Bikram Yoga Is Medicine: Multiple Sclerosis
Testimonial by PURE Bikram Yoga student Teri O.
When I started my yoga practice at PURE Bikram Yoga six years ago, my attendance was spotty at best. I’ve had Multiple Sclerosis for about 20 years now, and only returned to the hot room when my symptoms relapsed or I was injured. I wasn’t “sold” on the yoga, but now, I'm actually glad that I struggled with the commitment for years, because it gave me the opportunity recognize how powerful the healing was once I returned. I have now practiced almost every day for over a year.
Most people with Multiple Sclerosis are advised to stay out of the heat, and warned that the heat may awaken symptoms. When I was first diagnosed 20 years ago, I was told that I did not have to change my diet or lifestyle in any way, which at the time meant living on fast food, processed foods, not exercising and weighing just over 200 lbs. Instead, I was advised to take injections every day, stay out of the heat and just hope that this crippling disease did not progress. My right leg would literally drag on the ground when I walked. Despite this advice from my doctor, I changed my lifestyle and diet, completely. I stopped eating anything out of a box, and starting eating real, unprocessed foods. I stopped taking the daily injections that we're causing painful sores all over my body and started exercising outside, in the heat! Today, my neurologist, Dr. Fox, who has his own MS clinic in Round Rock, is very supportive of my Bikram yoga practice, and advises that I just keep doing what I'm doing since I no longer have any MS symptoms. After all, MS is an autoimmune disease, which means too much stress can mean trouble. I now do everything in my power to make it to a class every day for the simple fact that it makes me happy.
Today, I’m very active. I skate and bike at the Veloway and I love hiking and walking outside. Bikram has become my absolute favorite way to keep my body healthy. I have a gym membership, but I can’t help but notice all the distractions. There are TVs, people are wearing headphones, talking to their friends, thumbing through books, all attempting to get their mind off what they are doing. It's the complete opposite environment in the hot room. Instead, we yogis are trying to stay focused on every second of the 90 minute meditation process, and we are learning to face the painful reality that is within that room. I believe this makes us all stronger.
I have become very comfortable with my "far from perfect" body in the hot room. My weight has been an issue my entire life, always the dreaded topic at family gatherings when I was an adolescent. A few years ago I still struggled with my body image, because despite losing almost half my body weight, I never felt like I reached the "perfect" weight for my frame. It took me several years of doing yoga to have the guts to even wear a sleeveless shirt into the hot room. Today, I can actually stand in the front row and stare at my own imperfect chunky legs in my tiny shorts and feel amazing and thankful for this one healthy body that I have. I love that the room is full of people of all shapes and sizes, and that we are all there for health and longevity. It's not about perfection. It's about life.
Original source: http://pureyogaaustin.com/be-inspired/bikram-yoga-medicine-multiple-sclerosis