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About a year and a half ago, after experiencing some bizarre symptoms, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Up until this point, I had no clue what MS was, what it did or how it really affected those afflicted by it. After hours of research, I started to understand my new condition and learn the limits it would place on my life. As of today, it limits my life very little; however, one area that had to completely change was my ability, rather inability, to deal with stress. When I first realized stress had an extremely adverse effect on those suffering from MS, I considered myself as good as dead. I have always been a stress case and unable to remain cool and calm under pressure. In 7th grade, I spent the better part of a week throwing up and doubling over with intense stomach pain. After a few days, and fearing appendacitis, my mom took me to our GP. After running a few tests and talking to me, my doctor concluded that my condition was brought on by stress, induced by exams. Now seriously, what normal 7th grader stresses themselves into a fit over exams?

Needless to say, finding out that stress is a trigger for relapses in MS caused me to reevaluate my life and reprioritize. So, I started researching stress relief methods. Naturally, yoga continuously popped up as a great way to combat stress and assuage MS-induced leg stiffness and spasticity.

About two weeks after discovering this information, I enrolled in my first yoga class. From the get-go I loved it. The poses energized me, while also helping me stretch my stiff calves and ankles. The atmosphere calmed me, and allowed me to spend a solid 75 minutes, three times a week, clearing my head and banishing all stress to the furthest corner of my mind. I quickly began to notice an increase in strength, which is very important for MS sufferers. I became immediately addicted to the invigorating effects it brought on. No matter how exhausted I was before class, I was left with a skip in my step and a new lease on life.

Over a year later, I am still addicted and currently working to become a certified instructor. It provides a stimulating and hard work-out, but forces me to relax, focus on my breathing and relinquish worries from the outside world. Each posture provides my body with different, but equally important, benefits. Whether it’s a deep stretch in my calf, or a back-bend that opens my lungs and increases my circulation, I always walk away feeling that was time well-spent.

With MS, the nervous system is greatly affected. One thing to consider is the fact that this system carries a great deal of weight over the body as a whole. After all, two of the three components are the brain and the spinal cord.

Yoga is diverse enough to offer something for everyone. Numbness, stiffness, pain or even partial paralysis, there are numerous postures that can help to assuage those symptoms or keep other, unaffected areas strong, healthy and active.

I received my diagnosis at the age of 24. At the time, my biggest fear was that MS would limit my activity level, therefore limiting my life. I now realize that this does not have to be the case. It does not merely provide a superficial, temporary Band-Aid effect. It teaches you concepts and techniques that can help maintain long-lasting health, mentally and physically. If nothing else, try it out for the meditation techniques. I believe meditation should be a required practice for those of us suffering from this insipid little disease. After all, if stress isn’t getting to you, then depression probably will. So counter these symptoms and allow yourself to lead the fullest life possible.