home page

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured. ~B.K.S. Iyengar

At age 27, I was diagnosed with Stage III cervical cancer that had metastasized to my lymph nodes. Prior to that, I would have described myself as reasonably healthy. I exercised sporadically but, hey, I was thin. Sure I smoked sometimes, but I was young and I intended to quit. I was flailing around trying to figure out what to do as a career, but I had a bachelor’s degree in literature and plenty of time. Right?

Looking back, I realize that I had very little awareness of my body and its needs and how my external lack of focus was affecting my health. My mind/body connection wasn't really connecting.

When the doctor uttered the “C” word, I began to find my focus. I immediately quit smoking (quite easily in fact) and embarked upon the project of saving my life. Western doctors prescribed radical surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and subsequent major surgery to address complications from the treatment. Eastern healers had me drinking wheat grass and Chinese herbs, receiving acupuncture, Reiki and massage and doing light yoga stretches.

In the end, I am not sure what modality knocked out the cancer but the western medicine left me with a body full of toxins, a sensitive digestive system, chronic back pain, and most difficult to deal with—lymphedema from the waist down. Sitting or standing for any period of time resulted in swelling of my lower extremities accompanied by pain.

Searching for ways to manage the long term effects of the disease led me to Bikram Yoga. My body responded immediately. The edema was controlled by all the compression postures, which returned the lymph from the lower extremities to the general lymphatic circulation. The spine strengthening series improved my posture and relieved my chronic back pain. Each class brought not only greater strength and vitality, but gave me hope that I could stay cancer-free and lead a normal life. The more I practiced Bikram Yoga the healthier I became. I guess you could say I owe my recovery to Bikram. It was such an important part of my life that I renewed my focus with a decision to become a Bikram Yoga instructor. Opening the Neptune beach studio with Michael in 2002 was the natural next step and those years introducing Bikram to Jacksonville were rewarding and fun. It is so great that Rob can continue to serve this community and I can continue to be a part of it through practice and teaching.

Now I have been cancer-free for almost 14 years!  My unfocused life became very focused. You might say my illness was divine intervention, fate or a catalyst for finding myself! My life has been a wonderful journey and I am grateful for all the experiences, which have led me to a practice that satisfies my inner soul as well as my mind and body.

Namaste - 2010.