Soon after my first stroke, I was invited to a yoga class. Like a lot of guys I believed that yoga was for slender ladies who do lunch before going to the spa. Real guys went to the gym for a workout, so I passed on the opportunity.
Fast forward two years later when I was struggling with my breath control while trying to learn to speak. I was suffering from Aphasia and had a problem getting enough air in my lungs to speak in sentences. Anyone who has struggled with speech understands how frustrating it is to engage in a conversation when every second or third word is unintelligible.
Yoga was recommended by a speech therapist, so I joined a Silver Sneaker class called yoga flow, and so began another piece of my recovery puzzle.
I had no concept of how yoga was to help me, but nothing ventured nothing gained. My first class was mostly seated focusing on breathing and stretching with some standing balance poses. I was surprised at how tired I was after one hour of what I thought was pretty light stuff. I continued taking weekly classes and the first month I noted my blood pressure dropped 15 points as well as my blood sugar, after three months my A1C a key diabetic marker was also down.
My breathing problem surfaced after my third stroke and lasted until I was moved to long term care in a nursing facility. Basically, I could not inhale on demand I could breath but not when I wanted to.
Today, I do two yoga classes weekly and start each day with about 30 minutes of breathing and basic stretching poses. It is the best way for me get reconnected with my arms, legs and core muscles.
Its hard to point to one area of function that dramatically improved, as my overall improvements are dramatic. After three years practicing yoga, my breathing is near normal. I give oral presentations to groups and often swim for an hour at a time. My weak side has improved in both strength and flexibility, my standing balance has improved to one minute on either foot. I can bend a pick up things off the floor with either hand, my walking gait has improved in speed and length of strides, I only use a cane on difficult surfaces or when I’m tired.
As a therapy tool yoga is on my personal list, I would recommend it without hesitation to any stroke survivor.
REFUSE TO BE HELPLESS