Yoga for Corey

So, I received this e mail today from one of my Hemophilia friends on behalf of Corey a severe Hemophiliac. I hope you take a minute to read and find out how you can help!

 I am writing you this letter because I will be starting a 200 hour, yoga teacher training program this fall and I would like your support.> > This is an accredited ‘Yoga Alliance’ program taught by one of the> > most skilled and recognized yoga instructors in Portland, Oregon,> > Tiffany Cruikshank (http://tiffanyyoga.com/). This training will cost> > $3,490 and I will need assistance and sponsorship to make it happen.> > > > I am 25 years old and I have been practicing yoga for the past two> > years and over that time I have realized considerable health benefits.> > I am pursuing this accreditation to further my understanding of yoga,> > and to teach and inspire others with blood disorders. On a deeper> > level I am doing this training to contemplate, appreciate, and find> > acceptance for my own body.> > > > As you may be aware, I have severe hemophilia and as a result of this> > disease I have sustained more injuries than I can possibly count,> > leading to arthritic joints. I realized at a young age that I needed> > to do something to try and stop the cycle of injury but it was a> > struggle figuring out what exactly I should do. After little success> > with stints in swimming, cardio, and weights, I opted to have a> > surgical ankle fusion performed in January of 2009 to alleviate> > chronic ankle pain. At the time, the pain in my ankle was making it> > extremely difficult to do anything aerobically. To rehabilitate from> > this surgery I decided to try yoga in hopes of regaining muscle in my> > atrophied leg. Not only have I been able to bring strength back into> > my leg, but I have been able to significantly decrease the number of> > injuries I sustain even though I am considerably more active now.> > > > Yoga has also been an extremely valuable tool for maintaining my> > psychological well-being. Graduating from college into a recession was> > very difficult but I was able to remain balanced and bring meaning to> > my life while I searched for work by challenging myself in class to> > improve my ‘asanas,’ or poses in yogi speak. I feel strongly that I> > eventually found work, in part, due to an optimism that would not have> > been there without yoga in my life.> > > > Since beginning my yoga practice I feel as though, for the first time,> > I may be able to live a long and healthy life. It is because of this> > that I feel so strongly that yoga needs to be taught to everyone with> > blood disorders. While interning with Bayer Heath Care (Bayer> > Pharmaceuticals) I developed the idea for “Living Fit: A Joint Effort”> > (http://www.livingwithhemophilia.com/webapp/livingfit/), a program> > designed to encourage and give instruction on safe physical activity> > for kids with hemophilia. I am proud of having had a hand in this> > program, but there is much more that needs to be done to help people> > with blood disorders live long and healthy lives.> > > > Upon graduation from this program I hope to begin teaching and sharing> > what I have learned to people with blood disorders young and old. I> > will do this through summer camps for the young and support groups for> > the old. When my training is complete I look forward to sharing my> > knowledge at the 2012 Hemophilia Foundation of Oregon Summer camp. In> > following years I would like to visit the surrounding states summer> > camps to teach. While there are many people who have championed the> > practice of yoga for hemophiliacs, most of them have been nurses,> > doctors, physical therapists or other health professionals. As a> > living example of what yoga is capable of, I believe there is a great> > deal of value in the message being delivered from someone who has> > lived it. I hope to inspire and encourage in a way that health> > professionals simply cannot.> > > > I have sent this letter because I believe you may be able to help me> > in this pursuit. Any donation would be a huge help towards this cause.> > If you are willing to support my education please respond to this> > letter and I will put you in contact with those responsible for the> > training. You may also contribute via the following website:> > http://coreyyogatraining.chipin.com/yoga-teacher-training-for-corey> > > > Sincerely,> > > > Corey> > > > > > http://coreyyogatraining.chipin.com/yoga-teacher-training-for-corey.