Embrace Your Destiny: Everybody Has Something

I'm convinced, everybody has something they are working on. It's our destiny and we only get one chance through this lifetime to work on it. One of my hot yoga teachers ends class sometimes with, "There is nothing more important in your life than your life." I am grateful and happy to know that Multiple Sclerosis is my destiny. Now I can concentrate on doing everything I can to make things better for me and my family.


My MS held steady for fifteen years. With a medicine change, I'd improve, but then plateau, and then begin to decline. Each time I noticed a change, I'd consult my doctor for what else could I do. I found something that I took a big chance in trying. My grown daughter, Liz took me with her to a hot Bikram yoga class 3 years ago. She suggested it might be helpful so I trusted her judgement.   Starting with the first class, I thought the practice might yield good things. 

I felt so good. I felt like a limp noodle, but it was a good feeling. I wanted to do it again, but my very cautious hubby, Don, said maybe I should check with my neurologist before continuing. All the reports about MS say that hot is not good.  HOT YOGA! Really? Well yes, and so glad I continued. My doctor did give me the go ahead as well. For me, the big changes sneaked up on me. I noticed better balance, better skin, improved digestion and improved elimination very quickly. 

After about a year, one day it struck me that I had more energy. I could do all my normal activities and not experience debilitating fatigue. Fatigue is a constant issue for MS people. I had also noticed fewer headaches. When I started doing this yoga, 5 to 7 headaches per month where common. Usually I needed to take Imitrex, a powerful migraine medicine to begin feeling better. In 2016, year two, I only needed two Imitrex in 8 months. My whole body alignment is also improved. I can see this in the mirror when I do postures. I know this is helping my walking. I was taking a compound medicine equivalent to the USDA drug approved medicine for movement. The active ingredient is Aminopyridine which is a low dose of rat poison. I am most proud to have gone off of this drug in April this year. 

Besides being hot, hot yoga is intense.  But, it's remarkably satisfying. What I love about it is that if I do the very best I can on a given day, that is good enough. Just being in the hot room is good. The posture is only one tool. Other tools in the practice are breathing and sevasana.  With the Hot 26 that I now practice daily, I get aerobics, strength training, balance, and stretching. All this in 90 minutes of moving meditation. 

Currently I go to Hot Yoga Asheville at River Ridge Shopping Center. Everybody does hot yoga for different reasons and find different results, but all results are good as this testimonial shows.

We never know when  something we try might actually work. My experience now tells me that if it's really challenging to do, but it makes you feel really good, then it's worth continuing.