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Martha Patt
El Cerrito, CA

My sister, Eileen Flaherty and I signed up for a class in 1982 taught by an Indian man in a small studio apartment here in Berkeley, CA. I was always very flexible, but my mind was racing, I preferred the Jane Fonda Aerobics which was so popular in the early 1980's.

When I had my first severe exacerbation in 1984 I realized the simple movements and meditation could relieve the chronic and emotional pain. My life was falling apart, I was 26 years old. Yoga helped me maintain and stay on track. I would do yoga daily in my home and take an occasional yoga class at the health club.

I started studying yoga with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in San Francisco in 1990. The world renowned yoga center was in our neighborhood, my practice became more regular and advanced.

In 1994 I worked with the Northern CA chapter of the NMSS and the Sivananda Yoga center and had a one day workshop for people with MS. We had 9 students attend, it was so very exciting. It thrilled me to see other people with MS show interest in this ancient practice.

I have taken 4 Eric Small yoga workshops sponsored by our local MS chapter. Eric teaches Iyengar yoga which has been adapted for people with physical limitations.

I do yoga for 15 minutes every morning before work, 45 minutes after work. On Friday afternoons, I assist Saraswathi Devi with a yoga class for people with disabilities. Our students are faced with various considerations including multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebal palsy (CP), ALS, heart disease and stroke. On Saturdays I teach a yoga class for people with MS, sponsored by the Northern California chapter of the NMSS.

My students feed my heart and soul. The experience is like a dream come true, to share the healing powers of yoga with other's who are faced with chronic and debilitating health conditions.

View photos of yoga postures that have helped Martha ease her MS symptoms.

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If you have a question for Martha about the practice of yoga or would like information about workshops, email her at yoga4ms@aol.com.

Martha also appears in the instructional video, "Yoga with Eric Small." The 100 minute video includes four yoga sequences for people with varied physical ability levels—some postures require a helper. This video was featured in the Winter 2001 issue of "Inside MS" and is available for $15 by mail from:

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