My First Blog Post, by Tammy Reilly-Rix
My Journey with Pain and Healing
For most of my life, I’ve been drawn to helping others, through leadership roles, community projects, and wellness education. But my real journey toward healing began with my own experience with chronic pain and exhaustion.
In my early forties, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition that slowly began affecting my joints and muscles. At first, I managed the pain with conventional treatments, pain relievers, ice, and later CBD oil, but over time, the discomfort grew and my energy faded. A few years later, after an especially demanding period of work and community commitments, I hit a breaking point. I was dealing with severe fatigue, vertigo, high blood pressure, and constant muscle pain. My body was telling me to slow down but I didn’t know how. I had always considered myself active and health-conscious, but long hours, stress, and always putting others first had taken a serious toll on my body and spirit.
When traditional treatments offered little relief, I turned to alternative approaches, beginning with tapping and meditation, then a gentle yin yoga. Learning to slow down, breathe deeply, and truly listen to my body was not only a wake up call but life changing. My oldest daughter, a trauma-informed yoga instructor, became one of my greatest teachers. She introduced me to books on Tapping Solutions and Deeply Holistic. And one of my sisters introduced me to Joyce Meyer’s writings on faith and mindset. Through tapping (EFT), I began calming my mind and affirming my power of mind over my own strength.
“I will not let pain control my life. I will not give up, no matter how much I hurt. I will take one day, even one hour at a time.”
This mindset shift became the foundation of my healing.
During the spring of COVID, I attended a small yoga retreat where I was introduced to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of life. In 2024, I completed a six-week course in Ayurveda Core Practices and began incorporating simple daily rituals like mindful eating, trying new foods, lentil soups and a rice dish called kitchari, a comforting and nourishing mixture of rice, mung beans, spices and ghee. Tongue cleaning was also part of my daily regimen along with rising early to practice meditation and do my yin yoga. These practices brought profound changes to my health and well-being, helping me regain clarity, balance, and a deep sense of calm.
Ayurveda teaches that true health comes from balance, between the body, mind and spirit. We are each made up of five elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth), which form three main energies, or doshas:
Vata (air + ether): Creative but prone to anxiety and dryness.
Pitta (fire + water): Driven and focused, but can overheat or become irritated.
Kapha (earth + water): Calm and nurturing, but can feel heavy or sluggish.
When our doshas are balanced, we feel peaceful and healthy, when they’re not, illness can develop. Ayurveda promotes living in tune with nature, through daily and seasonal routines, mindful eating, and self-care practices like meditation, yoga, and oil pulling. It reminds us that food is medicine and that how we live each day shapes our long-term well-being.
As I began some healing, I also began to reflect deeply on our current healthcare system. I felt frustrated by how reactive it had become, focused on treating disease instead of preventing it. So many people are left searching for answers, told their symptoms are “normal,” or handed medication without guidance on lifestyle or emotional health. This realization inspired me to become my own advocate and eventually, this is what led me to return to school and study Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Like Ayurveda, TCM views health as harmony not just the absence of illness, but a dynamic balance between body, mind, and spirit.
After I graduate from Acupuncture and TCM, I plan to open my own practice at home. Nestled beside the Confederation Trail in a rural area, overlooking a hidden brook, I want my space to be peaceful and welcoming; a place where clients feel calm, supported, understood, and empowered to take charge of their own well-being.
This blog will follow my continued journey with pain and healing; from student to practitioner. I’ll share what I’m learning, my personal reflections, and holistic insights that may help you on your own path toward wellness. Whether you’re curious about acupuncture, natural health, or simply seeking inspiration to bring more balance into your life, I hope my story encourages you to take your own steps toward healing.
Leave a Reply