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maybe because she was born with Down syndrome. I<br />
knew she would face physical challenges of having low<br />
tone, being at risk for obesity, having an intellectual<br />
disorder, speech impairments, different shaped ears or<br />
eyes, and increased risk for all sorts of other conditions. I<br />
feared that she would be a target for bullying, she would<br />
be misunderstood, she would be under-valued or not<br />
recognized as an equal to other children her age.<br />
The stories we tell ourselves.<br />
I was given the book, Yoga for the Special Child by Sonia<br />
Sumar, and my daughter Sawyer and I began practicing<br />
together when she was 3 weeks old. Not only did I want<br />
to bond with my daughter on the mat through living in<br />
the moment with mindful movement, but I wanted to<br />
help her establish a healthy practice that would keep<br />
her strong and whole, and filled with love, beauty and<br />
positivity.<br />
<strong>Siouxland</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | Balance /39<br />
Then I reached out to an old classmate who had a<br />
daughter with Cerebral Palsy. I asked if I could teach<br />
yoga to her daughter, Megan, who was wheelchair<br />
bound. I knew Megan’s needs on the mat would differ<br />
greatly from my own daughter’s. Part of making yoga<br />
accessible for different populations is to address<br />
everyone’s unique needs, desires and interests and<br />
allow for each individual to be autonomous in their own<br />
practice, making it their own.<br />
CJ in a yoga session<br />
Megan quickly found<br />
many benefits from her<br />
yoga practice, which is why<br />
she has been a dedicated<br />
student for over four and a<br />
half years. It is her practice.<br />
If you have a body, if you<br />
are breathing, you can<br />
do yoga. With the proper<br />
supervised clinical and/or<br />
therapeutic supports, it is<br />
accessible to all.<br />
Brain injury. Mental illness.<br />
Chronic disease. Joint<br />
failure. Addiction. Vertigo. Sawyer meditating<br />
Trauma. As Leonard Cohen<br />
says, the cracks are “how the light gets in.” Our resilience<br />
gives us our shine.<br />
We’re all fighting our own battles, seeking our own<br />
truths. Somewhere in the midst of it all, I hope we can<br />
find our chances—to practice loving, living, being our<br />
truest selves. What could be more beautiful?<br />
Amy Focht (mom) supporting Megan Focht (15 year old<br />
daughter) in dancer pose- opening shoulders, chest<br />
and front of hips which helps with lengthening these<br />
muscles that have tightened from prolonged sitting.<br />
Dr. Meghan Nelson is a licensed physical therapist and<br />
professional yoga therapist with a passion for using yoga as<br />
medicine for optimal health, injury prevention, and overall<br />
health and wellness. Meghan is co-owner of Lumin Therapy,<br />
which provides integrative healing of the mind, body, and<br />
spirit through the practice of physical therapy, yoga and<br />
mindfulness.<br />
Photos contributed by Dr. Meghan Nelson.
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