Student Spotlight
What Yoga Means to Me by Ryan Henry
2 years ago my youngest son Daniel had a very serious illness called HSP. We were in and out of hospital for about 6 weeks. His immune system had broken down, every part of his body swelled up beyond your wildest nightmare, he had a horrific rash all over him and couldn't walk. I literally had to carefully pick him up and carry him everywhere he was in so much pain. It was just heart breaking and as his Dad I found it extremely difficult to cope with. The lowest point was one Sunday night when the doctors in Lincoln were so worried about him they had him blue lighted in an ambulance to Sheffield just in case an emergency operation was needed. There was every chance he was going to have kidney damage for the rest of his life. Thank goodness that over time he beat this horrible illness and has made a full recovery.
I will NEVER forget the feelings I experienced during that period and I often think about "what could have been". The only thing that kept me going during this period (believe it or not) was running. I think it was because it was time to let out the fear and frustration inside me, time to be alone, time (as the Dad of the family) to get myself together.
I kept my running going and over the next 18 months and I competed in 5 half marathons. The only trouble was that I kept turning up to the events injured and could never do the race justice......my training deserved so much more.
I began to do some research and everything I read kept mentioning yoga. I dismissed it at first as "yoga?....no not for me" but for some reason eventually I thought "why not". That led me to finding and meeting Grace. I instantly felt at ease with her. I found it quite scary walking into a room full of all yoga enthusiasts but Grace made me feel at home straight away. I knew from the first class it was for me. I love the way it gets you to understand not only your body but also your mind in certain situations and to say it's helped me with my running is the biggest understatement ever. The strength in my legs and my core has improved unbelievably, plus my balance and flexibility I now have is making a massive difference. The biggest surprise for me though is how using the ujjayi breath can control how you get through those "intense" moments. I was doing this while running up Yarborough Hill a few months ago and I didn't even realise.
I really don't want to tempt fate but I haven't been you know what (rhymes with hinjured) for about 6 months now. Yoga has done that for me I have absolutely no doubt.
It's must be fate though discovering yoga which has in turn changed my running because I recently got accepted by the "kids kidney research charity" (the very charity we would have needed if Daniel hadn't got better) to run for them in this year's London marathon! I am already deep into my training which includes running, cycling and yoga (thanks to Grace for the amazing classes) and its going......well again I don't want to tempt fate....so all I'll say for now is so far so good. I'm feeling strong and I need to help the families that weren't as lucky as mine. This is my motivation and with everyone's support I know I can do it. I always say to people "fight and believe" well it's time for me to do just that.
I need to raise a certain amount of money so if you want to sponsor me (and I'd be so massively grateful if you do) my just giving page is;
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RyanHenry1
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