When I quit dancing full time the thing that shocked me the most was the fact that I didn’t hurt all over anymore.

I had been taking class for literally as long as I could remember, and was always some combination of sore, bruised or bloody. Sometimes I was just plain tired. The funny thing is–it had become normal to me after all that time. I didn’t realize how badly my body hurt all over.

After just a few weeks of rest, I realized that I felt different. I could get out of bed in the morning and get moving right away. At night, I was no longer so tired that I would drop into bed and sleep heavy until daybreak. It was a very strange thing for me.

Throughout my adult life I have gone through periods where I work out heavy and some where I don’t. The amazing part is–I’m actually more comfortable in my own skin when I’m sore, or physically tired. As a former dancer, when I push myself to the limit of my body’s capability, it feels….right. There’s something about being truly spent that is good for the soul.

At least, if you’re a dancer.