Yoga for a new leg amputee??? You bet!

Wow!  I as really afraid to try Yoga, but my sister talked me into trying it!  For a newly amputee it takes balance and coordination (actually I guess it takes that for everyone)!  I walked into the room and the Yoga instructor came over to me and welcomed me into the class and told me if there any were moves I had a hard time with; to not do them and by all means modify them.  I was amazed that I could pretty much keep up her!  I could balance myself and put both my arms up in the air and circle my arms around and even close my eyes with the help of my one crutch to help me keep my balance.

I did have a hard time when it came to bending my left leg (this is my amputated leg) but I improvised.  It's amazing when you don't have that calf strength or knee there any longer.

THEN came the sitting on the floor to exercise.  All the ladies gracefully sat down and here I am "PLUNK" as my leg hit the mat, no gracefulness from me!!  I must say I rocked in these core and floor exercises!  I do many of these core exercises in physical therapy - they are beneficial in helping to build my body strength!!!  

Oh then came the getting up from that mat in Yoga - luckily my Physical Therapist helped me yesterday with those moves!   So while we are doing our last stretches and everyone's eyes were still closed, I made my move and did my "prosthetic leg kick back and good knee bent move" and pushed myself up - without crutches!  I was afraid of biffing it big time in front of everyone, but I did so well!  Which was a BIG move for me!!

Many of the Yoga participants came up and congratulated me on how well I did and hoped to see me again!  They will. . . 

I think Yoga is a great way for me to start building my body strength along with of course my physical therapy!!!