Hello, my name is Allison Garvin! I am so incredibly humbled and grateful to have you here. I personally became ill and disabled in 2016, shortly after completing graduate school. I was initially in and out of the hospital, and bed bound/wheelchair bound for the following few years. To say that my life changed dramatically, is an understatement. In 2017, I had both a chest port and an abdominal feeding tube surgically implanted into my body in order to help me survive. I had a GJ, abdominal feeding tube for more than one year, connected and pumping liquid into my abdomen for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because, at the time, I could not tolerate even liquids orally. I vomited everything I ingested. On the recommendations of many of my doctors I reluctantly tried meditation and Yoga Nidra (guided relaxation/meditation) initially at Mayo Clinic. Eventually, I began working on meditation and yoga at home by watching online videos, and then modifying/listening to my own body when the pose was not helpful for my body on that particular day. I started very slowly with chair and floor yoga, all while still connected to a feeding tube backpack (see pictures of my backpack below), and moving it around to accommodate as I went throughout my practice. Over the last number of years I have improved my ability to cope better with my symptoms through a combination of traditional western medicine, and alternative treatment therapies. And, while I still struggle daily with numerous health challenges, I am so grateful to physically be able to teach chair yoga/meditation to other patients at local hospitals, group homes, senior community centers as well as offer mindfulness based life coaching. Check out my classes, courses pages for more Information!
Today, I am able to do so much more than I could have ever imagined, while bed-bound and on a feeding tube. I am so much healthier today, in comparison to how I have been years prior. In fact, I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training certification, learning to teach meditation and yoga in 2019! I also simultaneously completed a Trauma-Informed yoga certification and a Yoga Nidra certification. My ultimate motivation is to help other patients, suffering as I have (and still do - some days more than others) learn to better cope with their symptoms. I feel as if I have been given an incredible opportunity to help others that are suffering, discover the transformative benefits of yoga and meditation. The coping skills that I have learned throughout my own consistent meditation and yoga practice, are incredible, priceless, tools which I will carry with me the rest of my life, no matter the challenges that await ahead. I am incredibly grateful to be able to share the beauty of yoga and meditation with all of you!
With Loving Kindness!
Allison
Copyright © 2022 Loving Kindness Yoga – All Rights Reserved. Site built by Joe Sukackas & Allison Garvin