In 2015, I was struggling; I was constantly tired, achy, foggy and moody. After months of doctors’ appointments, tests and dead-ends, I was finally diagnosed with Coeliac Disease.
Coeliac Disease was an auto-immune condition that was lying dormant in my body. But I was told it had come to the surface because of excessive stress. My body decided it couldn’t deal with the level of stress of I was experiencing, so it started to fight back.
What is Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac Disease occurs when the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats, and causes damage to the bowel as well as chronic inflammation in other parts of the body.
Stress can exacerbate Coeliac Disease and late diagnosis in women (around mid to late thirties) is common.
So what does this have to do with yoga?
When I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, I needed a way to keep fit while I gave my body the space and time it needed to heal. I also needed a way to manage the relentless bouts of chronic fatigue that Coeliac Disease is associated with.
For my birthday, I was given a beginners’ trial membership to my local yoga studio. “Yes!” I thought. “This should help!” However, I remember my first class being difficult because my body was still in pain from the inflammation; my joints, hands and feet were sore. Still, I began yoga gently.
Yoga was a part of my life before Coeliac Disease…
I regularly practised yoga during my early-late 20’s and occasional meditation classes while I was in high school. My practice ended as an adult when another local studio closed.
When I was practising yoga, I remember reaping the benefits – calmness, better fitness levels and a more supple body.
Back to that first class…
I spent much of that first 75-minute class in resting pose. I made my way through as many poses as I could and I remember being quite clumsy and unbalanced. I tried to keep up as best as I could, despite feeling a little breathless. On a positive note, I was feeling brighter in my mind. The brain fog was lifting; a promising start!
I eventually switched to comfy yoga clothes
I didn’t realise it at first, but I needed a set of yoga wear that helped me get into yoga poses more easily. Track-pants weren’t cutting it.
Luckily, my husband noticed my dilemma and he bought me my first set of Boody leggings, bra and singlet. I remember them being so soft, comfortable, gentle and supportive, especially during those earlier months when I was trying to manage joint pain.
Once I started wearing them, I felt more freedom to move. I could achieve longer, deeper stretches and my body was starting to feel longer with each class. I was finally able to work with my body, and any limitations I was experiencing. This has been the biggest lesson for me – work within your limits but don’t let them limit you.
What else has yoga taught me?
I have learned so much more since my Coeliac Disease diagnosis and re-establishing my yoga practice. Yoga has also taught me to join my breath to my body. My body is not always in the same state day-by-day, and I need to accept that my body will not always do what I want it to do. On those days, doing my best is enough. Compassion wins every time.
I realised that I no longer need to push for perfection and perfection is an unachievable illusion. Pushing for perfection only causes my body into chronic stress and that’s no use to anyone!
I’ve been grateful for my most recent yoga journey and Boody has been my travel buddy along the way ever since. Taking the slow and steady path means I can help my body manage my auto-immune disease. Yes, it does feel like a tortoise effort but slow and steady wins out for me in the end.
Boody is a B Certified clothing brand that is PeTA-approved vegan. The brand uses organically-grown bamboo to make its clothing range for comfort, sustainability and health.
To get 15% off your entire Boody order, use the discount code FIREANDTEA15 and place your order via this link. Discount offer is limited to one use per customer.
Justine de Jonge of Fire & Tea is a part of the Boody Storyteller Community. Clothing items that feature in the photos in this blog post were gifted to Justine by Boody.
The health themes discussed in this blog post are Justine’s experiences only and should not be used as health advice. Seek medical attention from a registered practitioner as needed.
