Loving My Body Through A Decade Living With Dystonia

Ten years a slave– To tangled limbs And a torquing spine, To a broken medical system And neural network gone offline Ten years an observer– Of the quirky, jerky movement of a marionette Compensatorily adopted two decades ago After a bike/car accident left my Body and soul bruised and bowed Ten years a student– Of physiology and the human mind; Acquiring an armchair PhD In … [Read more...]

How We Pick Ourselves Up After We Fall

Fallen or Side Bow Pose

Even when it can seem like the vast majority of my dystonia symptoms are in a strong remission, there is no guarantee that that they will stay that way. Just because I am able to do a two-hour intermediate yoga practice one day does not mean I will be at all steady on my feet the next day—or even later that night. While this reality can be disappointing for friends and family who are counting on … [Read more...]

Donning Purple to Draw Awareness to Lupus

Put On Purple for Lupus Awareness

Like a lion hiding in the underbrush before it pounces on its spied prey, the symptoms and severity of lupus and other auotimmune diseases can sneak up you when you are least prepared for it. One day you may be feeling like your old self before the disease took root, super strong, active and as healthy as the next person. The next day you may literally collapse, a rash spreading across your skin, … [Read more...]