Accessible Yoga: Honor Your Body

Melissa Reynolds revisited

When I worked as a nurse and a paramedic in the Emergency Department, in the ICU, and ambulances, we always started with the ABCs: Airway. Breathing, Circulation. You can’t live without them. If you’re alive and the ABC’s are in order, then for best health think Air, Water, Food, and Exercise. They come next. AWFE doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. If you’re able, walking is the most accessible exercise. My goal is 3500 steps a day minimum. I average 5,000 a day. Next, I have my stretching, balancing, and strengthening routine. My biggest challenge is stretching as I have tight, spasmodic muscles and my stretching routine doesn’t cut it. My hips and thighs get so tight. And I sit too much at the computer. Massage twice a month and chiropractic once a month helps some. My wife goes to yoga classes a couple of times a week. I have no interest in a class. I couldn’t keep up and I don’t have the energy for an hour. Yet, there’s an appeal. So, I reached out to my friend, Melissa Reynolds (@FibroMama) in New Zealand. Last time we spoke, she was developing an accessible yoga program for people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Health Hats: Melissa, it’s lovely to see you, hear you again. It’s been six months since we had that chat about pain management and doing the work. You told me that you’d developed a yoga…