El Cerrito, CA Woman With MS Receives Champions of Courage Grant To Organize Yoga Seminars
Washington, DC, April 25, 2001 – Martha Patt, a 43-year-old El Cerrito, CA resident who has battled multiple sclerosis (MS) for nearly 17 years, recently received a Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM grant to host yoga workshops for people with MS. The “Yoga for MS” workshops, which will be held in Fort Collins, CO on June 11 and in Denver on June 13, will bring together yoga instructors and people with MS for a “hands-on” day adapting yoga postures for those with MS.
Yoga Relieves Her Pain
Since she was first diagnosed with MS in 1984, Martha developed a regular yoga practice, which helps her to deal with chronic pain in her legs and lower back and the anxiety of this unpredictable disease. She does yoga for 15 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes after work, which relieves her pain and rejuvenates her body and soul.
“When I was diagnosed, yoga really kept me from dropping off the deep end,” Martha says. “Throughout my 17 years with MS, the pain in my legs has been the biggest challenge to manage. Most recently this chronic pain has turned into muscle spasms and sharp jabs, which wake me at night. But I meditate, and the pain, for a moment, sinks into the floor.”
During the upcoming workshops, participants will learn how the mental and physical exercises of yoga can help to ease MS symptoms. Martha will demonstrate yoga postures to reduce fatigue and anxiety, and improve circulation, concentration and coordination. “By sharing my personal experiences and introducing the exciting benefits of yoga to both MS patients and yoga teachers, we can offer hope and direction to those trying to live productive and healthy lifestyles,” says Martha.
Sharing the Gift of Yoga
After 10 years of experiencing the benefits of regular yoga, Martha felt she needed to share with others and so in 1994 teamed with the Northern California chapter of the National MS Society to offer a free yoga class. “We had nine students attend -- it was so very exciting. It thrilled me to see other people with MS show interest in this ancient practice,” recalls Martha. Today, the National MS Society offers more than 20 yoga groups in Northern California, thanks to volunteers like Martha. With Martha’s Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM grant, she will be able to spread her message beyond California to communities in Colorado.
“We are grateful to Martha for sharing her enthusiasm for yoga with so many members of the MS community. With her Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM grant, she will help National MS Society chapters in Colorado who would like to start yoga programs for their clients, and potentially reach many more people,” said Eric Simons, motivational speaker with MS and chairman of the Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM program.
A ‘Champion of Courage’
Martha was recently was honored for her courage in facing MS with a Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM grant, which will underwrite the Colorado yoga workshops. Funded by a grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM program recognizes the accomplishments of people with MS and provides grants to help them achieve their goals and inspire others. Since the program was introduced in 1999, more than 20 women and men have received grants to support motivating projects. Applications can be obtained by visiting www.championsofcourage.org, or by calling 1-202-363-3378.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that randomly attacks the central nervous system, affecting the brain and spinal cord, wearing away control over the body. Symptoms may range from numbness to paralysis and blindness. Though no cure yet exists, there are now therapies available that can impact underlying disease course as well as manage symptoms. MS affects more than a third of a million people in the U.S. alone, with someone being newly diagnosed virtually each hour.
For more information about the Denver and Ft. Collins yoga workshops, call 303/813-6681 or 970/482-4807 or 1-800-FIGHT MS.
