More than meets the eye... • • • A little about me that you may not know... In fall 2018 I was diagnosed with Type 3 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, with a co-condition of Fibromyalgia. This diagnosis provided much needed clarity and validation for years of chronic pain and enigmatic symptoms that never seemed to add up. • • • Quick rewind: I fell in love with yoga during my first class 15 years ago, and have been practicing ever since. My family and I were blessed with the opportunity to turn our passion for yoga into a family business, and collectively opened @hotyogaferndale. Over the past two years of being in business, I felt increasing pressure to present myself a certain way. People would encourage me to post fabulous yoga poses with cinematic backgrounds to inspire people to come to the studio, but it just didn’t feel right. I looked normal, healthy and happy on the outside, but inside I literally felt like I was falling apart at every joint in my body. Imposter syndrome was in full effect and I didn’t feel qualified to be in a teaching position, when I felt so disabled in comparison to my colleagues. • • • Fast forward to getting my diagnosis, working with a knowledgeable physical therapist, learning to accept help when I needed it, prioritizing rest, utilizing mobility aids to manage pain and stabilize hypermobile joints, I’ve finally started taking the steps toward wellness, which includes a degree of transparency about my disabilities AND abilities. All bodies have their own stories, and it’s essential to practice compassion and empathy for others as well as ourselves, both in yoga and in life. • • • #eds #heds #edswarrior #ehlersdanlosawareness #fibromyalgia #fibrowarrior #zebralife #invisibleillness #spoonie #chronicwarrior