Yoga and Healing

by felice
(Santa Monica CA, USA)

I was in bed for a year.

I was 52. It was the worst year of my life. On a ‘good day’ I could wash dishes. On a ‘bad day’ I had to crawl on hands and knees to the bathroom. I was under treatment, but still feeling awful.

I became deeply depressed, not only as a side-effect of the illness itself, but at my inability to live the life I so deeply wanted. I had just completed my training to be a Yoga teacher, and instead of teaching I was flat on my back! I had all but given up hope to ever teach again.

One day it occurred to me that I might make use of my training by practicing Yoga in bed. And, having nothing else to do, I made an attempt. Energy, albeit just a little, began to flow through me in a way so familiar and so deeply missed. I began to experiment as I gained some strength and hope.

Over the next several months I progressed from bed to floor; floor to chair; and, finally, to standing on my own two feet, practicing modified Yoga postures that I designed to meet my abilities and needs. I was so excited! By then I was thoroughly convinced of the therapeutic value of Yoga. Not only was my body stronger, but my mental and emotional states were more balanced and my stress level had dropped dramatically.

Now I know that it is possible to feel vibrant even when living with a chronic illness. I also know that it is possible to ease, and even avert, many of the common health challenges that come to us in our middle years and beyond…arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and the effects of stress.

Living a full, rewarding life with an open mind and a mobile body is the gift of Yoga. Because I feel more alive than I have in years, enjoying a newfound sense of peace and contentment, I just had to share this gift. As soon as my health improved enough, I enrolled in the Therapeutic Yoga training course, and am now a fully-certified Professional Yoga Therapist. If you're ready for the gift of vibrant well-being in your own life, I would be honored to help.