I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2008. Everything started when out of the blue one day I woke up and I could not move my left leg. I thought that I had injured myself doing yoga. So, I did not give too much attention to what was happening. I continued doing, and teaching, yoga like nothing had happened. After six months of excruciating pain I decided to go to the doctor. She checked my leg and said that I have a flare up of arthritis. As I had previously helped students with this condition, I decided to take care of myself practicing yoga to prevent stiffness. After this first flare up I lost fifty percent of my flexibility and strength. For two years I was in pain twenty four hours a day. I struggled with it but I did not give up. Why? Because the doctors told me to keep moving for mobility. So I kept doing my job. After two more years the constant pain disappeared. I felt I was on the right track. I gained all the flexibility and strength back. I started to get my confidence back. More or less three years later I had the second flare up. From that point on I start limping. I experienced pain only when walking or doing specific movements. I kept teaching and practicing yoga. Although I knew that the form of arthritis I had was degenerative, at that moment I could not face it. I cried and asked myself what went wrong? Knowing that life is guided by God’s wishes, not my desires, I decided to face reality. My husband and I started looking for an orthopedic sports medicine doctor. I have Kaiser insurance. I had heard past stories about bad practices at Kaiser and I was very scared. Therefore, I was very careful in looking for the right doctor that would work for me. I finally found someone that I liked. He is American of Indian descent named Dr. Khatod. He was perfect for me. One week later I went to see him. I took an X-ray and he said “You will need bilateral hip replacement. You are bone to bone on both sides.” I left his office in despair. I knew I did not have too many options. However, at that time I was not ready to do the surgery. The very thought of a surgery reminded me of a past surgery I had and how I suffered to recover. I decided to look for different options. I knew that there was a lot of studies ongoing on the use of stem cells and I was hopeful to get such an injection for my hips in the future. I continued to teach and practice yoga and wait for a miracle. One year later I had somewhat stabilized my condition. It was not perfect but I could live with it. Unfortunately, while at work one day, I had to help someone to prevent them from falling down to the floor. In the process I hurt myself. I felt that something in my left hip went out of place. One more year passed and I never could recover from that injury. Just the opposite. I felt that I was swimming against the river. My desire to believe that I was strong enough to hold on until the stem cells could help my condition resulted in my suffering more than I really needed. Then I suffered my third flare up while traveling to Brazil. The trip back from Brazil was the worst nightmare to me. After returning, the first yoga class I taught was a very painful one. I arrived at my home unable to walk. After that I had to use a cane to help me get around. This experience proved to me that I could not go on this way anymore. It was only then that I decided to do the surgery.

I suffered in extreme pain and could not walk any more without a cane. Before I decided to go for surgery, I tried everything within my power to stop the need for surgery. I began with pain killers, one time injections, new doctors, you name it. I wasted almost three months experimenting and hoping for a miracle that did not happen. Unfortunately, the pain medication was not working for me and I did not like to take it. After only one week I stopped taking pain medication. I then decided to take natural herbs, vitamins and minerals instead of any pain medication. However, nothing worked because my arthritis was too aggressive and I had let it go too far. It was a waste of time! Anyway, I needed to live this experiences to understand that I needed surgery. I was very scared to have surgery with a doctor that I really did know if he was good or bad. My husband gave me the open door to do the surgery with Kaiser or outside it. So I felt free to look up all doctors and research the best ones for this kind of surgery. I learned who were the top five doctors in Los Angeles and the best techniques. I was also worried about the cost of this type of surgery. I did not want to bring even more suffering into our lives.

I am a deep believer that life is constantly giving us signs of light. If we can carefully follow it we will probably find all the answers we need. Asking God for enlightenment, I decided to do the surgery with Kaiser, and to embrace the path that was clear to me. I began going back and forth searching for the right doctor to choose. My primary doctor at Kaiser recommended a different orthopedic surgeon than I had seen before. This doctor was very clear and said I needed to do the surgery as soon as I was ready. Although I liked him, he only did the traditional posterior hip replacement. But, at that time, I wanted to do the anterior hip replacement. My view then was that an anterior hip replacement would have a faster and easier recovery then a posterior hip replacement. After seeing him I returned home very sad thinking that Kaiser only did the older fashion posterior surgery. I was now again contemplating the option of having the surgery done outside of Kaiser.

Hours later my mother-in-law called me. She told me that Kaiser does both anterior and posterior hip replacements. In fact, she said that a friend of hers that she takes yoga with had an anterior hip replacement done at Kaiser eight months ago. When I heard this my spirit lit up. I asked for the name of the doctor. To my surprise it was Dr. Khatod, the very same doctor I had seen years before at Kaiser. The next day I rushed to make an appointment with him. My heart was full of hope and certitude that I was surrounded by angels. I felt with a high degree of certainty in my heart that he was chosen by light for me. A month later I went to see him.

Kaiser allows doctors fifteen minutes for each patient. He took over one hour helping me to understand the kind of surgery I needed at that moment. He explained to me the differences in the x-rays I took years ago and the ones I took that day. The recent x-ray revealed drastic changes to my hip. He explained that he would need to do a reconstruction of my pelvis for the hip replacement to fit in place. Two years earlier when I took the x-ray of my hip it had much less damage then now. Had I said yes to the surgery back then I would have been able to do the anterior hip replacement. However, now due to the additional damage, I could no longer do an anterior hip replacement. Therefore, the posterior hip replacement was my only choice. I completely understood it, but I was not happy that I would have to do the posterior hip replacement. I knew the recuperation time with the posterior hip replacement was much longer. With no other options, I decided to do it. I left there with some kind of relief. Now I knew my future path toward healing.

Kaiser’s policy is generally to schedule a surgery for six months later. I was very sad that I would have to wait for so long. I was in lot of pain and could barely walk even with the cane. I had lost almost all the strength I had in my leg. I was in despair and I wanted to do the surgery as soon as possible. I asked the doctor’s nurse if she could give me an earlier date. She said that she has a cancelation for May 9 — Mother’s day week. I said yes I will take this day. So I left there with the goal to prepare myself for the surgery. A week later the doctor’s nurse called me and said she had bad news and good news. The bad news was the surgery date changed. The good news it would be even sooner on Good Friday April 18. I was very happy because that date was a very special to me. It represents the death of Christ and Sunday the resurrection. To me it represented the death of my past and a new beginning. I felt good. I felt that the Angels are with me. From that moment on I started my program to get strong for the surgery. Even though I was in a lot of pain, I knew that if I did not get strong the recuperation would probably take longer and be more difficult. I did the best I could.

When I woke up after the surgery I was feeling good and very happy to know that one part of this whole ordeal was finished. I later learned from my husband that the cause of the excruciating pain I had experienced was from a fracture on my pelvis. I knew before that reconstructive work was needed on my pelvis but no one knew I had a fracture too. Anyways, the surgery went well and I was feeling good.

The next day at eight o’clock in the morning the physical therapist came to take me to walk. I was very curious to know how I would feel when I stepped onto the floor. I gently stepped onto the floor and I did not feel any pain. No pain. I then asked the therapist if I could step on the floor with all my body weight? She replied, “If you don’t feel pain, yes.” So I did. No pain. I felt freed from the pain. When I started to walk I felt my muscles reconnect and a desire to continue walking as much as I could. My leg was moving perfectly and I was already experimenting. I asked the therapist if I could go on the steps and she said “Let’s try”. I did, and wow, I felt great! After that I was able to go in and out of bed without help. This surprised all the hospital staff. I then stopped all the pain medication and have not taken any since. The next day I was released to go home. I went into and out of the car very well. When I arrived home I took a shower and washed my long hair. I felt great.

The first week I used a walker because everyone was scared that I would lose my balance. The second week I decided to stop using the walker. I began working to improve my walking and my yoga routine. Thereafter, I was able to steadily improve my movement by using my personal yoga method to create mobility, strength and endurance.

I feel very happy with the surgery results. My left leg can move in all directions. Everyday I continue to improve on doing the asanas. There is no pain and no struggles. I really see a light at the end of the tunnel. I believe with patience, deep observation, constant practice and adjustment positive results can be achieved. I am now ready for the second surgery. I think this second surgery will either reinforce my beliefs or change them forever. I hope, if I am right, this documentary will serve me to help enlighten the one’s in need. I truly care about others and their well being. I believe my happiness depends on your happiness. God’s love is whispering light in us every moment. If we can be in communion with each other and use our light to communicate God’s mystery, then for sure positive vibrations will come into our lives and gradually life will unfold the truth. We will know clearly how to embrace the path to enlightenment. An understanding of God’s dreams can lead us to freedom from fear and peace within. I am open to the path of infinite possibilities hoping to get out from the purgatory I had been in and embrace the light again.

The time arrived and I was again transported to the operating room. After one hour and half my surgery was done successfully. Again I had another very interesting experience. During the surgery I saw a white light surrounding me. I felt a warm and pleasant harmony. I then realized the presence of Angels and Spirits of Light around me. They told me they were there to comfort me. They wanted to let me know that I have to continue the journey of life to help and enlighten as many as I could. At that moment I did not want leave this pleasant atmosphere. I was feeling a profound sense of unity and peace. No words can truly explain the experience and the serenity I felt. Pulling away from that environment by a fast change I immediately saw myself on the operating table. I saw my doctor moving and measuring my leg over and over again. I then instantly woke up. I told my husband my dream so that I did not forget it and then fell asleep again. Later when I woke up, I told my husband that I had a dream during surgery but could not remember it. My husband Glenn said it will come back to you.

The surgery went well. I was able to move my leg as expected. To my surprise, on the afternoon of the surgery, the physical therapist came to my room and said it was time to get up and walk. I responded, “Great”. Those that have had this type of surgery understand how difficult it is to get up from the bed without help and walk without pain. I was curious about what the next few very important moments would bring. Either they would finally confirm or change all my beliefs on yoga and the dedication I gave to it. Well, good news! I was able get up from my bed by myself and put my feet on the floor. Wow! The pain was gone. Before the surgery I had a level ten in pain on that side. After the surgery I went to zero. I immediately started walking. I felt my muscles heat up and a sense of reintegration. On the same day as the surgery I went immediately from walking with the walker to walking with the cane. I even went up and down on stairs. I again felt free from pain. At that moment I knew that all my hard work had paid off and that freedom from pain was my new path. God is light, and in the light I am.