For as long as I can remember, I have been a dancer and a musical theatre performer. Movement was my life. But at 23, everything changed. After undergoing an appendectomy via laparoscopy, I started experiencing a sudden, sharp pain shooting from my lower back down my leg during a yoga class. It was so severe that I had to remain in Child’s Pose for the rest of the session, barely able to roll up my mat and hobble out of the studio.

I assumed I had simply tweaked something and that the pain would fade. But it didn’t. Walking became difficult, and I began seeking treatment—chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage therapy—anything that might offer relief. An MRI showed nothing abnormal, and I was diagnosed with sciatica. Yet, nothing relieved the pain.

At the time, I was a dance major at Santa Monica College, and suddenly, I couldn’t participate in classes. Occasionally, the pain would ease, and I’d seize the opportunity to audition. About a year into my symptoms, I landed a national tour as a dancer with My Little Pony Live. I was terrified the pain would return, so I kept prescription painkillers on hand. But strangely, as soon as rehearsals began, the pain completely disappeared. For over two years of touring, I was pain-free—until it came back with a vengeance right before my next tour with Sesame Street Live.

In the two months between contracts, I desperately sought answers, but nothing helped. One night, while staying at my parents’ house, the pain was so intense I couldn’t even roll over to grab the Advil on my nightstand. I had to scream for help. I was devastated, knowing I had no choice but to drop out of the tour.

I went back to college in NY while I continued my search for answers. After another year of chiropractic care, acupressure, physical therapy, and pain management, a second MRI finally revealed severe inflammation in both sacroiliac joints. At last, I had a diagnosis: Sacroiliitis.

With this diagnosis came the recommendation for cortisone shots. The first injection gave me complete relief for the first time in years. I returned to dance classes, feeling like myself again. But within six months, the pain returned. A second shot lasted only four months, and a third barely worked. My doctor told me I was no longer a candidate for cortisone injections and that I’d likely have to rely on medication for the rest of my life. I was also advised to stop dancing, running, or jumping—forever.

The thought of giving up movement devastated me. I fell into a deep depression. I still felt healthy, but I was in constant pain. I couldn’t accept a future reliant on medication with debilitating side effects. So, I stopped seeing doctors and started doing my own research.

A Holistic Approach: Healing Through Diet and Movement
I kept asking myself: If I have inflammation, could an anti-inflammatory diet help?
I began diving into books, YouTube videos, and documentaries. Influences like Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Terry Wahls, and even Tony Robbins’ Living Health guided me. Slowly, I made small changes: eliminating gluten, refined sugar, alcohol, and chemicals while adding more leafy greens and anti-inflammatory supplements.

During this time, I discovered aerial silks. This was a turning point. Aerial allowed me to dance again without the harsh impact on my sacrum. I also noticed that the hanging motions provided relief. As I progressed, I became interested in flexibility training, particularly core and pelvic strengthening.

Pilates-style butt and thigh exercises became a game-changer. Strengthening the muscles around my sacrum provided much-needed support, reducing flare-ups. Over time, I noticed a dramatic shift.

Now, at 45, more than 20 years after my first flare-up, I feel better than ever. I’m not perfect—indulging in inflammatory foods can trigger discomfort—but I haven’t experienced pain severe enough to leave me immobile in years.

What Helped Me Most?

1. A High-Quality Multivitamin: amzn.to/4iAdrTo
   My pick: Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women - Organics Women's Once Daily
2. A Good Turmeric Supplement: amzn.to/3Rn1d4s
   My pick: Organic Turmeric Supplement with Black Pepper (Non-GMO, USDA Certified)
3. Omega-3 Fish Oil: amzn.to/4c1QSEG
   My pick: Wiley's Finest Wild Alaskan Fish Oil Easy Swallow Minis

(Commissions earned on all affiliate links.)

Final Thoughts
I also do Pilates-style strength training 3-4 times a week—Bailey Brown’s YouTube workouts are my favorite. Maintaining a mostly anti-inflammatory diet has been crucial to my recovery.

Another lesson I’ve learned is that stress plays a significant role in my flare-ups too. When I am overly stressed, my body tenses up, and the pain can return. Over the years, I have worked on not just managing my physical health but also reducing stress through meditation, breath work, and prioritizing a balanced lifestyle. Taking time for self-care, surrounding myself with supportive people, and making sure I don't overwork myself has been just as important as my diet and exercise routine.

I also maintain a mostly anti-inflammatory diet. If you’re interested in what I eat, you can watch the video below!

For anyone struggling with chronic pain, know that there is hope. You don’t have to accept a future of endless pain management. With the right combination of diet, movement, and mindset, you can find relief.

If you have any questions or want to share your journey, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

 When I first started seriously training in aerial and flexibility back in 2017, I was in a completely different place in my life. At the time, I was a full-time actress and performer, and one of my biggest motivators was the dream of booking aerial and contortion gigs. I wanted to be strong, flexible, and capable of performing at a professional level.

I dove in headfirst. I joined the unlimited class program at Body & Pole, spending hours in the studio nearly every day. Some weekends, I was practically living there, bouncing from class to class, pushing my body to its limits. While my drive was strong, my approach wasn’t sustainable. The constant overtraining led to injuries—setbacks that forced me to take months off at a time.

A Forced Shift in Focus
Then came 2020. Like so many others, the pandemic forced me to take an unexpected break from aerial training. With no access to the studio, I pivoted to focusing on flexibility training at home. To my surprise, I noticed something: I was injured less. I was recovering better, feeling stronger, and moving in a way that felt good rather than just pushing through pain.
When I returned to Body & Pole in 2021 as part of their work-study program, I decided to train more smartly. I cut down on the number of classes I took, prioritized rest days, and found a balance that worked. This approach kept me feeling strong and capable—until I started teaching.

Realizing Teaching Wasn’t Sustainable for Me
When I began teaching at Body & Pole, I didn’t expect it to take such a toll on my body. Demoing the same skills over and over again—often favoring the same side—started to create imbalances. Minor injuries, which I might have been able to recover from with proper rest, became chronic issues because I had to keep teaching through them. Before long, I realized that regular teaching wasn’t sustainable for me.

At 45, I’ve come to terms with the fact that my body is different from when I started this journey. I also have different responsibilities and priorities. My parents are getting older, and I no longer feel comfortable taking gigs that would pull me away from NYC and them for months at a time. I also want to spend more time with my husband. In addition, The idea of putting my body through high-pressure training and performance schedules no longer appeals to me in the same way it once did.

Shifting Goals Doesn’t Mean Giving Up
That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving aerial or flexibility training—it just means I’m choosing to engage with it in a way that aligns with my life right now. Instead of chasing high-intensity gigs, I’m focusing on creating content—things like my YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok, where I can still film and practice whenever I want, without the pressure of performing on a schedule.

More than ever, I’m interested in building a career that gives me freedom—one where I can work from anywhere and be present for my family when they need me. I’m still passionate about movement, but I’m embracing a new season where I get to train and create on my own terms.

Your Goals Can Shift Too—And That’s Okay
If you’ve ever felt like your fitness, training, or career goals have changed, I want you to know: that’s completely okay. It’s natural for priorities to shift, for bodies to change, and for new passions to emerge. What once felt like the ultimate goal might not feel right anymore, and forcing yourself to stick with something just because it used to be important isn’t the answer.

Your journey is yours, and it’s meant to evolve. Whether you’re dialing back, shifting focus, or chasing something entirely new, give yourself permission to embrace the change.

What is a goal you have had that has changed over time? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your story!

(Since this BLOG POST mentioned a lot of injuries I thought I would include some affiliate links for Injury Prevention Products:)-Commissions Earned on all Affiliate links.

​Injury Prevention & Recovery Must-Haves Over the years, I've learned that training smarter, not harder, is key—especially as we get older. These are some of my favorite tools that help with injury prevention and recovery so I can keep moving without pushing my body too far:

✅ Foam Roller – Perfect for releasing tight muscles and preventing stiffness after training.

✅ Massage Ball Set – Helps target deep muscle knots, especially in the shoulders and back.
​
✅ Epsom Salt Soak – A warm bath with Epsom salt is a game-changer for muscle recovery.

✅ KT Tape for Support – Great for minor injuries or extra joint stability while training.

Taking care of your body is just as important as training! These small recovery habits make a huge difference in staying strong and injury-free. 

As an aerialist and flexibility instructor, I know firsthand how demanding this type of training can be on the body. Staying strong, mobile, and injury-free requires more than just consistent practice — it means taking care of your body from the inside out. Over the years, I've developed a supplement routine that helps me support my muscles, joints, and overall wellness, so I can keep doing what I love. Below are the supplements I take to support my aerial silks and flexibility training, and why I choose each one.

1. Pureco Organic Turmeric Ginger Black Pepper Supplement
Why I Take It: Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory, which is essential when you're constantly putting your body through the strain of aerial training and deep stretching. The added ginger helps with muscle recovery and digestion, while black pepper enhances absorption so I can get the most out of every capsule.
Affiliate Link: Pureco Organic Turmeric Ginger Black Pepper Supplement

2. Omnibiotics Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement 5000 IU
Why I Take It: Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, muscle function, and overall energy — all things that help me perform at my best during training. Since I'm often indoors training or teaching, this high-potency vegan supplement helps me maintain healthy levels year-round.
Affiliate Link: Omnibiotics Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement

3. Rainbow Light Women's One High-Potency Daily Multivitamin
Why I Take It: Aerial training is a full-body workout, and I need a comprehensive multivitamin to cover all my bases. This vegetarian multivitamin not only provides essential nutrients but also includes biotin for hair and skin health and ashwagandha to support stress management — both of which are so important for recovery and performance.
Affiliate Link: Rainbow Light Women's One Multivitamin

4. Wiley's Finest Wild Alaskan Fish Oil Easy Swallow Minis
Why I Take It: Omega-3s are great for joint health, heart health, and reducing inflammation — all things that help me feel my best after intense aerial and flexibility sessions. These easy-to-swallow capsules are one of my favorites because they're high in EPA and DHA without any fishy aftertaste.
Affiliate Link: Wiley's Finest Wild Alaskan Fish Oil

5. LES Labs Magnesium Citrate
Why I Take It: Magnesium is one of my secret weapons for recovery! It helps with muscle relaxation, stress relief, and better sleep — all things that are absolutely essential when you're training several times a week. This brand is non-GMO and easy on my stomach, making it a staple in my routine.

Affiliate Link: LES Labs Magnesium Citrate

These supplements help me support my body so I can continue improving my aerial silks skills and flexibility without constantly battling soreness or fatigue. Of course, supplements are just one piece of the puzzle — proper hydration, rest, and smart training are just as important! If you're considering adding any of these to your routine, always consult with a healthcare professional first to make sure they're right for you.

​Have you tried any of these supplements? Let me know in the comments what works best for your aerial or flexibility journey!

(Paid commissions earned on all affiliate links.)