Arthritis

I came to Downtown Yoga with a friend after not taking a yoga class for 30 years. I thought I might enjoy it, but was wondering if I could do any of the positions. I loved the first class, the atmosphere, the people in the class and the instructor, Annette. No one expected you to be perfect, Annette gave me encouragement without criticism. I felt a little guilty about the guidance I needed, but no one seemed to mind. I decided to give it a try and went back the next day. What I started to notice, was how happy I felt in class, I would almost start to laugh with joy when I felt I got a posture. By the third day I was looking forward to getting up and getting to class, more importantly it seemed to set the mood for my whole day.

Eight years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I went into shock for a while, then just gave up on myself. I guess I should qualify this by saying my mother's mother died at 62 from the disease and I lost my mother at 65 from an unrelated illness, and I am 52. Intellectually I new that this was not a death sentence, but emotionally I didn't handle it so well. I had talked myself into a very ugly place.

For me; the most important part of the yoga is mental, for 1 hour every morning I am completely focused. When I told Annette that I had an overwhelming urge to laugh during class, she knew right away that it wasn't because I thought something was funny, but because of the joy I was getting from the class. I was truly stunned by the experience and what it did for me. It proved you are never too old to open your mind and body to new experiences and you never know when it can change your life for the better. This has given me the tools to make some positive changes, that were impossible without this experience. I will never be able to thank Annette for the changes this has made. I can't imagine not going to class.

Dana Feiock