Yoga An Essential For Balanced Living For Everyone

Yoga is a powerful tool for healing the body, mind and spirit.   It is a multi-layer discipline that grows with time and dedication to the practice.  My journey with yoga began in 2005.  I had visited my physician for a wellness exam and discovered that I had an abnormal bone density level.  I had struggled with scoliosis for years, and just sitting on the floor would leave me feeling crippled for days.  She prescribed Vitamin-D and Calcium and told me that my body would thank me if I would do weight bearing exercises every day.  I asked her how long I needed to do this, and she smiled and said every day for the rest of your life.  I asked her if yoga counted, and she told me that there was nothing better than yoga for what I needed.  I began to explore my options, and joined a yoga studio close to my home.

My yoga training has included Indian as well as Korean traditions of yoga. Both bring a very rich perspective.  What began as a practice dedicated to my physical well-being has unfolded into a mental, emotional and spiritual practice that is a basic foundation of my life.  Through meditation I learned to quiet my mind and let go of negative self talk.  Through the asanas, or postures, I have gained core strength and flexibility.  Understanding the chakra system has taught me the connection of my mental and emotion health with my physical health.  The spiritual aspect of yoga has taught me Fire, the passion to do what I need to do, even when I don't feel like it in order to reach my highest good.  It has taught me Self-Study, the ability to pay attention to what is going on within myself mentally, emotionally and physically and to take total responsibility for my life.  Most important, the practice of yoga has taught me Love of Self,  and that unless I can love and accept myself as I am, I do not have the capacity to love and accept others.

As a pain management specialist for Memorial Hermann's Pain Recovery Center, I have seen miracles happen with therapeutic, gentle yoga.  I have watched people who thought they were doomed to a life of chronic pain and misery release their fear, stretch their muscles, gain physical strength, and find renewed hope.  I teach my patients that each day, if they do just a little, a little will turn into a little more and pretty soon they will be amazed at their own progress.  Sometimes what is  is not our fault, is indeed our problem an what we have to deal with. We don't have to compete with others, we just have to take care of ourselves.

Whether you struggle with chronic pain or not, yoga can make a wonderful difference in many areas of your life.

Namaste~
Rhonda