Garth McLean - Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis

Yoga and
Multiple Sclerosis

A Practical Guide for People
with MS and Yoga Teachers

GARTH MCLEAN

Foreword by Hart C.M. Cohen, MD, FRCPC

The opinions and perceptions contained in this book are mine. As a person with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, the information I present is based on my personal experience with managing the condition through the discipline of yoga presented to me by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar. I am not a medical professional, nor am I an academic. I am a student of yoga. I am a curious man who through the daily practice of Iyengar yoga has dealt with and navigated a range of frightening symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis since being diagnosed with the disease in 1996. I offer my personal experience and understanding in the pages that follow, as many people have asked me to do so. What I present is for those who are self-ambulatory and is in no way meant to limit ones experience or the range, scope and approach for persons living with MS. I refer to smarter people than me in the following pages, people whose knowledge has served to guide and inform me along my path. Common sense dictates that prior to commencing any yoga or exercise program, you should seek the advice of your health care provider. It needs to be stated that yoga is not a cure for MS. The information presented herein is for reference and should not be considered as a replacement for expert medical advice. What also needs to be stated is that to the extent permissible by law, Garth McLean, B.K.S. Iyengar, Geeta S. Iyengar, the estates of B.K.S. and Geeta S. Iyengar, Jessica Kingsley Publishers and any of their respective agents, representatives, employees, heirs or assigns, collectively and/or individually, hereby disclaim any liability for any injuries incurred as a result of the information contained herein.

During my 33 years as a neurologist, I have had the pleasure of caring for a wide variety of patients with an equally wide variety of symptoms and conditions. Many of my patients have multiple sclerosis (MS), and in addition to discussing all of the latest available allopathic treatment options with them, I encourage each of them to remain active and engage in physical activity in order to maintain optimal mobility and functionality.

I met Garth McLean in 2001 when he became my patient. You might think that he and I would be unlikely collaborators, being that I am a student of the art and science of medicine, and Garth is a student of the art and science of yoga; just the opposite is true. We have genuine respect for each others perspective and expertise. Witnessing Garths successful use of Iyengar yoga to manage his symptoms during the course of his MS has been both compelling and inspiring. I have seen how his practice of yoga has built his strength, kept him mobile, and even slowed the progression of physical problems during the course of the disease.

Yoga and mindfulness have been recognized, not just by me, but also by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as effective tools for managing this condition. It has been demonstrated that stress may exacerbate the symptoms of MS. It seems that yoga, in addition to bolstering physical strength and nerve function, also reduces stress and enhances the practitioners sense of well-being. One could argue that such benefits would be welcomed by everyonewith or without MS.

The Iyengar yoga system is well known for the use of various props, which provide support and a safe way to practice the poses for students with any sort of challenge, and are an integral part of the comprehensive training of certified teachers. I have seen, through Garth, that Iyengar yoga teaches actions that are necessary to maintain balance and overall functionality. As a result, I do not hesitate to recommend Iyengar yoga to my patients.

Garths dedication to his health, his yoga practice and his students is impressive. His willingness to write this book and share his experience and strategies so that others may follow his lead is exemplary.

I wish all of you the very best of health.

Sincerely,

Hart C.M. Cohen, MD, FRCPC

It was a hot day in May 1996 when I finally made the call. I had gone numb from head to toe and could no longer feel my body. I was tripping over my feet as I tried to walk. Lifting my right foot was literally a drag. I couldnt control my fingers to use a pen to write my name or button my jeans. Sensations of hot and cold were non-existent. I had to use one hand to guide the other for routine tasks like eating, shaving, changing the radio station in the car.