03/05/2026
Today I was back teaching at .yogastudios Vaughan, and realized I hadn’t taught at this location for about a year.
It brought me back to where I was last April — barely walking.
(Video: last April… and today, moving through a warmup flow)
Recurring inflammation in my left knee, an MRI, and a diagnosis of chondromalacia patella. More than a dozen specialists. No clear answers. No real plan other than take medication (maybe forever), limit movement, do some physio.
There were a lot of don’ts:
don’t squat, don’t bend, don’t lift, don’t jump, don’t run, don’t stretch too much, don’t sit too long, don’t stand too long… don’t yoga, don’t Pilates.
I did have to pause. I had to adjust.
But what followed was a deep healing journey.
Learning to move differently.
Discovering my glutes in an entirely new way.
Rebuilding strength slowly.
Remembering that what’s lost (quad muscle and strength) takes time to return.
And that we all have a responsibility to advocate for our own health.
After class today, a student said to me:
“That was hard. Classes are hard. I struggle. But I always feel better when I come and move my body.”
And that’s it.
Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes we struggle.
What matters is showing up for yourself — even if that means rest.
Moving in a way that feels right for you, each day.
Softening expectations.
Trusting the body’s capacity to heal, strengthen, expand, and grow.
Movement is medicine.
And sometimes, the movement of the breath is more than enough 💫
