Embrace the Journey: Hard Work Pays Off; a Curated Blog

Tara, a great teacher 

After class, my yoga friend said to me, “Wow, that just goes to show that hard work pays off!”. I was telling her that my neurologist took me off all meds. This didn't happen overnight and it all started with deciding to try Bikram Hot Yoga.

Daughter Liz convinced me that I would be safe in the hot room, so in a weak moment, I chose this wild crazy idea. As I learned more about the practice, I realized it is good medicine.

Exercise for hip flexor 

For twenty five years, I’ve taken MS medicine. Taking nothing is huge! Hot yoga practice added a dimension of sweat and total relaxation. After class, I often feel supercharged. Also, I learned about alternative therapies and ways to improve my diet. 

The yoga room is very hot, but I have never had issues with the heat. The flow and pace are perfect for me. Each posture prepares the body for the next one. After a week of regular attendance, I was feeling better. My body was relaxed and I felt emotionally calm. 

Typical lunch

All I had to do was listen to the teacher give the Bikram dialogue through the 90 minute class.  This discourse tells how to move into each pose, what muscles are used, and what improvements to expect in digestion, breathing, energy, and nervous system. 

After a couple of months of regular practice, I began noticing improvement and some issues just disappeared. I became a believer. The more frequently I went, the better I felt. 

My juices 

Adding cold pressed juices to reduce inflammation to my daily diet was another game changer. Between that and bone broth, I rarely have digestive issues anymore.

 

I believe that diet is the hero in helping me ditch the meds.  I strive to get fifteen servings of vegetables and fruits everyday. This is how I manage food:

• Smoothie for breakfast 
• Glass of juice and bone broth at lunch
• Soup and or salad for dinner 

My motivation - Travel

Three years ago, my neurologist noted a problem with my bloodwork. He cut the dosage of my MS medicine in half. I still felt good, maybe even better. When that didn't change anything about my blood numbers, he said, "Let's take a six month holiday off the meds." I admit to being apprehensive. 

Eight months later, my MRI told the tale. There was no change in the status of my MS. So, this time, he said to remain off medicine, until anything changes! 

Grandchildren make me HAPPY

So, indeed, hard work does pay off! I'm confident that my efforts with exercise, diet and therapy set up these great results. A bonus is that my energy is fantastic and headaches are virtually non-existent.

Will any of these strategies work for you? Maybe try one. Only you know your body. For me, the work is insignificant compared to the benefits. I tweaked my diet and doubled down on exercise. I still have to manage MS, but  my quality of life is great. My motivation is staying off meds, continuing to learn and grandchildren to enjoy. What motivates you? 

Embrace the Journey: Gardening Renewal, A Curated Blog

Front porch pot

Gardening renews the spirit and recharges the mind. Springtime and  gardening go together. Both make me happy. Other spring chores like cleaning and switching winter to summer clothes makes me happy in a different way, a productive way. 

I garden in pots, big pots on the front porch and small pots on the back porch and patio. I am one who would like to rush spring along and start planting during the first warm spell. 

Last year’s pictures give me inspiration and remind me of what worked and what didn’t. Could I see color from the road at the bottom of the hill? Up close, was there enough variety in shapes and textures? Did the combination of plants work together in the pots? There’s a lot to consider.