Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
~Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland
In this blog I'll share yoga videos you can practice at home, self-massage tips, oracle card readings, spiritual rituals and other wellness practices that I've found helpful in my journey. I hope you find some benefit in my life lessons.
Today is the day I share how my wellness journey began! With authenticity and from the heart, I’ll share how I became the most fit of my life after the age of 40. I’ve overcome many, many, many ailments, injuries and traumas to find enough peace and balance myself that I can offer a safe space for others on their own journeys.
Pain is a familiar frien-emy to me. I was a very active child and sprained my ankle often as I ran through fields and played around on my bike. By the time I played field hockey in high school, my blossoming adolescent hips popped out quickly and I developed deep pain in my right hip. Always a hustler, I worked at a grocery store while in high school and developed serious carpal tunnel syndrome (or so I thought at the time). College blessed me with the gift of seasonal allergies, and the course load brought with it immense stress that commenced inflammation, pain and weight gain. Alcohol and drugs were a regular part of my landscape, and I struggled to be healthy and pain free - at the age of 21.
Grateful to land a teaching gig right out of college, I took full advantage of my health insurance as a public educator and laid off the substances. I had a cortisone injection in my hip - which did help relieve the pain. I had carpal tunnel surgery on my hand - which did not help relieve the pain. As I composed my Master’s thesis, I was hit with the news that I had Lyme’s Disease. To this day, I remember that call and how devastated I was, knowing the long term damage that this nasty disease can cause because a family friend was often bedridden from it.
The antibiotics were harsh, and the recovery from Lyme’s Disease took the entire summer. I was just SO tired ALL the time. This feeling didn’t go away. Chronic pain and inflammation in my trouble spots became the norm. I saw my doctor often and sought out infection disease specialists at one of the best medical facilities available, Johns Hopkins. Realizing that pain and energy management is now a big part of my life changed how I moved.
I started to take fitness more seriously. I had my lineup of 10 bottles of medication to manage my symptoms. I saw a therapist regularly and committed to physical therapy.
It was at this junction that yoga entered my life...
...check in next week to find out what happens in the next chapter!