On Thursday, April 24, I had the privilege of attending the recognition ceremony for the 2014 Governor's Fitness Awards finalists, 62 individuals from various corners of Michigan who were nominated for the annual awards. From hundreds of nominees, these 62 finalists were selected by the Governor's Council for their perseverance, determination, and contributions to fitness. The Michigan legislature recognized these honorees at the Capitol in Lansing. That evening, at Detroit's Ford Field (home to the Detroit Lions), the winners of the awards were announced. In truth, while only one honoree could win each award, all of the nominees were winners.
Among the finalists — which included sports-equipment companies, a Team USA Paralympian, several individuals who'd lost hundreds of pounds in their fight against obesity, and a blogger who promotes outdoor activities for children — was one child, a 7-year-old boy who survived resuscitation at birth, congenital heart and urogenital defects, multiple 
early-childhood surgeries, and developmental delays and partial deafness that left him unable to talk until past the age of 3. Gross motor skill issues prevent him from coordinating his arms and legs in unity very well; he struggles to use a bicycle or swim. He suffers from asthma and severe allergies and must always travel with both inhaler and Epi-Pen. Yet this determined child does not let any of this prevent him from being physically active. He trains in Tae Kwon Do, is a competitive runner, and attends yoga classes twice a week. Last month, he participated in his first triathlon, the only triathlete to use both a kickboard and training wheels. I have the honor of having this young man in my martial arts and yoga classes. His indomitable spirit leaves me in awe, and his enthusiasm is never dampened by the many physical challenges he has tackled and continues to face. Ultimately, he did not win the Charles T. Kuntzleman Award for which he was nominated by the director of one of the races in which he competes. However, this did not dampen his spirits. Instead, he applauded and cheered happily for his new "friends" when they were called up to accept their awards. I have the honor and privilege to call this young man my son.I can only hope to follow in his footsteps as I find obstacles of my own cropping up in the paths to fitness which I follow. While I've never been one to back down from a challenge, some hurdles seemed almost unpassable. Due to head trauma suffered as an infant (long story; suffice it to say that my skull has a three-inch dent on one side), I have always shied away from Sirsasana (Headstand) and its many variations. Applying pressure to my skull often results in terrible headaches, so why risk that discomfort? It took me decades (literally!) to convince myself to just try the pose. I didn't have to succeed, but I would never know if I could do it or not if I refused to give it a shot. Over these past two weeks, I made Sirsasana my goal, and not just any Sirsasana: I had to be able to get into the pose away from the wall and hold it for at least eight breaths, if not longer.
Some may say I set myself up for failure, or that I demand too much of myself. Perhaps, but at least I was going to try.
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| Sirsasana (Variation) |
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| Niralamba Padma Sirsasana |
I had some spectacular falls (very glad my martial arts training kicks in instinctively). I had some realizations, including that I prefer Headstand 2 (hands on either side of my head, palms down) to Headstand 1 (hands cupped behind my head). I learned the hard way that I'm not quite ready to leave the wall for some poses, including Padma Sirsasana and a few of the more daring ones, such as Niralamba Padma Sirsasana (Hands-Free Lotus enjoy this asana. Headstand). But I also discovered that I could not only get into several variations of Sirsasana, but that I actually
Who knew?
Having overcome that obstacle, I now prepare to face an outcropping of new ones that have the capability to permanently derail me from the active life I have chosen to pursue. Not being a medical professional, I misread the signs and symptoms of one challenge that fortunately was caught before too much damage was done. My wrists are less than spectacular and have been for quite some time. I have fractured my left wrist four times over the years, once in a terrible car accident that shattered
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| Astavakrasana |
My wrists, however, started protesting a few months ago. They'd ache, and my fingers would tingle and go slightly numb, and even turn different (occasionally alarming) colors. When this happened, I'd ease up on my practice. Instead of doing, say, Astavakrasana (8 Angle Pose), I would do Lolasana (Pendant Pose) or Tolasana (Scale Pose) to give my wrists a break. And then came the Ann Arbor Marathon, a race I'd been anticipating for months. I was proceeding at a great pace, enjoying the scenery and having a great time, looking forward to my husband at the finish line and a possible personal record. Then, at Mile 11, I suddenly could not feel my feet. I felt as though I were running on stumps with floppy things tied around the ankles. I went from confusion to concern to fury as I realized that there was no way that I would be able to run 15 more miles without any sensation in my feet. With the organizer's approval (thank you, cell phones), I stopped at 13.1 miles, completing the half marathon but crying tears of anger for the abrupt end to my full marathon run.My neurologist (remember that head trauma?) fortunately had a cancellation and, two days later, ordered a full work up of lab tests, including an EMG (a lovely test involving sticking 13 2-inch-long needles into m arms and legs and sending electrical charges into me to test my nerves' reactions). Prior to testing day, I ran a half marathon (adding 10 minutes to my time due to continually stopping to let the feeling return to my feet) and a 5K (no issues other than a poorly measured course). When the tests were concluded, my doctor told me to make a follow-up to go over the results. His first available opening was July, and I dutifully scheduled the appointment.
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| Pincha Mayurasana |
I don't use arm rests, unless you consider elbow balances arm rests.
The results also noted that the "sensory nerves are a little unhealthy" and that the "neuropathy makes it easier to injure her nerves and develop numbness with trauma to the nerves (such as her long distance running). I'd rec she run shorter races."
Two days later, I ran the Lansing Marathon. I ran it conservatively, so as not to cause trauma to my feet with my long-distance running. Every time I felt the telltale tingling, I'd slow to a powerwalk for a quarter mile or so until the sensation went away, and then I'd continue running. This only happened three times, and I was actually on pace to finish under four hours, until I hit mile 17. Or rather, until I stepped in a pothole near the mile 17 aid station and turned out my left ankle. Oh, yes, I thought some very colorful thoughts. I continued at a jog for the next two miles but, feeling the pain in my ankle, chose the slow but smart path and powerwalked for the remaining six miles. Except for the final 0.2 miles, which I sprinted, as is my custom. Right through the finish line, high-fived a friend who was waiting there, and ran right into the first aid tent. The paramedics there sat me down, iced and elevated my foot, then handed me an ice pack for my hands. I had failed to notice that my fingers had swollen to the size of Italian sausages during the course of the run. Yes, those were my nerves at work, being overactive and sending the wrong signal to my blood vessels.I consulted with my neurologist again, who diagnosed me with Raynaud's Syndrome but noted that this was minor in light of the polyneuropathy I was experiencing. He scheduled me for a cervical MRI to see if any of this might be related to spinal-cord damage since "no possible reversible causes" had been found. Two days ago, I spent quite a bit of time in the MRI tube, because I was not only being imaged for my spinal cord but also for a bone tumor my orthopedist found in my right hip, one large enough to only leave a centimeter of healthy hip bone surrounding one side of the growth. Speaking plainly, continuing arm balances and competitive running can cause me to permanently damage the nerves in my hands, arms, and feet, while running might cause me to fracture that precious bit of healthy bone in my hip. At least, this is how I have interpreted my doctors' concerns. I will find out more when I have my MRI follow-ups with them.
If this is the case, I will truly have to rethink my approach to fitness. Running and yoga are not just exercise for me. They aren't just a means of losing weight. They're a lifestyle, yoga especially, as I have been practicing for more than 40 years. I don't intend to stop. I intend to find a way to continue somehow. The challenge has been issued, and I fully accept it.
