Ann-Marie's Guestbook

Hello Anne-Marie, I was wondering how you are doing after surgery on Friday? I am doing well taking one day at a time and should be discharged today. They want me to hang around Cleveland until I have appointments on Thursday morning then we can head back home to New York. Thinking of you and praying all went well.

Wishing you success in your surgery. It sounds like you have had a journey to this point. The congestive heart failure isn't fun and can fully relate to your experience. I look forward to hearing about your recovery. Will be thinking of you.

Hi Annie & thank you. I can so relate to the shock you felt with that diagnosis just after completing your teacher training. My diagnosis in early 2010 was also a shock & not that long after I started teaching (2008). It went from me thinking I was pretty darn healthy to disbelief that something could be this wrong with my heart. The universe had other plans it seems. That said, my life 8 months after my last surgery has been back to normal for a while now so I think you can expect that for yourself as well. You do have to be patient for the first several weeks & even months, but you’re a yogi & know how to do that, right? I like what you said about yoga movement being like breathing. So true. As for your questions on asana, my surgeon specifically wanted me to avoid putting my arms high overhead for the sternal precaution period which was 12 weeks. Yes, I lifted my arms, just not that high. He was concerned with the sternal wires staying put with good reason. On forward folds (from standing) I just made a point of not bending as deeply. Same with triangle – I did it, but did not move as far into the pose as I may have before surgery. All of that was back to my normal at 12 weeks. I practiced yoga nidra for the first month after the surgery (so helpful for the sleep difficulties that come along with this process), then began to ease back into movement. Cardiac rehab started about 5 weeks after surgery. Yoga-wise, I started with the joint-freeing series at about 6 weeks post-surgery & I’d say my movement was fluid then. Once I was able to lie on my side (also at about 6 weeks, with my surgeon’s ok), I included some hip strengthening movement from Robin Rothenberg’s Essential Low Back yoga program, a personal choice as my hips are a trouble spot & need the maintenance. So, you get the idea – feel your way through carefully & rely on your surgeon for advice. Please let me know if I can be of any help, either here or you can e-mail me directly at yogaessence1@yahoo.com. I'm also glad to see another yoga instructor here - thank you for contacting me & I hope we can stay in touch. We can talk hearts or yoga - what could be better? I wish you the very best with your valve repairs & look forward to reading your updates. You will find much support on this site. Namaste’. Joy