I am living a normal life again

Julie Kozlowski

“I am living a normal life again. I can vacuum my house, cook on my feet for hours 
(I love to cook, so this is great!). I couldn’t do household chores or grocery shop for big items without help, now I do these things again by myself, which is AWESOME.”

JULIE’S LIFE BEFORE YOGA

I was feeling overwhelmed with life. As I approached a milestone birthday and analyzing where I was in life, I was feeling depressed, not to mention my health and my weight. I have had 2 major back surgeries within the last 10 years, I didn’t want another one and I didn’t want pain meds to control the rest of my life. 

I had two slipped disks and a herniated disk. I also have advanced disk degenerative disease, and because I have a 55 degree scoliosis curve, it was causing the disks to fail. In 2005, I was supposed to have an 1.5 hour surgery that turned into 7.5 hours. I woke up to find out I had 7 screws and 2 rods in my back, fused from S1 to L5. I couldn’t shower without help. I couldn’t walk for the first few days, then started walking again with a walker. 

I was okay managing pain for years with Vicodin, which is horrible for my mind and my emotions. I started having major pain again and found out one of the screws broke and damaged the disks above it. After many opinions, physical therapy and pain management that didn’t work, I had to have a second surgery in 2014 and I am now fused from S1 to T11.

JULIE’S FIRST CLASS

I was addicted after the first class! I felt amazing! I couldn’t believe how great it made me feel, truly, mind, body and soul. I never would have believed it without feeling the benefits first hand.

JULIE’S HEALTH BENEFITS

AMAZING! Mind, Body and Spirit! I rarely take pain meds for my back now. All I have is a weekly pain patch. However, I have built so much core strength by practicing at Thrive Hot Yoga, I am working with my doctor to get off the pain patch. 

I am living a normal life again. I can vacuum my house, cook on my feet for hours (I love to cook, so this is great!). I couldn’t do household chores or grocery shop for big items without help, now I do these things again by myself, which is AWESOME.

My outlook on life is so much more positive. I accomplish more, and I seriously don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. Lastly, my weight is at the lowest it’s been in my adult life.

JULIE’S ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

Even if you drag yourself to a practice because you know you should, you leave on a high that it was the best. At first I had my ‘favorite’ teachers, now I enjoy learning something different from each teacher. Without the variety, I know I would not be where I am today.