Four Walls

Feb 14, 2010 | Healing, Hip Surgery, Yoga practices | 7 comments

“Four Walls”, if memory serves. Is a Cold Chisel song, maybe spawned from one of the band members who did time?
I’ve been spending time between four walls, one week in hospital, one week here in Rehab, with one more to go.
It’s not like I’m in prison. I’m grateful for the remarkably cheerful staff. All the facilities are clean and my small room is comfortable for my needs. I can go anywhere in the place on my walking sticks, and even stroll through the neighbouring residential streets.
Why whinge? Becauae I have all this free time.
Well, it’s not really free; it’s four walls time. For six weeks, because of being operated on both hips, I have to sleep only on my back. I’ve been waking up every hour or two because my body has stiffened so much and I then walk around for a few minutes. I might or might not go back to sleep but I notice the walls close in more in the loneliness of night.
Here’s the unexpected good thing, though: Five am in a quiet, snug space is perfect for yoga practice. I do about 24 rounds of pranayama and then sit still for few minutes afterwards.
Then I do some pawanmuktasana exercises (for freeing the joints), focussing on neck, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, ankles and toes. Followed a very modified half uttanasana for my back.
Four walls can make a prison, but the real place that a prison is created is in the mind. Another prison wailer, Johnny Cash, had a song about this called “In Your Mind” featured in the film “Dead Man Walking”.
I’ve stopped complaining for now. Actually I don’t think it’s very good for your health.

- Four Walls

7 Comments

  1. Remember Mayah Angelou? “I know why the caged bird sings”?

    Reply
  2. Will do I’ll get something to you to read between now and your escape! Make the most of your last days. It has been quite thought provoking to read your blog. Technology has certainly showed it’s best side in this journey.
    Horahhhh!!!! Your on your way!
    🙂

    Reply
  3. As you said, it is all in the mind. If we only were able to steer it to right direction. Think about all those stressed out to max people that work 50 to 60 hours a day, they would so cherish some quiet time and possibility to meditate and read at ones leisure, even novels. (I was one of those once, hoping to fall ill to have some time for myself)
    I have Angelou’s book “Wouldnt take nothing for my journey now” it is wery good, she is such a wise woman. “Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous. It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood.”
    Not been able to sleep is seroius, though. Hopefully you can get a sweet whole night soon. xxx

    Reply
  4. I have a little something for you, too, to help with being stuck in four walls. I left it with Dave. Hopefully he’ll get it to you before you fly the coup!

    Reply

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