Itinerario for Jimmy y Susana's trip:
June 23 – July 1 = San Francisco with brother Mathews
July 1 – 2 = Travel by train to Colorado with friend Elizabeth
July 2 – July 24 = Colorado with Parents Tom and Judy, and brother Richard
July 24 – July 27/28 = Drive to North Carolina with parents
July 27/28 – August 4 = North Carolina with brother Patrick
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
My knee surgery
Last week I went to see Dr Blandon with Jimmy to make the final plans for my knee surgery that will occur on August 7th at 7:00am. It will be a day surgery and it will be an arthoscopic procedure. The diagnosis is "Condronalosis." It will cost $1550 without insurance, with a deposit of $700 on the day of the surgery. Included in this price was my appt last night and three follow-up sessions. Dr Blandon will work with his partner and three other nurses, along with an anesthesiologist. The anestheiologist will put a shot in my spine to put my legs to sleep. I will be awake and observational for the surgery and it should last 40 minutes, with an approximate hospital recovery time of 1 hour. I will not wear a brace or need to walk with crutches. Dr Blandon said I will be bedrested for 2 days and then I will need to start physical therapy at my gym intensly. He believes I could be running within 2 weeks of the surgery, if all goes well. Dr Blandon and his partner and very confident this planned surgery will help me and they truely feel this is the best option for my knee.
Dr Blandon believes my pain is being caused by my loose tendon. My kneecap is extremely loose and it floats on top of my knee, so he wants to fix the tendon and tighten up my kneecap. He hopes to repair the hole on the outside of my knee and realign my kneecap, thus there is a definate plan and it is not exploratory. He thinks this will help my knee by making my tendon funcional again. There will be no involvement of the ligaments, cartilage, bones or the bursa sack. He does not predict any nerve damange or loss of skin sensation. Dr Blandon says this is a very low risk surgery and there is an extremely small chance of infection. There should be little pain afterwards, and no major medication will be needed. I will need to ice my knee regularly and I will be able to shower normally, making sure to wash my entire leg really well all the time. After the surgery, I should be better.
Until then, live normally and try to really build up my left leg muscles to prevent major atrophy. I have faith that Dr Blandon and his partner will make me better. I am tranquila and hopeful.
Thank you for your support, encouragement and love! I want to give special thanks to Jimmy for his unconditional dedication to helping me with my knee situation. And to my brother Patrick & my momma for helping me create a question list for the doctor. And to my dad for helping me with logistical matters. Gracias!
Dr Blandon believes my pain is being caused by my loose tendon. My kneecap is extremely loose and it floats on top of my knee, so he wants to fix the tendon and tighten up my kneecap. He hopes to repair the hole on the outside of my knee and realign my kneecap, thus there is a definate plan and it is not exploratory. He thinks this will help my knee by making my tendon funcional again. There will be no involvement of the ligaments, cartilage, bones or the bursa sack. He does not predict any nerve damange or loss of skin sensation. Dr Blandon says this is a very low risk surgery and there is an extremely small chance of infection. There should be little pain afterwards, and no major medication will be needed. I will need to ice my knee regularly and I will be able to shower normally, making sure to wash my entire leg really well all the time. After the surgery, I should be better.
Until then, live normally and try to really build up my left leg muscles to prevent major atrophy. I have faith that Dr Blandon and his partner will make me better. I am tranquila and hopeful.
Thank you for your support, encouragement and love! I want to give special thanks to Jimmy for his unconditional dedication to helping me with my knee situation. And to my brother Patrick & my momma for helping me create a question list for the doctor. And to my dad for helping me with logistical matters. Gracias!
Monday, May 29, 2006
One of my biggest personal challenges in Costa Rica
This weekend I took on a challenge that not only changed my yoga career, but it also changed the lives of many other people. I taught a yoga class to 11 men on Saturday at my gym and it was the most amazing experience for everyone involved.
There seems to be a taboo about men doing yoga in Costa Rica, because it is thought of as a woman's activity. Thus, I feel this breakthrough "men only" class broke that traditional belief and opened those men's minds to a genuine respect for yoga.
Every single man that came was a serious weight lifter. Most of them were the gym instructors. It was incredible to see those thick men trying to stetch and calm their minds through breath control.
Jimmy even came and he gave the me most helpful constructive feedback after the class about my teaching methods and my Spanish. He was the most advanced, flexible and composed student in the class. The other students looked to him as an example.
I gave an intense class to those 11 men, flowing quickly through a wide variety of postures. By the second posture, most of them were shaking and already sweating heavily. I gave them the hardest class I thought they could handle and even offered them some of the advanced poses to try, so they could see that muscle strength does not allow them to do anything. Through fast sequences, they experiences a bit of cardio and breathing techniques. Through balancing poses, they understood the concept of focusing. Through flexibility poses, they rediscovered many forgotten muscle groups. Through relaxation poses, they learned about meditation.
The class was a total success. Afterwards they all looked at me with a different gleam in their eye and they clapped their hands strongly in a directed applause to me. Most of them came up to me after class to tell me about their reflections and share their experiences, and I listened to their personal transformations with a huge smile of ackomplishment. I was inspired by them, because I showed them the power of yoga and they realized the instensity of yoga. Many of them want to have more classes and all of the gym instructors want to send their trainies to my classes.
Awhile after the class, I talked to the owner of the gym and she said all of the men had told her the highest praises about my class. She offered my congratulations and opened up her gym to my disposal to give as many yoga classes as I want. The owner expressed her strong desire for me to give more yoga classes because she realizes how extrodinadory they are for everyone who attends them, both on a physical and spiritual level.
I think that class was a landmark in my yoga teacher carrer because I opened up yoga to a new clientel and because I learned so much from those male students. I learned how to challenge them, while at the same time offering compassion so they actully would listen to their body. I learned how to direct them in meditation, being that it was the first time for most of them. I learned how to relate yoga postures to weight lifting and spinning classes. I learned how to stretch the little muscle groups that are often overlooked by many gym members. I learned to look for the student's needs and respond.
Hurray!
There seems to be a taboo about men doing yoga in Costa Rica, because it is thought of as a woman's activity. Thus, I feel this breakthrough "men only" class broke that traditional belief and opened those men's minds to a genuine respect for yoga.
Every single man that came was a serious weight lifter. Most of them were the gym instructors. It was incredible to see those thick men trying to stetch and calm their minds through breath control.
Jimmy even came and he gave the me most helpful constructive feedback after the class about my teaching methods and my Spanish. He was the most advanced, flexible and composed student in the class. The other students looked to him as an example.
I gave an intense class to those 11 men, flowing quickly through a wide variety of postures. By the second posture, most of them were shaking and already sweating heavily. I gave them the hardest class I thought they could handle and even offered them some of the advanced poses to try, so they could see that muscle strength does not allow them to do anything. Through fast sequences, they experiences a bit of cardio and breathing techniques. Through balancing poses, they understood the concept of focusing. Through flexibility poses, they rediscovered many forgotten muscle groups. Through relaxation poses, they learned about meditation.
The class was a total success. Afterwards they all looked at me with a different gleam in their eye and they clapped their hands strongly in a directed applause to me. Most of them came up to me after class to tell me about their reflections and share their experiences, and I listened to their personal transformations with a huge smile of ackomplishment. I was inspired by them, because I showed them the power of yoga and they realized the instensity of yoga. Many of them want to have more classes and all of the gym instructors want to send their trainies to my classes.
Awhile after the class, I talked to the owner of the gym and she said all of the men had told her the highest praises about my class. She offered my congratulations and opened up her gym to my disposal to give as many yoga classes as I want. The owner expressed her strong desire for me to give more yoga classes because she realizes how extrodinadory they are for everyone who attends them, both on a physical and spiritual level.
I think that class was a landmark in my yoga teacher carrer because I opened up yoga to a new clientel and because I learned so much from those male students. I learned how to challenge them, while at the same time offering compassion so they actully would listen to their body. I learned how to direct them in meditation, being that it was the first time for most of them. I learned how to relate yoga postures to weight lifting and spinning classes. I learned how to stretch the little muscle groups that are often overlooked by many gym members. I learned to look for the student's needs and respond.
Hurray!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
Flat Stanely
Flat Stanely visited Costa Rica in April and enjoyed the volcanos, beaches and rain forests.Grandma
My trip back to Colorado was hard and good because I spent a large amount of quality time with my grandma. Being that the doctors predicted a limited amount of weeks more for her life, I decided to visit with her for the supposed last time. Even though her condition fades in and our of consciousnous, I learned from her and laughed at her comments. I think my grandma is so strong and I admire her 97 years of life. My grandma is sponky and I enjoy her energetic attitude. These last few visits with her were trying when she lost her memory or when she felt scared, but I feel rather peaceful about the situation because I have given her to the divine heavens and I know she is in God's hands. I am very glad and so thankful that I could return to Colorado and say goodbye, but I honestly believe she is so stubborn and she will out-live us all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)