What a busy travel day it has been! I am flying back to Maryland to spend a few days with Jacob and begin my RA training for the Spring Semester before classes start January 28th. I enjoy writing in the sky; it seems to spark my creativity.
I am appreciative to have been home and resting for the past month and I am extremely hopeful for my first Spring Semester at UMD.
Over break, I challenged myself to jump back into my yoga practice and decided I wanted to share some of that journey:
A year ago, I felt weak because I could not hold food down since my coughing would cause me to vomit and I was too tired to exercise. After the diagnosis and the marathon of medical visits that followed, I was weighing in at my lowest weight since I stopped growing. The doctors were concerned with my ability to keep food down because I needed strength. Prednisone was the medical answer. It was the first time I was actively encouraged to gain weight. Additionally, I dropped my vegan diet and was unable to go to the gym because of my surgery and compromised immune system.
Soon I was gaining weight. And once it began, it did not stop, and the doctors were happy.
During treatment I gained 20% of my body weight. The chemotherapy destroyed much of my muscle tissue. And to make things even more difficult, I was bald and my face was still being attacked by acne monsters. For the most part, it did not matter much. I was doing what I needed to survive.
These physical changes have caught up to me during the last six months following treatment, my favorite yoga pants do not fit, I have less motivation than ever to go to the gym because of the loss of stamina, and I am struggling to re-adjust to a balanced diet.
Here is where the yoga comes in. My answer was to start a membership at a new yoga studio during winter break in Fort Collins at Yoga Pod. They had an introductory offer of 30 days for $30 and I was planning to be home for 28 days over the holidays. I asked my parents for a new yoga mat and I made a commitment to go to as many days of hot yoga as I could.
The first few classes were rough and even towards the end of the month, I found myself making more excuses then reasons to go but, I persevered.
I went to 20 yoga classes in less than 30 days. Even in my tight airplane seat, I feel strong, in-tune with my breath, aligned, stretched, and appreciative of my body.
More than the physical exercise, I am also grateful for the little lessons I learned like smiling makes things easier, make time to focus on your breath, you are your greatest teacher. Thank you home and thank you yoga.
So happy for you! Namastay
Inspiring. ❤️
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