How yoga has helped with my MS

After attending her first yoga class, Ali Morton felt like she was "seeing light through a grey cloud of depression". She was inspired to quit her busy job as a primary school teacher and become a yoga instructor. Here, Ali tells us about her MS journey, the benefits of yoga for people with MS, and shares some yoga exercises for fellow MS'ers. 

My diagnosis

2011 I was a sports education graduate, having been sporty my whole life. Happily living in Cornwall and having secured my teacher training place to become a primary school teacher, I was working as a class teacher assistant. 

One day having read a story to the class, my colleague asked me; ‘How did you get that pen on your leg?’ I looked down to see that a child has used my leg as a doodle pad whilst I read. How did I not notice? Next came various ‘clumsy’ incidences, dropping scissors, books, and the occasional wobble. Can anyone relate? I took myself to the GP who little did I know had expertise in MS. He had his suspicions. An informal exam and the MRI referral was done.

The day of the MRI results was not fun but apart from the initial shock I carried on. I had no symptoms and I carried on as normal.

Months later, having gone through the trauma of heartbreak and my life being turned upside down, the delayed onset kicked in. The next year, my body went through a boxing match - I was hit with over six relapses, getting back up every time. I lost my balance, had optic neuritis amongst other symptoms. Ok MS (or Monkey Scrotum as I call it) I am listening.  

‘A boxer will only be hit so many times in the ring and get up again. We’re hitting you with the good stuff’, my neurologist told me. After much consideration, I started Tysabri. That was over seven years ago and zero relapses (touch wood).

Turning it around

To this day, I cannot tell you what led me to the next part, but whatever it was changed my life. At the time of the ‘crawling to the loo at night’ relapse, I heard about a beach yoga morning happening. Previously I had tried yoga at the gym and liked the stretching, but being a busy teacher, I never stayed for the ‘sleepy time’ at the end. I asked my mum to drive me to the yoga session. I could not do a lot but, after initially feeling nervous and self-conscious, I enjoyed being part of the group and being ‘present’.

I came away feeling more positive, calm, and more myself. I felt like I was seeing light through the grey cloud of depression.

There and then I made the decision that I could not continue primary school teaching. I needed less stress; I needed to help myself and to not be controlled by my MS. Whilst teaching part time, I trained online in kids’ yoga. I was then steered to take the plunge to go self-employed as a yoga teacher. Now, I teach yoga to all ages from 12 months, in educational settings, gyms, studios and online too. Throughout this pandemic, I have adapted to teaching online which enabled me to reach out and help people both in groups and private sessions. I also teach outdoors when weather permits. During the pandemic, students have voiced how yoga has provided balance at this time of change and uncertainty.

Yoga is just stretching, right?

Yoga is not about putting one leg behind your head or these amazing (unrealistic) poses on social media. It is all about the breath. If you can sit and breathe without getting distracted, you are doing yoga. Yoga is for anyone and everyone. 

Taking time for yourself, to sit and meditate calms and soothes the mind, enhances clarity, and clears confusion. There is scientific evidence that meditation actually alters the brain. One study focused on improving attention, compassion, and cognitive skills. Scientists found significant brain alterations during each three-month block. Additionally, meditation which focused on gratitude and the dealing of difficult emotions produced unique brain alterations. What I found particularly interesting was in a study whereby participants meditated whilst faced with a stressful situation. It was found that the rise in cortisol levels was 51% lower than those who did not have the social training. More information can be found here. 

If your inner voice is giving you excuses as to why this doesn’t appeal to you, just think, what have you got to lose?

What I would say is be careful and take time to find a teacher that suits you. It is so important to make your first experience of yoga a good one. There are so many types of yoga and teachers too. Find the right one for you.

I have made some videos for you. I am not a doctor. These are from the heart from a fellow MS'er. I get fatigue and sometimes struggle to get up in the morning. The exercises I have made are things I do in the mornings to get moving and get going. I believe that how we wake up can directly determine how your day may pan out. If you want it to be a positive day, start in a positive way.

I am not writing this to say yoga is a cure of MS. MS is unpredictable and tough. What I do want to do is to reach out to other members of the crew and tell you that you are not alone. If just one person’s mindset becomes more positive, if just one person gives yoga or meditation a go, then I feel I have succeeded.