I was fortunate to have a great instructor introduce me to a gentle and restorative type of yoga. She also suffers from Fibromyalgia, and through yoga has learned to find balance, energy, and productivity in her life again. Her transformation with yoga was so encouraging she eventually became a certified instructor and began paying her good fortune forward to eager students like myself.

As my love and interest for yoga peaked, I began doing research and came across a great book on yoga tailored specifically for my needs: Yoga for Fibromyalgia, by Shoosh Lettick Crotzer. And as fate, destiny, coincidence or whatever you call it would have it, the instructor who taught me to love yoga, also uses Yoga for Fibromyalgia as the foundation for the style of yoga she teaches. How serendipitous is that?!

And now I am sharing this great book with you!

Yoga for Fibromyalgia is based on the principles that “yoga’s physical practices are noncompetitive and adaptable to any individual, including those with special needs, such as fibromyalgia.” The author, Shoosh, states clearly that it is her intention to help us find ways to improve our “quality of life by reducing stress, pain, fatigue, and muscle stiffness and by getting deeper sleep.” Don’t you just love her already?

About the Author

Copyright @David Martinez

Shoosh Lettick Crotzer has been teaching yoga since 1974 and now specializes in working with students with special needs. She has a masters degree in diagnostic education. In 1994, while teaching for the National MS Society, she founded the production and distribution company Mobility Limited and wrote and produced the video Yoga for MS. In 1997 she wrote and produced Yoga for Arthritis in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation. She has given workshops and made presentations on yoga and arthritis at international rheumatology conferences.

Shoosh began her yoga training in India in the 1970s and continued with Sivananda Yoga teachers in Los Angeles. She has a background in Iyengar-style yoga and has studied with Joel Kramer, Ganga White, and Tracey Rich. Shoosh has taught yoga at universities, yoga centers, health clubs, and privately throughout the country. She is the founder and director of the nonprofit organization Enhancement, Inc., which works to improve the quality of life for breast cancer survivors. She lives in Morro Bay, California, with her husband, Colby.

Impressive resume wouldn’t you say? Upon reading Yoga for Fibromyalgia it was clear to me that Shoosh understands and is sympathetic to the unique issues we face in regards to exercise. Her tone and knowledge put me at ease and encouraged me to progress through her teachings in a way that best served my needs.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia is organized into four parts:

Part 1 – Fibromyalgia and Yoga – Includes information on Fibromyalgia, yoga, and general guidelines. This is the section where you will learn to trust Shoosh and become eager to embrace her knowledge and expertise.

Part 2 – Yoga Poses for Fibromyalgia - A detailed explanation and photographs on how to do the poses and breathing techniques, explanation of the overall benefits of the poses and breathing techniques, and a lists of any props you may need. Deirdre Carrigan models the poses in the photographs, and she too has Fibromyalgia and is a yoga teacher.

Part 3 – Practicing Yoga for Fibromyalgia – Shoosh gives guidelines to get us started such as where and when to practice. She also shares sequences of poses designed to target certain areas and to help with specific issues such as pain relief, improve sleep, reduce fatigue, and maintaining general flexibility and body awareness. (The Seated Eagle pose  on page 43 is awesome for stretching sore shoulder and upper back muscles, and I will be doing it the second I am done writing this post!)

Part 4 – Living with Fibromyalgia – Focuses on lifestyle suggestions that may help us live more comfortably and with reduced symptoms. For example: the importance of sleep, good nutrition, exercise, non-exercise movement, and psychological well-being.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia is organized so thoughtfully that depending on your needs on a particular day, you will be able to create the perfect routine – whether it be a seated beginner sequence, a sequence for upper body pain relief, a sequence to improve your sleep, or a complete maintenance sequence – you can do as much or as little as you need.

While encouraging us to get started in our practice of yoga, Shoosh is clear to remind us to take our time, understand that not all techniques are appropriate for everyone, and to listen to what our bodies tell us. She understands and acknowledges that Fibromyalgia can vary from “person to person and often from day to day” and has based her practice in this book on that foundation.

Are you ready yet to let Shoosh guide you through the restorative powers of Yoga for Fibromyalgia?

Good! Because her lovely publisher Rodmell Press has generously agreed to give one copy of Yoga for Fibromyalgia to a randomly selected commenter to this post. Just leave a comment, and on Monday April, 5 I will randomly select someone to receive a copy mailed to you directly from the publisher.

I am clearly a huge fan of Yoga for Fibromyalgia. Since returning to work I have been unable to attend the daily yoga classes that once fit so nicely into my schedule. I have also been traveling and dealing with the stiffness and fatigue of 5 hour plane rides. Without many of the poses and sequences in this book, I am certain I would not be fairing so well.

Yoga is peace

Yoga is strength

Yoga is flexibility

Yoga is restorative

Yoga is life

The National Fibromyalgia Association is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people with Fibromyalgia. Their website has been a great resource for me as an FM patient, advocate, and support group leader. The NFA is focused on creating programs dedicated to spreading Fibromyalgia Awareness, like the Fibro Focus events that took place last year, which my support group was fortunate to participate in.

The NFA truly is the leading authority on Fibromyalgia, so when they asked me to help spread the word about the free online version of Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine, I was more than happy to help.

Fibromyalgia AWARE Magazine

Published by the National Fibromyalgia Association, Fibromyalgia AWARE is the first and only consumer magazine dedicated to the subject of fibromyalgia.

The comprehensive publication offers straightforward, insightful information and support. This reliable resource will help to improve the quality of life for people affected by fibromyalgia. The magazine includes:

• The latest news in research
• Helpful information on general health and well-being
• A balanced approach to treatment options
• Lifestyle and self-management techniques

As a non-profit organization, the NFA relies on purchases of the print version of the magazine to help them continue their mission. But now they are offering a free online version to reach and help as many people as possible.

Now we all have free access to the great stories and editorial produced in each quarterly issue. For example, here is a small sample of what you can find in the Winter 2009/10 issue of Fibromyalgia AWARE:

• Making the Invisible Visible: The Science Behind Fibromyalgia
• How to LIve a Balanced Life: Lessons from Practice of Tai Chi
• Your Best Night’s Sleep: Tips to Get the Rest You Need
• Making the Right Online Connections

There is even a special section dedicated to Disability – determining if it is right for you, dealing with the myths and landmines.

So there you have it. Quality information from a quality organization. Bravo to the NFA for creating this free online version and making this valuable information more accessible. I am happy to support their efforts and get the word out to all of you.

If you haven’t already, click on the link above to the Winter issue and get your free copy. Happy reading!

I was surfing around through my old posts, looking for an appropriate one to share, and I came across this post I originally published October 13, 2008, the same month I began my blog.

Selflessly Selfish

I struggle every day with who I am. I am different because of the Fibromyalgia. I am not the independent, fiercely productive person I once was.

Every morning I envy (but am grateful for) my husband and his ability to jump out of bed, hop into the shower, and rush out the door on his way to a destination where he knows his purpose and is able to perform at a high level. I lie in bed with muscle soreness, a dizzy head and complete exhaustion and wonder, “how am I going to contribute today?”

And it is not simply how am I going to contribute to my house and my husband, but how am I going to contribute to my physical and emotional wellbeing, and how am I going to contribute to the world around me.

Sometimes it is the smallest things I do that contribute the most and make me feel the best. I dry my hands on a dishtowel rather than a paper towel. Yippee! I just saved a tree. I pick up the wrapper from a straw that a fellow patron at the coffee shop has let the wind take away. She doesn’t know it, but I do and it makes me feel good.

There are days when I let the wrapper blow away. Days when I tell myself I am in too much pain to bother, but I never feel good about those moments. I always feel that I have given up or given in to the Fibromyalgia. If too many of those moments build up I get depressed, and then it becomes even harder to live productively with FM.

That is the point I am trying to make. I struggle to be a better person for myself. To be someone that, in spite of all that is different in my life, I still feel useful and productive, and that in very small ways I am contributing to my world. By trying to be conscientious and selfless I am being selfish, because I am the one who benefits the most.  And the small things add up.  They really do make a difference.

So what did I do that was so great today? Nothing so far, but the day is not over. I still have time.

Wow! Rereading this post really took me back. It really made me take a moment and reflect on how much has changed in the 18 months since I began this blog.

And that is what I want you to know about me: I have changed. I am different. I am improved.

I am no longer at the mercy of Fibromyalgia. I am a participant in my health, not an onlooker. And I got here by making many small changes:

I created a community, starting with this blog, which brought people like Kathy into my life. I began sharing more and worring less because I have a greater support foundation to rely on.

I began doing research and filtering the abundance of information on Fibromyalgia to determine what fit best for me. I determined a holistic approach was more appropriate for me than the pharmaceutical approach taken by most doctors.

I added supplements to my daily care.

I began practicing yoga and cut gluten out of my diet. Through research, trial, and error (and believe me there were years of error) I found what works for me and my health.

I slowed down…… and took many baby steps to avoid making those painful leaps.

This has been a true journey, and I am so grateful for how far I have come. It was not without work, setbacks, and a lot of effort. But the foundation for my change came from the belief that I could improve, and that it was up to me to figure out how.

I am still frequently tired and dizzy in the mornings. I still have daily symptoms. I am not always able to contribute. But my progress is discernible.

I hope this encourages you. I hope you are able to look closely at your daily habits and routines, and distinguish what nourishes you from what holds you back. There are many components to Fibromyalgia we cannot control. Take a look at what you can, and honor yourself by making the best choices for your particular situation. You can change. You can improve. Believe it!

How do you filter all this information?

Who do you believe?

Where do you go for your expert advice?

Fibromyalgia has slowly become current. And by that I mean with FDA approval of drugs to treat FM, and with the marketing that comes along with it – to us via media, and to health practitioners via free samples and kick backs – Fibromyalgia is visible. So of course every health expert and health blog must have something to say on it or they are not being current. This benefits us in a lot of ways, but it also creates a problem of authority.

Who do you trust?

Who do you believe?

I recently received an email asking me about a current book on Fibromyalgia. Is it authentic? Is it worth the read? Is the author simply looking to cash in on the newest hot topic?

Having not read the book myself I could easily have said “sorry I have not read it” and moved on, but by creating this blog I have positioned myself as a type of authority on Fibromyalgia (and I believe patient experts are the best experts), so I shared with her my general opinion on all Fibromyalgia related information out there:

Knowledge is power. If you are interested enough from researching the book, I say get it and read it. It may turn out that you disagree with the authors findings/opinions on FM, but it can often be just as helpful to read literature we disagree with, as it is to read a tried and true information source.

But be a savvy reader. Blind faith, blind trust in “authority” is just scary. Especially in this age of the web when anyone can write and publish an article, and call themselves an expert. A healthy amount of skepticism is good. Trust yourself first, and then take away from your research the things that serve you best. I have had several people tell me that yoga sucks! I disagree, but I leave it at that. It is not up to me to convince them otherwise. Because truly, the only thing I am an authority on is my daily battle with Fibromyalgia. Keep this in mind when reading all the “expert” advice out there; you are your own best authority.

And the sign said everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all,
I didn’t have a penny to pay, so I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
I said thank you Lord for thinking about me, I’m alive and doing fine ~ Five Man Electrical Band

First let me start by saying I am thrilled to be working again. Thrilled that my body is cooperating for the most part. Thrilled to be out in the world, making connections, networking, and feeling like a productive person again. Is it horrible that my self worth is so closely tied to my ability to make a paycheck?

All my work on FibroHaven was satisfying emotionally and spiritually, but never financially. I LIKE MONEY! I like the freedom it brings. I like contributing to my household again. I like seeing a light at the end of our Debt Highway.

That being said, I have missed FibroHaven – missed my blog and facebook community, missed tweeting with the FM community on Twitter, missed the local members of my support group and our therapeutic meetings. It has all been neglected.

I think we all clearly understand about how hard it is to find balance living daily with chronic illness. It is always a matter of “If I do this, I know I will not be able to do that.” Prioritizing, making sacrifices, coming to terms with limitations, and on and on. Living well becomes a matter of balancing options and making smart choices.

I can tell you the smart choices I have been making for the better part of a year are really paying off now. I completely contribute my ability to work to the elimination of gluten from my diet and to my practicing yoga. My body has responded and rewards me every day. Even on bad days, I recover more quickly and have new tools – breathing exercises, stretching, etc. – to help me through.

But my heart is still in FibroHaven. So now it is up to me to find the balance. I know I can. I know I will.

And breathe…

Throughout your life there’s a voice that only you can hear. It’s a call to the true value of your life – a call to make a difference that only you can make. If you never hear it, something magical will be lost. But if you hear it and heed it, then your life will become a wonderful romance and adventure. Now is the time. Jump in. Make a splash. Change the world.

Romance, adventure, a magical life – isn’t that what we all want? What we all hope to achieve? My voice is telling me I am not currently on that path, but that is okay, because I can hear my voice, and I trust it to guide me back. I trust me. I trust my journey, with all its offshoots and distractions. Today my splash is little, a ripple really, but I am building up momentum for a giant cannonball.

What is your voice telling you? Are you ready for a little romance and adventure?

I’ve been asked this question a lot since returning to work. What did you do before this? It is an interesting question and I don’t think I have decided how to answer it yet.

Do I tell them about the accident that brought my life to a screeching hault? Do I tell them about the months spent struggling to regain my ability to speak coherently? Do I tell them about the pain, the bouts of depression, the fatigue, and general disconnect from life? Do I tell them about starting this blog? Do I tell them how I was so inspired by this blog I started FibroHaven Foundation?

No, I don’t think I should. Essentially what they are asking me is how are you qualified to be in this position? What have you done in your past to allow you to do what you are doing in your present? They want to know what I have done, not what I have been through.

I had many successful years working with Fibromyalgia before the accident. I am plenty qualified. But I am also concerned about how my illness may be perceived. It is something we have discussed at support group meetings in the past. Do you tell your employer/prospective employer that you are living with a chronic illness? If ever there was a slippery slope…

My current employer knows all about FibroHaven and seems completely unphased by it. He is actually quite impressed with what I have accomplished. But early on in my job search I am certain I was not chosen for a position because my potential employer read my blog. He basically patted me on the back and said “You are doing great things with FibroHaven. Keep it up.” This came shortly after he mentioned he has two close relatives with Fibromyalgia. Do you think his experience with them prejudiced his value of me? I do.

So how much do I share? I am not sure. The only thing I am certain of is that I do not want my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to influence what my colleagues think I am capable of doing. I want my actions to determine my value, not my diagnosis.

I am thankful for my smart, funny and charming husband. I am thankful for the years he selflessly held us together while never making me feel inadequate. I am thankful for his companionship, his commitment to our partnership, and his unending loyalty, support, and love.

I am thankful for my parents. For all the words of wisdom and encouragement when I need them most. For instilling in me the belief that there is nothing I can’t do. For loving me unconditionally. For letting me find my own way, but always being there for me when I need them.

I am thankful for my sis. For checking in on me nearly every day to see how I am doing – regardless of what is going on in her life. I am thankful that she loves me completely without expecting anything in return. I am thankful for our sister lunches and the quality time we spend together.

I am thankful for all my family – My Granny, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and for the family I married into. I scored with my in-laws! I understand how fortunate I am to have such a loving extended family, and I am very thankful for each and every one of them.

I am thankful for my friends – old & new. My friends who know me sometimes better than my family. My friends who love and support me regardless of what I am able to contribute to our friendship. My friends who understand when I need to cancel a lunch date or head home early from an evening out. I am thankful for my awesome friends!

I am thankful for my new job, and for my new boss for seeing in me the potential to shine in his company, and for giving me the tools to do so. I am going to be a rockstar!

I am thankful for my Casey girl. I miss her so much this Thanksgiving. The first one without her in 14 years. I will miss her big soulful brown eyes pleading with me to share some Thanksgiving dinner. I will miss the way she greets all of our guests with joyful abandon. I will miss the gentle way she had with my Granny. I will miss the sound of her snoring after a long day of socializing with family. I miss her a lot – and am so thankful for the years we had together.

I am thankful for our current crazy critters – all four of them – and their unique and joyful personalities. Life is not dull around here.

I am thankful for the warm cup of coffee I am currently sipping, the fuzzy slippers on my feet, the blue sky out my window, and the waves crashing on the beach just down the street.

I am thankful for the potential of today and the promise of tomorrow.

I am thankful for the swirl of words in my head, and for my cold but nimble fingers that eagerly guide them to this page.

I am thankful for this page, and the many other pages that make up my blog. I am thankful for FibroHaven, in all its components.

And I am thankful for you! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It is a greater honor to me than you will ever know. Thank you if you have ever left a comment. Thank you if we have connected on twitter or facebook. Thank you for allowing my voice into your life.

Finally, I am thankful for everything that has happened in my life to lead me exactly where I am today – full of potential and promise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

After my first week I am feeling pretty good. I am back in sales. It is what I know and what I have done well for many years. I am really excited about the company I am with now. Very smart, professional internet marketing firm. Great potential for me as long as I do the work and maintain my health. And that is exactly what I plan to do.

I think what I am most concerned about is maintaining balance in my life. For example, I did not make it to yoga this week. My body is letting me know loud and clear that I need to get to a class soon. I have a lot of motivation to make that happen.

I didn’t realize how much I missed being a working professional. I love getting dressed up, getting motivated during sales meetings, going out and meeting with clients and strategizing with them on business opportunities. It is a completely different kind of satisfaction than the satisfaction I have experienced with FibroHaven – plus I get paid for it! Bonus!

I know I am in the honeymoon period with my new career. I know there will be days when I will feel awful and either have to push through it or take the time to recover. But it feels great to contribute again, and it feels even better to know that I did the work to prepare myself to go back to work. I made the changes and the choices that I knew would benefit me. I made the commitment to myself to take back a measurable amount of control of my health and my life.

When I signed on with my new company, I did so as a long-term commitment. But FibroHaven is my long-term commitment too. I plan to document my progress here, sharing what is working and what is not. Discecting what I can do better, and continuing to explore the many alternative and holistic options for better health and wellbeing. I am putting different stresses on my body now, so I may require different tools – like acupuncture. I have always believed I would benefit from acupuncture but could never afford it. Now maybe I can. It is like investing in a good business suit. Neccessary!

So yes, the tone here will be changing – but the voice will remain the same – all me. I will have some big decisions to make about my support group too. That may be a commitment I cannot continue, but there is time to figure that out. I have time. I have options. I have hope.

I saw this great quote on facebook the other day and I put it in my status:

I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door – or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present. ~ Rabindranath Tagore

There is always a door. One way or another, there is always a door.

All the things that make me a spirited chef, make me a horrible baker. I simply have no tolerance for carefully measured preciseness. I learned long ago that baking is not my forte, and I avoid it accordingly.

That being said, I recently discovered the easiest and most delicious Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie recipe that even this girl can master. Simple, simple, simple!

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter, any kind
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350º. Prepare pans: line with aluminum foil or parchment paper, or oil generously.
• Put all ingredients into food processor and pulse until well blended. Or mix thoroughly by hand.
• Make dough into (about) 36 evenly sized balls. Arrange balls on prepared pans leaving an inch or so between them. Add chocolate chips, if using, lightly pressing one or two into the top of cookie.
• Bake until they flatten out a bit and start to brown – 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven and leave on sheet for several minutes, until they begin to firm up, then carefully remove to cooling rack

Yum, yum, yum!

But this adventure chef could not leave well enough alone!

Gluten free cookies are great, but I wanted sugar free as well (link between sugar consumption and chronic pain), so I substituted 3/4 cup Agave Nectar for 1 cup sugar (adding the chocolate chips adds sugar, so leave them off if you want sugar free cookies). To compensate for substituting a liquid for a dry ingredient, I added 1 tablespoon of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Flour.

The result was a moist, chewy, peanut buttery delight! I baked the cookies Friday evening to take to a Halloween party on Saturday. The cookies were a big hit! If I had not told them they were gluten and sugar free, I doubt anyone would have known.

Cookie Disclaimer

Just because something is gluten and sugar free does not mean that it is nutritionally good for you. But this is the time of year we all know we are going to indulge a little. So if we are not always going to make the best possible choices, we can at least minimize some of the indulgence. And with this recipe, you won’t even realize you are making a sacrifice.