Seven years ago, I broke my right big toe. When walking during the toe healing, I had to lean too much weight into my left hip. This damaged my left hip and left knee. And my left sacroiliac joint tightened dramatically as well.

Current hip X-rays show several bone spurs, cartilage erosion and a cyst. There is strained cartilage in the left knee. Also, my right big toe ball joint has been painful since the injury. My primary care physician recommended I consult an orthopedic doctor about hip replacement.

Two Yoga Miracles

A fall down a flight of stairs seriously injured my hips. I had to use two hiking sticks to walk. Fortunately, my Svaroopa^® yoga therapist is close to my work. I could conveniently have sessions before starting the second-shift.

Then, when I arrived for work, my coworker Kris noticed I was no longer using the hiking sticks nor limping. “You don’t look at all like you’ve fallen!” This was the big kick for Kris to schedule a class at his home for himself and his wife. Plus, since Svaroopa^® yoga healed my hips, I canceled the hip surgery my doctor had recommended.

A few months later, Kris had another class. He learned some foundational spinal release poses and the breathing practice to do at home. Then I took more Teacher Training. I returned home in a whole different place. Kris scheduled a private class in December. Now he is working through new poses in his home practice.

Before Svaroopa^® yoga, Kris couldn’t raise his shoulders much and one arm only 30 degrees. He no longer protects that arm now, and his joints move together fluidly. Last week he asked to review Seated Side Stretch. He explained, “I just love the movement. It feels great. But there are a lot of steps.”

Early on, I measured his height at 5’8”; it’s now 6’1”. His blood pressure came down 20 points in 6 months; medication is no longer needed. He gave up snacks and went from 220 to 175 pounds... Read Blog

Yoga Therapy For My Mom

By Peggy Schiereck, interviewed by Marlene (Matrikaa) Gast 

Miraculously, I was able to share my yoga therapy training with my mother. Terminally ill, she had come to live with me and was in a lot of pain. Still, she was able to learn the breathing practice. She heavily relied on it, as it enabled her to settle into a soothing, restful state.

I was able to teach her some easy reclining poses. Recording her scores, then comparing them to her after scores showed her improvement and encouraged her.

Throughout her final months, this amazing person showered her gifts of love and joy on us. She loved life and could be totally present with children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. On her 87th birthday, my mother’s 25-member Bible study group came to our home for a meeting. You could see such light in her face. She was wholly present with her guests, sharing what each one meant to her. Nine days later she passed.

Providing Svaroopa^® Yoga Therapy to my mother as well as clients has significantly benefited me. As a yoga therapist, I deepen into the experience of my own Self. Gaining understandings of how Svaroopa® Yoga Therapy supports others in healing has enriched my life.