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I wish to start by thanking you dear Universe: I am much healthier now than I was then.
Iyengar Yoga is a form of yoga that promotes the practice of asanas. It focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body. It differs from other styles of yoga in three ways: use of props, sequence, and precision.
Yoga has grown in popularity in recent years as a form of exercise and meditation. It has become a go-to practice for people seeking physical and mental well-being.
According to a survey by Yoga Alliance more and more are practicing yoga. Respondents in Germany, Chile, Germany, the UK, Kenya the US, and Nigeria are taking it up as a ‘stress release’.
In this blog, I wish to share how Iyengar Yoga helped with my rare neuromuscular disease called Issacs’ Syndrome.
I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Isaacs’ Syndrome. Isaacs’ is a neuromuscular health condition that stems from muscle hyperactivity. I also discovered that I had Lyme disease. Lyme is a bacterial illness that gets transmitted through ticks. I was also accompanied by Glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye-related disease that damages the optic nerves. And Membranous Glomerulonephritis is a progressive kidney disease.
Health issues hit us in many different ways.
My body suffered alien symptoms like muscles tightening with cramps and twitches. It went through unbearable pain with immense discomfort. Even after years had passed, the body just denied forgetting the held traumas.
Though I was trying my best, the solutions weren’t so easy.
At such a time in my life, I was introduced to Iyengar Yoga.
Iyengar Yoga is a form of hatha yoga, developed by B.K.S. Iyengar. The practice uses props with precise physical alignment. My Iyengar started this practice to improve his health after tuberculosis. Over time he found his health and well-being returned.
I was attracted to this practice due to its holistic promise of treatment without pills. It has proven its credentials with the central nervous system and has also benefited patients with special health conditions and injuries.
During research, I came across people who took Iyengar Yoga and were able to transform their lives. They decided to become yoga teachers themselves after getting cured. There is a list of benefits to practicing this form of yoga. Improved flexibility, muscle strength, and balance are some that interested me.
The impact of living with a rare disease goes much beyond only health.
In general, rare health issues are all about medicines, doctors, therapies, blah blah.
I had alien symptoms throughout my body. My prescriptions had an ongoing list of medicines with a clear understanding of my limitations. It was all about rediscovering myself without giving in to despair and defeat. In the world of rare and chronic diseases problems and their consequences are vast. The effects have a huge impact on almost all the organs of our body, especially the nervous system.
My doctors felt the need to treat the mind, body, and spirit. Western treatments and medicines only had temporary answers and were symptomatic. The focus was more on prevention rather than treatment of the diseases.
Iyengar Yoga came across as an ideal solution to great physical and mental stability. It promised controlled physical postures including increased flexibility, strength, and mobility. It appeared a promising answer to my chronic pain, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
My doctor gave certain key instructions before starting the training:
- Inform the instructor about your pre-existing health conditions.
- Start very slow.
- Keep your symptoms under strict observation.
- Listen to what your body has to say and keep hydrated.
- Start with alternate days and see how your body responds.
- Take a break and stop immediately if there is an increase in symptoms and discomfort.
- Don’t force yourself with the practice.
- Manage records of essential parameters like BP, blood sugar, pulse rate, and weight.
Considering Iyengar Yoga’s legacy, practicing it proved a great decision.
Stay tuned to learn how Iyengar Yoga helped me with my Neuromuscular rare disease. However, there is no scientific evidence that it helps Isaacs’ Syndrome. However, continuous practice felt like my core to healed.
- I took Iyengar Yoga as a therapeutic practice with the help of props.
- Props like yoga belts and bricks, customized blankets, bolsters, and chairs. They reduced the risk of further injuries and ensured proper alignment.
- The initial few days made me uneasy with body weakness and pain but with time things settled for good.
- With perseverance, my body learned the language of letting go of the pain and stress.
- There was an increment in my pranic element. The energy medicine that handles the natural healing process.
The therapy helped curb my rare and chronic symptoms:
My key symptoms were taken care of with constant practice. Among them were fasciculations, cramps, body weakness, fatigue, indigestion, and eye pain. Also, I saw a drastic reduction of body stiffness and breathlessness. I could sit for longer hours due to increasing stamina levels.
It increased my muscle flexibility. Proper stretching of muscles improved my movement better and made me feel less stiff. I started with static stretches and slowly moved to the dynamic ones. It increases the elasticity of tissues, such as tendons, and ligaments.
It gave me strength. I felt that it improved my balance, flexibility, and body strength. There was weakness due to a lack of movement. My physical stamina increased as I could hold postures for extended breaths. I could better use my arm and shoulder strength.
It boosted my energy levels. I felt the stimulating energy flow throughout my body due to removed blockages. The opening of the blocked channels helped let go of years of accumulated body tension. This process uplifted my energy levels and reduced lethargy and fatigue.
Also, it positively affected my mental wellbeing. I felt more oxygen levels that initiated increased levels of alertness.
It did wonders for my spinal cord. It removed blockages along the spine and smoothed the energy flow which reduced pain. I felt less stiff with better vitality.
Reduced chronic pain. This was the best part. I had tremendous pain in my thighs, calves, shoulders, and back.
Iyengar Yoga reduced the perception of my pain. After constant practice, I felt that my pain weakened and was less severe than it was before. The doctors confirmed that my inflammation reduced which caused chronic pain.
The flexibility and range of movements reduced stiffness which helped in reducing pain.
To Conclude:
Every wound has a story, its history, the process of its healing, and the patient as a whole.
Soon, the nature of the therapy became a way to process my symptoms. It strengthened the spinal column, relief from mild frozen shoulder, and increased mobility. It puts back the vital forces of the body, cuts down on pain, and improves flexibility. It helped increase the metabolic process which was a challenge since the start.
I was instructed to go slow and relax more than normal due to years of weakness and non-movement.
It’s a continuous learning curve. It is important to train our body to the right postures and reprogrammed muscle memory.
In the process, I learned to be gentler with myself. I became convinced that with smart efforts we can generate positive results.
In my experience, any therapy works well when other collective environmental, support. Other integrated factors like food and lifestyle changes helped my practice.
I encourage my readers to explore Iyengar Yoga as a potential solution to your health challenges. Iyengar yoga has tremendous potential for healing and growth. As Sri B.K.S Iyengar himself said ”Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured”.
During those hours of practice, I left everything and just breathed the life force within.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not represent any kind of medical advice.
