"Why not try yoga?"
At age 14, I found myself in the midst of everything medical. I had started out as a normal teenager - extremely active in sports teams, musical endeavors, competitions of all sorts, and activities in, around, and outside of school. Within 6 months, I became a teenager diagnosed with Severe Ulcerative Colitis, experiencing regular colonoscopies, scans, blood work, and several hospitalizations.
That is when I first heard someone utter the phrase: "Why not try yoga?"
I was stubborn.
I wanted to remain involved in the competitive world of sports. I participated in every vigorous athletic activity I could throw myself into.
Three years later, after trying (and failing) several different therapies, I was told that I needed emergency surgery, and a few weeks before my senior year of high school, my large intestine was surgically removed, and I was left with a long vertical scar and a temporary ileostomy bag. I spent seven months of my senior year with the ostomy, which forced some drastic changes to my activity schedule.
Again I heard - "why not try yoga?"
When I was that age, I didn't quite understand all of the health benefits that yoga could provide. At that time, I felt as though I would be 'giving up' if I no longer participated in contact and impact sports. I then pushed myself and continued with softball, squash, badminton, and every other activity where I could avoid direct contact with my abdomen. This was also the time when I really started to focus on my music, and without the prospects of a volleyball scholarship, I changed my academic direction and made the decision to pursue a combined degree in Music and Psychology.
One month before high school graduation, I had my second abdominal surgery - the reconnection and J-Pouch. I was flying!
This was intended to be a possible surgical 'cure' for Ulcerative Colitis, though there was no way of knowing 100% if it would be successful.
To my dismay, within only months I was diagnosed with Chronic Pouchitis (inflammation of the J-Pouch) as well as Crohn's Disease. The realization hit me that this would be a life-long battle.
Throughout University, I began to develop differing symptoms. By the time I graduated from University, I had been diagnosed, additionally, with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Sinus Tachycardia, Psoriasis, Recurrent Pancreatitis, Severe Chronic Pelvic Pain, Raynaud's Phenomenon, early onset Macular Degeneration, Chronic Migraines, and Myofascial Pain Disorder.
Safe to say - my activities fell off the schedule one by one. I still managed to keep a firm grip on employment, schooling, a gym routine, volleyball teams, and a softball team. In this balancing act, my music began to take more and more of my time and focus.
"Why not try yoga?"
This time I did!
Unfortunately, my first yoga class did not go that well. I could not understand why I would start vomiting within the first five minutes of each class. It was discovered then that I have a funny little defect in my spine that creates pressure on my vagus nerve whenever I sit or stand completely straight, which caused the vomiting. At that time, yoga was not as mainstream as it is today, and the yoga instructor at that time encouraged me to try yoga at a later date, when some of the physical limitations were more clear. The class was removed from my schedule, and I (again) kept my focus on volleyball, softball, and even some snowboarding, up until 2012.
By then, I had moved to Calgary, Alberta, found an apartment by myself, full-time employment, scheduled music gigs, had done some traveling, and had adjusted to my 'new normal' in respect to my health.
In 2012, I was faced with a new challenge. My previously diagnosed conditions were getting worse, treatments were no longer helping, and I developed some new severe pains. Within the next year, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis - a type of Arthritis which is prominent in my SI joints and my shoulder blades. With the additional testing, it was found that I also have a rare disorder called Hereditary Angioedema.
These two extra complications halted everything. My mobility has been severely affected, and although I have my good days, there are several days where I am forced to use my cane or my walker. With an inability to physically cope with stress, my life required a major overhaul. Contact and impact sports were no longer safe, stairs became something that I continually avoid, sitting, standing, or walking exceeding 15 minutes is terrifying, and even showering has become a major challenge. I was eventually forced to quit work.
At 26 years old, I found myself on Long Term Disability.
My focus drastically transferred to music (which is an absolute blessing), but I often felt trapped.
"Why not try yoga?"
At first, I went to a few classes, but found that simply getting to a gym or studio was taxing, and I could not participate in the entire class because of the length. Despite the challenges, I began to fall in love with the practice. New instructors taught me to listen to my body and only push as far as comfortable - the safe stretch - and to push the limits only slightly. I began learning specific poses that my body responded well to, and I finally began to feel some temporary relief, and not simply from the physical pain, but also from the constant stress, worry, and incessant chatter that plagued my thoughts. I finally found some peace in my 'new normal'.
The only problem was that, because my participation was severely limited, I could not justify the cost. Then, as luck would have it, when I attended the Power of Movement yoga fundraiser for Arthritis research, I won a door prize - a one-year subscription to MyVirtualYoga.com.
I was astonished at how absolutely perfect this door prize was. With a click of a button, I could practice from the comfort of my own living room AND simultaneously attend a class. I could PAUSE a class, change the style, or skip painful poses. I could improve my practice in the Winter in front of the fireplace, and could practice surrounded by the serenity of the mountains in the Summer using downloaded videos on my mobile devices, as well as pose combinations that quickly became routines. I found a community, a competitiveness within myself, and a way to improve my symptoms at home.
Now yoga has become a staple activity in my life. Whether it is a light stretch, a short revitalizing routine in the morning, or a long core workout, yoga has played an integral part in maintaining balance - in health, emotion, mind, and spirit. I feel better as a whole - even with no significant improvements in my medical status. The arthritic symptoms are dulled, stress has decreased significantly, and I also find that I even eat healthier.
Practicing yoga is all about your own individual needs. It is tailored to you and your body, and does not have to replace or take away from any other facet of your life.
So, now I ask you:
Why not try yoga?
At age 14, I found myself in the midst of everything medical. I had started out as a normal teenager - extremely active in sports teams, musical endeavors, competitions of all sorts, and activities in, around, and outside of school. Within 6 months, I became a teenager diagnosed with Severe Ulcerative Colitis, experiencing regular colonoscopies, scans, blood work, and several hospitalizations.
That is when I first heard someone utter the phrase: "Why not try yoga?"
I was stubborn.
I wanted to remain involved in the competitive world of sports. I participated in every vigorous athletic activity I could throw myself into.
Three years later, after trying (and failing) several different therapies, I was told that I needed emergency surgery, and a few weeks before my senior year of high school, my large intestine was surgically removed, and I was left with a long vertical scar and a temporary ileostomy bag. I spent seven months of my senior year with the ostomy, which forced some drastic changes to my activity schedule.
Again I heard - "why not try yoga?"
When I was that age, I didn't quite understand all of the health benefits that yoga could provide. At that time, I felt as though I would be 'giving up' if I no longer participated in contact and impact sports. I then pushed myself and continued with softball, squash, badminton, and every other activity where I could avoid direct contact with my abdomen. This was also the time when I really started to focus on my music, and without the prospects of a volleyball scholarship, I changed my academic direction and made the decision to pursue a combined degree in Music and Psychology.
One month before high school graduation, I had my second abdominal surgery - the reconnection and J-Pouch. I was flying!
This was intended to be a possible surgical 'cure' for Ulcerative Colitis, though there was no way of knowing 100% if it would be successful.
To my dismay, within only months I was diagnosed with Chronic Pouchitis (inflammation of the J-Pouch) as well as Crohn's Disease. The realization hit me that this would be a life-long battle.
Throughout University, I began to develop differing symptoms. By the time I graduated from University, I had been diagnosed, additionally, with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Sinus Tachycardia, Psoriasis, Recurrent Pancreatitis, Severe Chronic Pelvic Pain, Raynaud's Phenomenon, early onset Macular Degeneration, Chronic Migraines, and Myofascial Pain Disorder.
Safe to say - my activities fell off the schedule one by one. I still managed to keep a firm grip on employment, schooling, a gym routine, volleyball teams, and a softball team. In this balancing act, my music began to take more and more of my time and focus.
"Why not try yoga?"
This time I did!
Unfortunately, my first yoga class did not go that well. I could not understand why I would start vomiting within the first five minutes of each class. It was discovered then that I have a funny little defect in my spine that creates pressure on my vagus nerve whenever I sit or stand completely straight, which caused the vomiting. At that time, yoga was not as mainstream as it is today, and the yoga instructor at that time encouraged me to try yoga at a later date, when some of the physical limitations were more clear. The class was removed from my schedule, and I (again) kept my focus on volleyball, softball, and even some snowboarding, up until 2012.
By then, I had moved to Calgary, Alberta, found an apartment by myself, full-time employment, scheduled music gigs, had done some traveling, and had adjusted to my 'new normal' in respect to my health.
In 2012, I was faced with a new challenge. My previously diagnosed conditions were getting worse, treatments were no longer helping, and I developed some new severe pains. Within the next year, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis - a type of Arthritis which is prominent in my SI joints and my shoulder blades. With the additional testing, it was found that I also have a rare disorder called Hereditary Angioedema.
These two extra complications halted everything. My mobility has been severely affected, and although I have my good days, there are several days where I am forced to use my cane or my walker. With an inability to physically cope with stress, my life required a major overhaul. Contact and impact sports were no longer safe, stairs became something that I continually avoid, sitting, standing, or walking exceeding 15 minutes is terrifying, and even showering has become a major challenge. I was eventually forced to quit work.
At 26 years old, I found myself on Long Term Disability.
My focus drastically transferred to music (which is an absolute blessing), but I often felt trapped.
"Why not try yoga?"
At first, I went to a few classes, but found that simply getting to a gym or studio was taxing, and I could not participate in the entire class because of the length. Despite the challenges, I began to fall in love with the practice. New instructors taught me to listen to my body and only push as far as comfortable - the safe stretch - and to push the limits only slightly. I began learning specific poses that my body responded well to, and I finally began to feel some temporary relief, and not simply from the physical pain, but also from the constant stress, worry, and incessant chatter that plagued my thoughts. I finally found some peace in my 'new normal'.
The only problem was that, because my participation was severely limited, I could not justify the cost. Then, as luck would have it, when I attended the Power of Movement yoga fundraiser for Arthritis research, I won a door prize - a one-year subscription to MyVirtualYoga.com.
I was astonished at how absolutely perfect this door prize was. With a click of a button, I could practice from the comfort of my own living room AND simultaneously attend a class. I could PAUSE a class, change the style, or skip painful poses. I could improve my practice in the Winter in front of the fireplace, and could practice surrounded by the serenity of the mountains in the Summer using downloaded videos on my mobile devices, as well as pose combinations that quickly became routines. I found a community, a competitiveness within myself, and a way to improve my symptoms at home.
Now yoga has become a staple activity in my life. Whether it is a light stretch, a short revitalizing routine in the morning, or a long core workout, yoga has played an integral part in maintaining balance - in health, emotion, mind, and spirit. I feel better as a whole - even with no significant improvements in my medical status. The arthritic symptoms are dulled, stress has decreased significantly, and I also find that I even eat healthier.
Practicing yoga is all about your own individual needs. It is tailored to you and your body, and does not have to replace or take away from any other facet of your life.
So, now I ask you:
Why not try yoga?