Talk about lousy timing!

I don't remember when the pain started. At first I thought I had pulled a muscle as I had been lifting weights. It was a nagging deep pain between my shoulder blades. During the week the pain became more intense and I knew I had to call my oncologist.

I saw him the same day I had my bone scan and he prescribed an array of pain killers, from over the counter to heavy duty. I had to get this thing under control as I was starting a 2 week SOYA Yoga Teacher Training Intensive and didn't want to have to deal with a sore back.

The course started and I tried to make it for two days on the over the counter pain killer. Unfortunately it didn't touch it so I went up a notch. “Surely this will work”, I thought. At 3 a. m. the next morning I knew I had a problem. It was time for the big guns. That was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in a long time. For a fleeting moment I felt defeated. I had given up and given in to the strongest drug. But I needed relief and I'm not big on suffering. And the good news was that it worked.

The 14 day course flew by and I loved every minute of it. We put in long 12 ½ hour days that were challenging and enlightening. Who knew that there was so much to yoga?

I learned a lot about myself in those 2 weeks. I learned to slow down, which is a big one for me considering I'm such an intense person and tend to be very hard on myself. I also learned to really listen to my body, and only do what was right for me. This was not a competition. Good thing as I was by far the oldest student in the class - the rest were young enough to be my kids or even my grandkids! I learned to work within my range of motion and capabilities and to know that is perfect for my body. I was amazed at how my body slowly started to release and let go, allowing me to stretch further into each pose.

A huge discovery for me took place one day during meditation. As we began I was aware that my back was acting up and that I should probably take another pain killer. After thinking about it I decided to just leave it and take the medication later. To my surprise the pain left during the mediation which lasted 45 minutes and I felt great. Yes, the pain did return but the fact of the matter was that it disappeared for a time. I shall be doing a lot of meditating in the future! I am happy to report that I finished the course with flying colors and I am a Certified Yoga Instructor!

Then a week before we were to leave on our holiday I saw my oncologist and got the news that there is “increased activity” going on which is causing the pain. There is also some evidence to suggest that the cancer is spreading. I am on a new medication and will have a radiation treatment for the pain a few days before we leave for England and Spain. I have a suitcase full of pain killers and absolutely nothing is going to stand in my way of having the best holiday I have ever had!

Talk about irony! Things have been going along so great for me. Yes, I knew eventually it would probably catch up with me but I always thought that was way in the future. What a surprise!

So now I know, and I can get on with the rest of my life. Break out the wine and start the music! Look out England and Spain, here I come!