yoga in south Florida?

[Chrissa]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to find out if it's possible to do yoga with the Harrington rod? I had my surgery about 25 years ago. I gained some weight due to inactivity after I had heart surgery in 2000. Lately I've had some pain and loss of flexibility. I've changed my eating habits and started walking to lose weight, and I thought yoga might help with the loss of flexibility, but I don't know that much about it. I'm new to the forum, but from some of the posts I've read it seems like yoga might be a possibility for me. Can anyone recommend a yoga instructor in south Florida who might be familiar with working with patients who have had surgery? Thanks!

[Jacque's Mom]

YOGA/Scoliosis

Chrissa - If you do a search (top of page) and type in Elise Browning Miller (she's the author of Yoga for Scoliosis) you'll see there is a number of discussions. I actually have been thinking of yoga and also have the Harrington Rod since 1981. Good luck! LYNN

[Chrissa]

Thanks, Lynn! I took your advice on the search tip. I appreciate your help.

[Nancy G]

Chrissa, Congrats on trying to improve your health, and I wish you well on your search for a yoga teacher. I had the Harrington Rod in 1983 and no revision, and I do do yoga. It has been a challenge, but it has so much transformed my life that I keep at it. I am VERY careful. I don't have a name of someone in Florida, but it seems that if your doctor gives the okay, you can go to a regular teacher. I think a teacher who specializes in "yoga therapy" would be good. Also I've posted this before, but Ellen Kiley is a yoga teacher who has a fusion and a revision. She is currently teaching in Georgia I believe, but she may have some tips for you. She has a website you can search for. I took a weekend workshop with her, and I don't think I could have started yoga without that workshop. I figured if she can teach yoga, certainly I can try it too. Also I know there is a yoga conference in Fort Lauderdale this fall (November 2) by the Omega Institute. Some of the teachers at that conference may be helpful. A local teacher (local is Minnesota for me), Matthew Sanford, is presenting there. He is pretty amazing. He has paraplegia and teaches yoga to all kinds of students. Best of luck. -Nan

[Chrissa]

Thanks for the info, Nan.

I found a place that teaches many styles of yoga that's not too far from where I live. I contacted them and they pretty much said that I should be very aware of my own limitations but that yoga overall should be very beneficial to me even if I've had the surgery already. Other than a GP I haven't really been to a doctor in quite a while so I'm definitely going to have to do some research and find a good specialist. I went to someone a couple of years ago for an unrelated injury and was referred to his associate, but I didn't really click with him. It's so hard to find doctors I'm comfortable with. A lot of them just want to rush you in and out and don't really take the time to listen. As soon as I find a doctor and they say it's ok I'm going to give the yoga a try. In the meantime I've started walking and doing some light stretching and breathing exercises. Thanks again for the info and the encouragement!

Chrissa