In past Inspirations blogs we have highlighted the work of inspiring yoga instructors – Marcia Danzig who teaches Yoga for Amputees and Yoga for Children and William Amos, teaching those who need the calming balance of yoga to deal with PTSD. Now we have our own certified Yoga teacher – Brooke Artesi, CPO/LPO and owner/CEO of Sunshine Prosthetics & Orthotics.
Brooke completed her 200 hour teacher training under Michelle Petersen, the director of BEYOGA, focusing on structural alignment, the breath and a steady focus to the practice. Yoga can open the practitioner to the limitless energy within, teaching patience, compassion and self-acceptance.
“I’ve been doing yoga since college. I did the teacher training to deepen my practice but also to use it for the amputee community. I want to use it for support groups and mentoring at Camp No Limits.”
Brooke continued her yoga practice through her pregnancies, focusing on balance and understanding the adaptations that can be made to adjust for physical abilities. She brings this understanding and knowledge to her O&P patients and will bring it to those practicing yoga with her.
Sharing her yoga practice with those with physical limitations allows Brooke to encourage and guide them towards self-awareness, acceptance, and stress and anxiety reduction. Being able to adapt the postures to the student’s physical capabilities brings yoga to those who thought they could not do the poses and exercises.
Wanting to share her passion for yoga and all of its mind-body benefits with those who thought they were not capable of the practice makes Brooke Artesi our Inspiration.
Note: Brooke has volunteered instruction sessions for non-profit groups. To download an Adaptive Seated Sun Salutation guide, click here.
In 2006, at the age of 11, Victoria Arlen developed a strong pain in her side. It turned into a fight for survival – she was diagnosed with 2 extremely rare neurological conditions which attacked her spine and brain, leaving her in a vegetative state. Doctors said it was a hopeless situation and told her parents if she survived (and it was likely she wouldn’t), she would never walk or talk or function normally. The diseases would leave her with severe neurological deficits. In Victoria’s own words: “In the experts’ eyes there was nothing that could be done. Except they failed to realize one thing….
During the month of April across the United States, amputee support groups, veterans, prosthetists, rehabilitation centers and those with limb loss will be participating in a number of activities in their local areas to raise awareness.