A Pop-Up Clinic and a Surprise

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to try osteotherapy thanks to a pop-up clinic at my gym.

I’ve always been nervous about chiropractic services but was curious about osteotherapy having heard some good feedback from others.

The tightness in my shoulders and neck seemed more noticeable lately. Normally I just push through or ignore this kind of thing, but the cricking in my neck had become an ongoing reminder: you need to look into this. 

I showed up at my scheduled time, not sure what anyone could accomplish in fifteen minutes, and ended up leaving with a better understanding of the service — and, unexpectedly, of myself. 

Once the osteopath’s hands worked around the tightness, something clicked — not just a pressure release but a realization.

I’ve been mean to my body.

The History I’ve Been Carrying

I’d always attributed the tightness in my shoulders to the two frozen shoulder episodes I had over the past decade.

At the time, it was frustrating not knowing the cause. I did everything I could to speed up the healing, but there was no shortcut. I had to wait it out and work through the pain.

I didn’t fully recover. My range of motion never came back the way I hoped, but I coped. What I didn’t realize was that the coping was quietly compounding the injury — enter tight shoulders and a cricking neck.

I realized maybe I shouldn’t be “pushing through it,” treating my body like a machine. Especially now, when I’m trying to be more active.

Maybe my body is finally asking for what it needs.

The Moment Everything Made Sense

I booked a full 30‑minute session to see just how bad off I was after years of recovery neglect.

She didn’t tell me anything dramatic.

Just: here’s where you’re tight, here’s what’s compensating, here’s what’s been quietly overworking because you haven’t been giving your body the regular care it needs. 

The biggest surprise? My shoulder tightness might not even be from the frozen shoulders at all.

My neglect wasn’t malicious — it was habitual. The kind that comes from decades of pushing through, overriding signals, prioritizing productivity over presence.

I’ve been mean to my body — not in big, dramatic ways, but in the small, daily dismissals. 

The “later.” 

The “it’s fine.” 

The “I don’t have time.”

The Reframe

What I didn’t realize was that skipping massages, treatments, and basic maintenance came with consequences. My body had been adapting around my neglect, doing its best with what I gave it. Muscles compensated. Patterns set in. Stiffness became my baseline.

These treatments aren’t optional — they’re a necessary part of my fitness journey, especially now, when I’m finally paying attention.

A Turn Toward Kindness

Going forward, I’ve decided to pay closer attention to how my body feels — to give it care before it screams. It’s carried me through chaos for years, and there are plenty more years ahead.

Pushing through isn’t the answer anymore.

Coming to this realization took me a while, but it’s never too late to change. 

After all, this journey is all about Becoming Me Again.

🌱Becoming Me Again — one step, one story at a time.