I have Crohn’s Disease. I’ve had it my whole life. They say there’s no cure.
It’s a torturous thing, and those affected suffer in silence. Nobody likes to talk about digestive problems.
For the first 34 years of my life I couldn’t eat most fruits or vegetables. No nuts, grains, coffee, red meat, wheat, dairy. I was in and out of the hospital and had to constantly juggle medications and their various side effects.
It’s not like that anymore.
You see, 5 years ago I became symptom free. Diet independent. I can eat whatever I’d like. No meds. No docs. I can have spinach and peanut butter and apples for the first time in my life.
With Bikram Yoga, I changed my own physiology from the inside out. I have reclaimed my body. I have my life back.
It wasn’t easy. Or fast. But doable.
So now I practice 5 or 6 times a week so I can maintain my digestive health and enjoy all the wonderful foods life has to offer. So I can sit and have a coffee with my dog by my feet. So I have the choice.
I remember long ago giggling to myself when the teacher would inform us during Wind Removing Pose that we were massaging the ascending and descending colon.
I don’t giggle anymore.
If you know of someone with Crohn’s please don’t hesitate to share my story and contact info. There is no need to suffer, and no need for silence.
