Embrace Your Destiny: Try Hot Yoga

Outside yoga on the beach

Hot yoga as a therapy for me was never a consideration for me. I only knew about it because daughter Liz started did some in college and I paid for it. I could see very positive benefits in her. 

Heat weakens me! All my limbs feel like jelly. Liz keep after me to try it and I was curious. She eased all my concerns so I decided to try it. Why not try? I trusted Liz. 

Me with walker at Hot Yoga Asheville

What is hot yoga? It sounds awful.

Bikram Hot Yoga isn’t just any hot yoga. The room is preheated to 104 degrees with 40% humidity. Infrared lights provide the heat and they have healing properties. Surprisingly, I was able to tolerate this heat and do the poses. I work up a good sweat which is good for the body. 

The sequence and order of the poses seems to be perfect for me. Each pose builds on the previous. Plus, the Bikram philosophy works for me. It says, “Just do your best. Give it 100% effort and that is good enough.”  There are twenty six postures and two breathing exercises It’s ninety minutes of moving, breathing, meditation.

Adi Westerman, owner and teacher 

I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand why this yoga rather than any of the others?

Repetition! Nothing changes day to day except the teacher. The same 26  postures done in the same order, for the same amount of time with the same dialogue. Also, the pace is slow enough for me to transition poses without falling or getting tangled up. 

For the balance poses, I hold onto something. (Hot Yoga Asheville even bought me a walker!) I noticed improvements in how I felt, and how I looked quickly. My skin looked brighter and I had a lingering calm feeling.

Hot Yoga Asheville

I started going three to four times a week. Gradually I increased to going daily. I had been tracking headaches, indigestion, constipation among other things. I’ve eliminated medications and the hateful carpel tunnel wrist sleeve I wore every night. Best of all, the chronic pain disappeared.

Sounds like you were addicted! How did it help with walking?

I was addicted to the point that we set up our own studio at home when Covid 19 shut everything down. Our hot room doesn’t get quite as hot all the time, but it’s still effective. YouTube videos with the dialogue do a good job. 

Yoga helped walking most by freeing the foot, ankle and knee joints. I started feeling my foot roll into a step. The right ankle joint had been almost frozen for a long time. After years of yoga and other therapies I’m beginning to feel a nice stride developing.

My home studio

The yoga community helped me find healing people and therapies. Gradually, I met other yogis who were practicing acupuncture, massage, and juicing. One by one, I experimented and added. 

Everything was better, but walking really improved when I got serious about my gym workout. Joining Gold’s Gym that embraces Silver Sneakers was the key. Using the savings from not paying for a gym membership I pay a trainer. I’ve been getting lessons weekly for several years.

I suppose you are going to enlighten us about your gym work and strength training next.

That’s right. I have lots to talk about there too. But first, check out this blog  post that captures my experience with hot yoga:

https://judymanagesms.blogspot.com/2019/11/embrace-journey-find-your-elixer.html

Of course the whole blog is available at judymanagesms.blogspot.com

 

Embrace the Journey: This is Your Life

Connie, Penni and me ending a special weekend

This is your life, Judy Groff. See, it’s not so bad! You do fun stuff and look fairly independent. Looks like you’ve embraced MS. We acknowledge that you have noticeable issues but, you are functioning at a high level. I’m proud of you.

Yeah, but it’s taken over twenty years to figure out how best to keep functioning well. Just when I think I’ve got things where I want them, wham, I fall or something happens to throw me back. Who are you anyway? Why am I even talking to you?

Carrying on, trying to be independent

Good question! I’m the you that lurks deep in your mind and reminds you where you came from and who you are. It’s my job to give you tough love talks when you get down on yourself. You were a mess in the beginning.You felt bad and moved poorly. We had some serious talks back then.

Those early years were hard. Actually, learning to fill the syringe and give myself the shot got me going. That gave me control so I felt empowered. My turnaround started there. I need to feel in control and independent.

You are in a good place now. What do you think happened? You tried a lot of different things and never gave up trying. 

Meditation using singing bowl

I always thought I could improve my walking. I remember getting very frustrated and angry. I’d try something then vigilantly track improvement in how I moved or felt. I experimented with alternative therapies like meditation, massage, yoga, and gym exercise. I had fun with bike riding, until I had a bad fall. It must have been you I would talk to. You always remind me that I’m the one with the power to fix me. 

What fears and hopes were driving you during that time? 

I worried most about losing ability to exercise at all. I couldn’t run anymore and swimming had to be different. Tennis and biking required too much balance and coordination. Almost everything I did had to be modified. Walking has been the one exercise I am doing better now than in the beginning.

Hot yoga in our bathroom studio

What happened to prompt this change?

Several things started coming together. Bikram Hot Yoga was the catalyst that introduced me to new therapies like acupuncture and massage. 

Then I got adventurous and tried “juicing” and bone broth. I went all in at the gym and secured a physical trainer. To challenge my mind, I joined Toastmasters, started taking piano lessons and learning French on Duolingo. 

I started feeling better physically and had more energy. Slowly my walking has improved. With the guidance of my Physical Therapist, I am learning now to walk again (second go round).

Doing Job #1 prepares me to have fun

Sounds to me like you invest a lot in yourself. Do you ever feel guilty?

I do not. Taking care of me is Job #1. Mama had a plaque hanging in the  kitchen that said, “When Mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy.” When I’m tired or feel out of sorts, I’m grumpy. Family and friends want me to feel good. In fact, my favorite quote is, “When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you do good.” Yes, I give myself permission to invest in me.  

This is my life! I’m beginning to write the memoir about my journey. The blog posts will be incorporated. This is a story about my struggles and joys. It’s a story about making the best possible life with life as I know it. And finally, it about all the things I can still do albeit with help along the way. 

Readers, you inspire me and keep me going. Give me some feedback. Thank-you.

Embrace the Journey: Take more Lessons

Caribbean Cruise - St. Kitts

Mind to Body 

Are you listening to me? You have compelled me to take drastic action. You are tentative, discombobulated and totally uncooperative on this walking thing. You know how encumbered I feel being tethered to Donnie. I hate it, but I had to on the ship so I wouldn’t fall and create a scene. Now, I’ve had enough! What do you have to say for yourselves?”

Body

We had lots of extenuating circumstances on the ship. We’ll start with the narrow track. It was a nice track with a smooth surface, but it was tacky. Feet were prone to catch on the toe-up motion. It was wide enough for two people, walking side by side, hand in hand on most of the track. It was the narrow, curvy places that really put us on edge. 

The biggest problem was all the people! Walkers and some runners, all going faster than we can go. We must complain too about the gale force winds that kicked up several mornings. There, that’s most of our issues that hindered performance.

Wide, straight stretch of track

Mind
Those were really bad issues, but I still don’t like it. You wouldn’t relax. Why can’t you relax and stay that way?. I tried to do my part keeping you focused using a mantra I thought you liked. You persisted in tripping me up. When we got home, I expected you to improve. You didn’t, so we are going back to the experts. This is a courtesy notice. We are going back to “walking school”.

Body

No, not walking school! We thought we were done with that years ago. 

Mind

Think of it as a refresher course. After just one lesson, you are already improving. We all want the same thing and we’ve come a long way since we started. We started this journey at least eight years ago. You surprised me a couple years ago when you began moving fluidly. That’s why I’m sure we can do better. 

Working out on the ship

Those falls we took several times in early 2023 created mind issues.  Fear got into our psyche. That’s the enemy. It makes us hesitant, cautious, and generally unstable. Also, we have  all gotten a bit lazy. Yes, it’s hard work but the alternative is unthinkable.

Body

Alright, we admit to getting distracted easily. We noticed your new pre-walk drills. We cooperate at the gym. We will do our part, but we need you to keep us focused. We’re all in. Just tell us what you want us to do.

Sunset and cocktails 

Mind
Your mechanics are good. Do you realize that walking requires connected movement of every bone and joint from the feet and ankle, up through the lower leg and knee to the hip and then up through the trunk and shoulders. Feet, you need arms to relax to swing and move the shoulders. That’s what causes toes to kick up. Think of a marionette stick figure with me pulling your strings to get the motion started. When it works, it flows easily. Right?

Body

That definitely sounds right. So your job is to get our motion started? 

Mind

Well, I’ve only had one lesson, but theoretically you are correct. Starting the motion seems to be the hardest part of my job. We need lots more lessons because everything still feels awkward. I can feel when you are moving in a relaxed fluid motion. I am easily distracted too and forget to concentrate. I am hoping we will all learn to walk without thinking.

Another thing, since I’m in charge, I’ve decided to ramp up massage and acupuncture treatments for several months. Let’s just see if these therapies do what I think they do. I don’t see a down side. We’ve got this! Right?

Relaxing time before dinner

Body
Right!

Another factor we have to consider is aging. My neurologist suggested that some decline may be attributed to the type of MS I have - Primary Progressive. She prescribed focusing Physical Therapy totally on balance and stability while walking. You’ve already noticed the drills he has me doing. I think they are working.

Regardless, we’ve come a long way. Keeping everything in perspective, since we are expected to be declining, we are doing well to hold steady. It all takes a long time and we work on it everyday. I’m confident his strategies will strengthen the mind, body connection.

  

Embrace the Journey: Is it MS or Aging?

S

Walking independently - before

I'm frustrated so I call out MS

We seem to have a tit-for-tat relationship. Your main thing is to trip me up. I on the other hand rant, rave and plot to keep you in hiding. Just when I started feeling really good in my gait, sure footed and relaxed, you decided I needed to be given a good dose of humility. I’m just guessing that ’s why you threw me a zinger. On the other hand, maybe I was wrong giving you all the credit. Is aging trying to get in on your action? What do you think?

MS responds 

Calm down. I mean no harm. Do you get hurt when I throw in those zingers? Sure, aging handicaps recovery time, but to give aging credit or blame seems to be a stretch. Age also likes to zap your energy. Right? Do you bounce back with the same zest and confidence you use to? Way back, twenty years ago, aging wasn’t so much an issue. When I first started messing with your psyche, you tried to ignore me. My goodness, we’ve been through a lot together!  

Working on balance and agility

Yes, and it’s not all been good. To this day you are on my mind, sun-up to sun-down. When I’m walking, working around the house, exercising, you are always there. My goal has always been to minimize your effect on me. The first fourteen years, I learned to live with you, but lost ground in terms of your effect on me.  Now, since I know I have the Primary Progressive form of MS, people say,“You’re doing great! You’re suppose to be getting worse, right?” I say, “No, I can do better.”

Lost my grip on a full quart jar

You and aging both seem to enjoy attacking muscle strength slowly,  at a snail’s pace. All of a sudden, a muscle group doesn’t function like it use to. For example,  recently I noticed my grip is too weak to open jars! Handling heavy objects is a big problem. Recently,  I dropped a full quart jar of juice on my foot. That really hurt. Was that you or Aging? I think you also play equal roles in cognitive decline. Losing my mind is the scariest. Anyway, I work hard to minimize both physical and cognitive decline.

I guess you’re right, but I had not thought about us having much in common. As you age you are suppose to have issues with balance  and you are supposed to lose muscle mass. 

Hot Yoga  outing in Laguna Beach, CA

No, MS, you exacerbate everything! I have friends in their nineties who are doing incredible physical things. They still travel the world, ride elephants and skydive. Not me. My goals are basic: keep moving and feel good. 

Just to do that, I need lots of people. 

To your credit, doing that hot  yoga, really slowed me down. I think you might be in a wheel chair or using a walker now if not for that therapy. I lost traction on those physiological issues like frequent headaches and constipation and excess gas. I can see you are happier now. I really hate to give hot yoga so much credit, but they did minimize spasticity and joint stiffness.  I think that was the tipping point allowing your walking to improve. 

You ganged up on me with all those therapy people. One treatment at the time, you cut me out. I had to up my game. All I have left is playing with your walking and messing with your mind. Right?

Incentives! Loleh and little brother 

MS, you are too much! NO, NO, NO! I won't let you mess with my mind! Absolutely, I have ganged up on you. Now, Donnie and I are double teaming you. We have a plan to increase my walking confidence by improving my gait even more. For example, we know that I’m more vulnerable to your evil ways when I’m fatigued, distracted, or going to fast. I’m using all my tools intentionally to regain independent walking. It’s coming back.

I know that my reality is living with Primary Progressive MS. I figure that I am probably more prone to the effects of aging than other people my age. On the other hand, the same therapies and interventions I use to manage MS are reported to also slow down aging. Best I can tell, I’m in a win - win situation. I’ll keep  doing what has been working.

Embrace the Journey: Sickness Set-Back

Not sick here!

How can I completely lose a week? Did I wake up from a bad dream? Nothing happened. I cancelled everything. I had no ambition to do anything. It was an effort to force myself out for a short walk. Cooking? Not interested in eating, so why would I cook? Standing to “heat-up” a prepared dish is too much. Christmas decorations are still up? They can wait. Nothing bothers me. 

Seems like this new year started with the bug brigade in charge. The stomach bug went through our house. I heard about other bugs, especially respiratory ones bothering friends. It was a nasty end of year.

Toastmasters Betty and Jeanne

Stomach bug, you have beaten me down. I thought you were gone, but you slipped back. I know what you did. You waited till I was tired and weak. You tried to shift the blame onto MS, didn’t you? Maybe you’re a “wanna-be” lingering disease like Long Covid, lurking, lurking, lurking. You think you are winning? Ha! Not a chance. Not going to happen! 

For a moment,  I did let self pity creep in. I thought maybe you did rule earlier today. Then I rallied. Your bullying didn’t work. My good friend, Toastmaster presented an opportunity I couldn't resist. I was the Toastmaster for this first Friday after the holiday break. The only Speaker had to cancel. By Thursday, we had less than ten members coming.

Yea, I thought you would surely cancel the meeting given all the issues surfacing early this week. Usually, you think of Toastmasters as a “responsibility”. What gives? 

Toastmaster Zoom Meeting

Stomach bug, you’re just like MS. You think you can dictate results. You think I’ll let self pity and negativity in. You think I’ll become easy to manipulate and disinterested in life if you hang around long enough. You are so wrong! Ask MS if I have conceded! You can only rule briefly. Why? Because you can’t  begin to get into my mind. My mind and willpower will overpower anything you can throw at me.

Actually, I want to know why all of a sudden Toastmasters isn’t just a responsibility. What’s so special about them? 

What you don’t understand is they are part of my support team. They support me and I support them. This week I am Toastmaster of the week. That means I am responsible. It’s a challenge and I love a challenge. Starting this new year with a strong meeting is a must do.

You are stubborn! Why didn’t you just call it off due to sickness. Throw in the towel. I was a perfect excuse.

Selfie with Wendy at the Christmas Parade

You set a nice trap, but I won’t take the bait. Actually, you and your cohorts running around sickening people challenged me to be creative and have fun doing it. As it turns out, our group will be small, and in my plan, small is GOOD. Toastmasters are strong and will rise to the occasion. 

We are going to play a game. The theme is “Turn the Page”. I’ve asked each person coming to weave a tale about things left behind and visions for the new year. It’s an exercise in team building, speech crafting, and leadership. I’m looking forward to it.

Stomach bug, you slowed me down. You made me feel really yucky and weak. You tried your best to break my spirit.  I lost a week of good stuff! Therapy sessions, fun with family, exercise, and hot yoga had to wait. 

You won’t win. I’ve got your number. You will not get a negative toehold in my mind.

Grandson Loleh 

On a serious note, chronic illness and pain are debilitating on both body and mind. Having several strong support groups to keep the mind focused on others and positive things is important. There will be more set-backs, but the human spirit is resilient.

Family and friends carry us through the hard times. Let's all Turn the Page to a happy and productive New Year!