Sorry it’s been so long…just over four months to be exact. I’ve been busy…but not the typical busy. In late September 2025, my body began to break. First, it was my left hand. Then my left knee. Then my neck, shoulders, and upper back. Then my core. Finally (hopefully), my right ankle. Seemingly random, maybe unrelated, maybe all related, I have no idea. But after a few months of fear, discomfort, and observing every sensation in my body, a couple of things are crystal clear.
First, my body was not strong enough to handle everything I was doing: working, playing, teaching, coaching, and powerful yogic practices. Second, my body has never been strong enough to handle everything I wanted to do. It’s why, even though I experienced tremendous success as an athlete, my body always eventually broke down. Third, this four months was an immense blessing and opportunity. Roughly six weeks ago, with the help of a professional, I began putting myself back together. Inch by inch. Piece by piece.
And correctly.
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I’ve lost 34 pounds. I stand an inch or two taller. (I was already 6’4” slouched.) My chest is wider and out. My shoulders are more back. Breathing is easier. I stand taller. Much taller. For most of my life, I was tense and tight, with poor posture and body mechanics. I never tended to them properly, and four months ago I got a wake up call. It all happened simultaneously as if the world was giving me a real chance to transform, lest I deal with this periodically for the rest of my life.
I am not pain free yet, but it’s more than bearable now, especially since I realized the enormous blessing that life handed me. Tend diligently to the important things that need to be correct for ease of life: standing correctly, sitting correctly, lying correctly, and breathing correctly.
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I thought changing locations and careers might lead to a transformation, but that was simply a change. Wildly important, but still just a change.
I thought beginning yoga, breath work, and meditation might lead to a transformation, and it did for a few months. Until my body proved too weak and inflexible to handle.
So now, here we are. I have no idea how this ends. I’ll check back in with you soon. But as I sit here right now, my chest is out, my shoulders are back, and I feel strong(er). If I want a deep breath, there’s a good chance I can snag (and enjoy) one.
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There were things I couldn’t do over the past four months which pained me. There were things I did anyways though almost totally distracted by discomfort.
I still have a million things I want to see and do, including a return to those powerful yogic practices that had begun to do me so much good. Though it may have appeared that I had a strong body, I don’t know that I ever did. I know I’ve never been flexible or had correct posture, which basically meant I was making life harder on myself than needed.
So that’s the daily priority right now: healing, strength, posture, and flexibility. I’ve got a professional guiding me, and I’m locked in.
Until this past week, I haven’t swung a golf club in four months. I’ve got brand new Titleists in my locker with the plastic still on them. And I’ve circled March 2, 2026 for my return. If you’ve ever met me before, you can count me down for a minute, but don’t ever count me out.
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Have a great week.-Benj
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