Westland woman’s health struggles found healing journey at Yoga Moves MS
Words and photography by Audrey Richardson
It started with a blurry right eye. In the next few weeks, double vision, numbness in her left leg that soon began to drag. Finally, total loss of vision and the ability to walk.
For Marcia Williams, this was her multiple sclerosis reality.
MS is an autoimmune disease. The cells in the body essentially attack themselves, affecting communication between the brain and the spinal cord. It can impact everyday functionality, causing blindness, speech problems, impaired coordination and more. Anyone can develop MS at any time. For those who are diagnosed, the changes can be abrupt.
After being diagnosed in 1998, Westland resident Williams, now 52, began her journey toward healing.
The cancer drug Novanthrone stopped the progression of MS in Williams’ body and after treatment, her vision was restored. She had been left in a wheelchair, completely reliant on her family, and it took several years of intense physical therapy to gain sufficient feeling in her legs to develop the ability to walk again.
Then, in 2001, Williams found Yoga Moves MS.
“I’d never taken yoga before,” Williams said. “They made me feel so safe.”
Williams canceled all other forms of physical therapy.
Yoga Moves MS offers an adaptive yoga class tailored uniquely to the individual’s needs, incorporating props like chairs, yoga straps and blocks. Classes are promoted for people who have MS, but individuals with other autoimmune diseases and those who want to experience the community are welcome.
Founder Mindy Eisenberg said her team of instructors are “trying to rebuild those lost connections” between the spinal cord and the brain.
“It helped me gain muscle, it helped me to breathe, it helped me with spasticity” — the muscle stiffness caused by MS — Williams said.
Yoga therapy has helped Williams maintain full functionality: The freedom to walk, see, drive to class — independence, without relying on anyone else for her day-to-day needs.
“It’s like a cool breath of fresh air, and it’s a release,” Williams said, describing what practicing yoga means to her. “It really gives me that extra boost to continue what I’m doing.”
After seeing the benefits, Williams took up instructing to help others, and now plays an extremely important role within the organization as eyes, ears and sometimes hands for those who have MS.
“I see myself in my peers,” Williams said. “I’m always thinking about how I could get into this pose, and that helps me help them.”
Despite her recovery, Williams still monitors her MS daily. Self check-ins are necessary to understand what her body and brain are telling her, maintaining the connection between her brain and body, and allowing for adequate rest when anxious or stressed, she said.
Not knowing when MS will flare up, or if certain public spaces have adequate accessibility leaves many feeling helpless. Having a place to breathe, and feel connected to your body, became an integral part of alleviating symptoms, Williams explained.
“With MS comes a lot of stress,” Williams said. “If you are in tune with your body, you can feel that stress. You have to ground (yourself) and meditate, so those stresses can go away.”
Despite her recovery, Williams still monitors her MS daily. Self check-ins are necessary to understand what her body and brain are telling her, maintaining the connection between her brain and body, and allowing for adequate rest when anxious or stressed, she said.
Not knowing when MS will flare up, or if certain public spaces have adequate accessibility leaves many feeling helpless. Having a place to breathe, and feel connected to your body, became an integral part of alleviating symptoms, Williams explained.
“With MS comes a lot of stress,” Williams said. “If you are in tune with your body, you can feel that stress. You have to ground (yourself) and meditate, so those stresses can go away.”
With the yoga classes, Williams helps create a space where MS is about what you can do, not what you can’t.
“We laugh here; we’re best friends,” said student Michele Schloner, 70, of West Bloomfield. “I’ve never been so happy, and I’ve never been so happy to have MS.”
Williams’ love for her students and yoga shone as she hummed melodies while helping with posture changes, beaming whenever she noticed a student's mental and physical growth.
“I love to see them glow. I love to see the smiles on their faces,” Williams said. “It helps me when I help others.”
More information on Yoga Moves MS and the services offered can be found at www.yogamovesms.org.