! It is amazing what YTU balls can do to help us re-engage with our bodies and our minds!
I am impress to see that you have some results with the YTU balles for this case. I will watch your séquence of rolling. Thanks
I look forward to following your journey. I am glad you are able to stay safely connected to your body using the YTU balls. Best wishes!
I have students who suffer from dizziness as well, and they wonder whether they should not move when episodic. Getting them on the ball close to the ground is a wonderful alternative to offer as relief for tired achy underused muscles. and they wont fall over!
Thank you! I started experiencing dizzy spells recently, very scary indeed. my rolling today was at the wall, in fear of feeling that dizzy come on again on the floor. I look forward to reading more from you! I am a Yoga Tune Up® teacher and Rolling teacher too! thank you! I will continue learning from Jill and people like you!
Lauren, it sounds like you may have Mal de Debarquement Syndrome or MdDS. Do you feel the symptoms while driving a car? I’ve had it for 7 years now, and look forward to your next article showing how you’ve coped.