In a perfect world. . .

Happily, I have found a new yoga studio here in Charm City called, not surprisingly, Charm City Yoga. Over the last three weeks, I’ve been trying out different classes to find out which ones will work for me. I’ve found one teacher whose class I really enjoy, and her teaching style reminds me of some of my favorite teachers back in New York. 

Her classes are pretty difficult. They are marked for all levels, and she is great about giving different options, but there is no doubt about the fact that you are in for 90 minutes of hard, invigorating work. I usually have to modify poses slightly or back off so as not to aggravate any of my joints, particularly the smaller ones.  It is not uncommon for me to pause after a sun salutation or other pose to roll out my wrists and gently stretch out the tendons and ligaments. While I don’t think I stick out like a sore thumb, it would only take a little observation to guess I’ve got something funky going on.

This past Saturday after class, the teacher was standing by the door as I put my blocks away, so I stopped to thank her for such a great class.  She said thanks, then paused and asked casually if I had anything going on with my wrists.  I took a deep breath of hesitation, unsure I felt like taking the time to go into It All, but then went ahead and told her that I have rheumatoid arthritis.

All of you can probably imagine my shock (and infinite delight!) when, instead of responding with a blank stare or making one of several well-meant but ill-informed comments such as ‘Well, now is the time to have RA’ or ‘but you’re too young to have arthritis’ or fill-in-the-blank with your favorite lame response, she said, completely unphased: ‘Wow.  How are you doing with that - does the yoga help?’ 

It took me a second to recover.  In my mind, I had already geared up to explain that RA is not osteoarthritis, that it is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects my entire body, not just my joints, blah dee blah dee blah.  Instead, I told her that it helped quite a bit, but that it had taken me a long time to be able to practice again.  In fact, that class had been the first time since RA that I had practiced arm balances (VICTORY!!!! Just don’t tell my RA.)

She then went on to ask if I was on any steroids, and we ended up conversing easily about the meds I do take, how the yoga has helped, whether or not I am in (knock on wood) remission, and she inquired if I had ever tried acupuncture. 

Indeed, I lamented that I had been meaning to for quite some time, but hadn’t yet, so she recommended an acupuncturist she goes to that has a practice nearby.  Such was my surprise at having a well-informed, compassionate, non-judgmental conversation about RA that I had to remark on it.  I told her most people don’t even know what rheumatoid arthritis is, let alone what type of meds might be prescribed as treatment. She nodded her head as if she totally understood, and then smiled and told me she was a massage therapist.  Score. I got her number along with the acupuncturist’s.

If only every conversation went along these lines when you told someone you had RA. I feel like the world would be a completely different place to inhabit, and a much easier one at that.  It was amazing how much relief and happiness I felt when I realized I didn’t have to explain what RA was, what it does, and what it likely means for someone my age. Instead of wasting so much energy explaining, I was able to simply communicate and have a dialogue with someone about what I was going through.  I didn’t feel self-conscious, annoyed, frustrated, or like I needed to deflect pity. It was, quite simply, great. I already felt terrific from the yoga, but this experience left me feeling lighter in spirit than I have in a long time.

So, to my new teacher, thank you, and I’ll be back next week.

Comments

[jodi]

that is so wonderful. it's great when people "get it", isn't it? i know whenever my husband's massage therapists friends ask me how i'm doing, that they really mean it. and they really get it. (as much as they can at least.)

[millicent]

Yay---one more of Baltimore's assets!

[WarmSocks]

Great find! It's so nice when people "get it."

[Helen]

That's wonderful - it's so nice (and surprising) to have a comfortable, informed conversation about RA with someone. She sounds like quite a find.

[Amanda]

Score! It is so nice to have a relaxed conversation like that! Let me know how the acupuncture goes- I'm wanting to try that too.

[sara]

Amanda- no kidding! Will definitely post about the acupuncture. Need to call and make that appointment!

Helen- here, here.

WarmSocks- absolutely!

M- yay!

[Starr]

Hi. I'm new to your blog. My name is Starr. I'm from Maui and am waiting to see the rheumatologist on the 24th. Right now they're calling it Fibro until I see the specialist...
Anywho, I am on day three of a five day steroid rx. 100mgs, then 80, then 60... and so on.
Have you ever done this? It has helped the stiffness, but the doses seem so HIGH. Hoping you or your readers can offer some feedback. I'm kinda scared.
Thanks so much.
SB

[sara]

Hi Starr,

Ugh- the waiting can be one of the hardest things to go through. I myself haven't ever been on steroids, but I know many, many people have been, particularly prednisone. I'll post something on my blog's facebook page to see if anyone has been on doses similar to that.

Hang in there-
Sara

[Bonnie]

Hey hun!

I was also put on steriods byt the Rheumy NOT a reg. doctor aas a waiting period. The HIGHEST dose I have ever been on was 40mg and THAT was to bring down a reaction. I am also a nurse, and those doses seem EXTREMLY high esp if it was done by someone who doesn't know much about it. Prednisone can be cery dangerous to your body. I was not put on the steriod therapy as they called it until I saw the specialist . He put me on 10mg a day every day, in the am. Along w/ methotrexate. I did that for about 5 months and didn't work. @ first I had a little help w/ swelling etc. but I was also takin 2400mg of motrin a day! GL hun and I hope it gets fixed soon!

[Kelly Young]

Hey Sara!
When you said, "If only every conversation went along these lines when you told someone you had RA."... I thought you were going to say, then we would not need RA blogs. Haha. But, alas, every conversation does NOT go that way and we have some educatin' to do still.

So glad to hear you are getting along well in Baltimore. I love that area. :D

[Rachel]

How encouraging! Sometimes the easy conversations come from the most unlikely of sources, too.

[MLT43]

Just learned of your blog through the New York Times, and wanted to cheer on your yoga practice! Mine, in combination with a finely-tuned drug regimen, helped me overcome so many of RA's challenges, it's hard for me to separate the benefits of one without mentioning the other. I tried all kinds of yoga but really found the therapeutic principles of Anusara Yoga to work the best. Keep at it!

[Sara]

Kelly- haha, well, that would be true, i guess!  Till then, I guess we have to keep blogging...

[Sara]

Rachel - I know.  A good reminder to maybe not always be so cynical.

[Sara]

Hey MLT-

I know, the yoga has been so important to me.  I was so lucky that I had done certifications in yoga therapy and restorative yoga the year before RA struck-  it really helped me know how to modify my practice.  Its great being able to take classes again. Like you, my drug regimen is also part of it, but I hate to think where Id be without the yoga.