I began my return to yoga after several years off due to multiple injuries. In 2020 was diagnosed with a degenerative hip joint that had begun to collapse, and a spinal cord injury at C4-C7 that left my right arm and hand without 80-85% function and range of motion. Being right arm dominant, I’ve was and have been unable to do basic tasks as simple as shaking hands with someone. In addition, I was also diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. Effectively my abilities to walk, talk, and use my dominant arm/hand were dramatically impacted.

I have been an athlete my entire life. Soccer, basketball, baseball, distance running, triathlons and marathons into my early 40s. I found yoga in 2000, and it very quickly became an integral part of my life. However, in 2016-17 I started having hip issues, and my practice fell off. The pain and restrictions that came along with it were too much. Fast forwarding to 2022 and after having a hip replacement, I was able to begin looking at options to restore my body to health.

Having relocated to St. Louis, I was searching for someone who had experience teaching students individually with many types of injuries. Fortunately, I was able to locate, and reach out to Christy at Yoga DeMun. I immediately felt very encouraged and excited after having initial conversations. We scheduled the first session. At that time, I had a new hip replacement, and was dealing with the lack of use in my right arm.

Christy provided exceptional guidance and instruction right from the get go. I was able to set new intentions again, and following her guidance, begin the slow, difficult process of re-engaging with my body, mind and spirit.

We worked together for several months, as I was concurrently doing physical therapy, in the hopes there would be some recovery in the arm/shoulder.

With each passing day, little by little at first, I began to feel the pains in my joints fading, my muscles waking up, and my spirit responding. As the weeks passed, I sensed considerable improvements.

I was then able to increase my workload and attend hot yoga classes. After the physical therapy did not yield the recovery results, I was hoping for, I opted for surgery. An ACDF 3 - Level Spinal Fusion. Yes, it was very scary to be staring at that one down. In preparation, and only after having started with Christy and following her guidance of essential principles of her yoga teaching, was I able to take 95 hot yoga classes leading up to my surgery.

I arrived in excellent shape, and thankfully the surgery went well.

It was a true gift to have met Christy and worked with her, and could not recommend her as teacher and guide enough! She is extremely knowledgeable, inspiring, and kind.

I am now practicing hot yoga almost daily, having completed 150 classes in the last year!

Sincerely and in a new light,

Matthew Cahan, Nov, 2024