samastudio

this is a post about
H O P E
this is my change room /powder room in my home studio
I’m so proud of myself, I painted the floor this beautiful “cashmere wrap” and I’m obsessed…I needed a bit of help with the walls because of the myasthenia gravis it’s hard for me to do overhead movements for long periods of time. I normally prefer white walls but I couldn’t be happier and this rug just completes it.

l have a strong desire to get back to my favourite thing which is to start working 1 on 1 with humans to help them feel great in their bodies.
I originally opened sama studio with the intention of it being a small boutique studio where I could create a safe space that one could surrender to….it brought me so much joy + purpose
I miss it so much
this is my home studio and it’s ready for you!!
don’t wait until the new year!
start building those habits now you are worth it

my offerings

1 on 1
⚡️yoga. yin . restorative
⚡️strength training
⚡️functional movement
⚡️pre + post natal
⚡️chronic illness
⚡️seniors

DM to set up free consult
🤍🤍🤍

so I got a few new tattoos today even though I said I wouldn’t….just joking well I kinda did but just 4 new freckles
I made the decision to go ahead with the radiation treatment plan so this is me getting a CT simm where they mark you precisely for the treatment.

my thoracic surgeon + oncologist took my case to the board and all agreed it was the best thing for me to do.
I do trust and respect them both.

through sharing and talking to more people about this instead of going through it alone it seems that many people are living great lives because of radiation and princess margaret is a great place and I will be in good hands.

I would love to be a grandma one day and I feel like I have so much more that I want to see + do so I need to trust this decision and process.

this is my mantra these days

I release the fear of the future and the regret of the past
health
+
love radiate through me

thanks for the messages and checking in
it means so much
🤍🤍🤍
T

WHAT WOULD U DO??

i haven’t been here in awhile as I’m processing so many things.

the vacation to Italy was so fabulous, I do know that going to such a beautiful place is such a privilege.
such a time of deep deep gratitude for my body the fact that was able to walk and enjoy all the sights each day….for someone with myasthenia gravis that’s a big thing! maybe it was all the extra gelato + pizza + pasta
or possibly the fact that I meditated 2-3x day along with chanting + EFT (tapping) all I know is my vibration was high and deeply grounded with gratitude.

but back to life in the city now and I just had my second appt with my thoracic oncologist , she is hoping that I really consider her recommendation of RADIATION
5 wks @ 5x/ week so that’s 25x
as I’m writing this I’m sitting outside soaking up the last days of summer and reading about radiation!

a part of me is terrified
a part of me is open

medicine is a tricky one as it harms as much as it heals

before my MG diagnose I never even took Tylenol and currently I have to be on 3 meds due to MG

my doctor has expressed how my situation is “rare” and based on the locating my THYMOMA was removed recently she feels there is high likeliness of re-growth…..
she is more concerned about the thymoma more than the myasthenia gravis

anyone here have any experience or feedback???
I’m scared and not sure what to do
xo

posting is a lot of work
working is lot of work

learning how to “work” with a long term illness/ disability is a challenge!

even before Covid + my MG diagnosis I never committed to posting on social media because i loved IRL experiences, having people walk through the studio doors and being able to hold space for them brought me so much joy.

in 2022 I finally accepted in my mind that I would have to start posting and building my online presence, start making videos on demand to build my brand like everyone else in my industry had done!!
I was thinking about who I would collaborate with and what kind of events I would host…..
but since being diagnosed I am no longer going to put pressure on myself to do all of those things because honestly that stress will put me into another MG crisis

my idea of “work” has completely shifted gone are the days of having back to back clients
I am happy if I teach a class in the park or on zoom once a week.

it’s “work” to meditate, walk the dog, cook, clean + being present for my family.

people with myasthenia gravis fatigue more quickly so it’s important to honour where you are at each day and never to push it.
I am so damn grateful for all these little things!
I have less $$$ but at least i am alive

work looks different

F A C T
people with MG have more abnormal sleeping patterns due to the inability to breathe properly
(S D B)

I have always been a great sleeper never an issue, I could sleep through the night but since being diagnosed with MG I need to prop my head + shoulders up as laying flat is no longer and option because when I try it’s feels like I am going to choke and that is no joke

also if you are prescribed prednisone to help manage some of the symptoms of MG one of the major side effects to that is
INSOMNIA ughhh

one of the things they say is that extreme heat + cold can effect the symptoms of myasthenia gravis for some.
getting outside into nature is so good for body + mind so it can be tricky finding that “goldilocks” where you want to avoid triggering a flare up.

be sure to stay hydrated + take as many breaks as you need to avoid exhaustion, some people travel with ice packs

everyday is different so stay hopeful never give up

🤍🤍🤍

just did a 10 min workout and it feels great 💪🏼💪🏼

MG is a neuro- muscular disease which means exercise can be conflicting.
we know as we age that having muscles and maintaining them is important for better health but with MG it can be tricky because the signalling from the nerve to the muscle can be interrupted by the antibodies that are over produced and destroy the receptors…. basically I like to explain it to people as a wire being cut, you can’t e exercise for long and for some not at all if you are in a “flare”

I’ve been working on 5-10 min snack size exercise breaks, if you can find little pockets of strength in between rest + medications it would be worth trying.

I used to have a strong yoga practice that could last anywhere from 30-60mins but now I have accepted that it is no longer an option. I am working with what is and each day will be different some days it’s just Netflix + eating on couch all day.
I am grateful when I can get something in and if I don’t have strength or motivation the other thing I do a lot of is meditate that way I’m taking care of my brain + heart 🤍

I will try to start posting some mindful move me here that way you can try whenever you are up to it

please be patient and gentle to yourself regardless if you have a chronic illness or not

love + light

myths + misconceptions
scroll through I just picked 5 but there are many more
really just want to spread the word about myasthenia gravis and she’d light to chronic illness and what and can look like

it’s been awhile but I’m here and grateful!
JUNE is MYASTHENIA GRAVIS awareness month so the timing is perfect.

I’ve been meditating a lot and working with deep acceptance of my diagnosis so I am in a better place.
my purpose now is to spread the word about MG and to support those that have it.
imagine having an illness that some healthcare workers have never even heard of!!!
I would love for that to change and maybe in a few years it will more recognized like MS

I have been designing a few t-shirts and testing out cotton + companiesor setting it up as a print on demand…
I want to do so much and each day I wake up I think of all the things I want to do but I am just one single voice and I’m not an “influencer” and I also have an illness that needs rest often.

so for now I leave this here and maybe you can help me spread the word by sharing this post it would mean a lot to me.

you can also give me feedback on the shirts as I am learning along the way

the snowflake is the symbol for myasthenia gravis as no two cases are the same
luv you
xo

movement + mindfulness + music + myasthenia gravis -

movement + mindfulness + music + myasthenia gravis

UPDATE
it’s official I had a mid-life crisis actually no more seriously I had a myasthenia gravis crisis which has had me in the hospital since monday morning.
basically my eyes couldn’t open at all and my throat was restricted that I could not sip water without feeling like choking…super scary stuff this MG is no joke!!

I have had two blood transfusions IVIG where healthy antibodies are blasted into my system to hopefully to try to offset the “bad” antibodies my body is constantly producing.

on wednesday they started me on an immune suppressant with the hopes that the two can stabilize my condition.

many tears have been shed needless to say ,so many questions with no answers when it comes to these rare auto immune diseases, I wonder to myself what I could have done differently and I’m trying hard not to be hard I myself but it’s work…I need to accept that this will be the rest of my life and moving forward there will be so much more re-learning ahead.

while being in here a dear friend sent me the best podcast on buddism, the timing couldn’t have been better as I have moonlighted in the past to diving into this beautiful practice
chanting nam myoho renge-kyo numerous times during the day has brought hope back to me through this crisis.
since my surgery 2 months ago I have been mediating 2-3x day it seems to be the only time when my symptoms are not present, it has really helped but I feel that committing to buddism is the right thing for me with this next level of healing and acceptance .

I just want say thanks for the love notes/ support it means a lot!

if you are a dog lover and have a flexible schedule and can help with walking arlo + I please lmK he is the sweetest but I have double vision most of the time these days

anyways I only have a very limited that I find I can be on screens so pray that I can go home to my fluff ball since it’s day 5 now

be kind + love more
reach out to those those people in your life that mean something to you because life is damn short
xo
T
🖤

with this june full strawberry moon ahead 🍓🌕
i am committing fully to the way I show up for myself
i choose to move mindfully daily whether it’s for 5-30 mins
I choose to be strong even though I am being hit with so much that can make me feel so weak

i put on some of my most fave upbeat songs and I just moved a bit and instantly felt better

june is MYASTHENIA GRAVIS awareness month
this is me getting a CT scan to check my thymus gland + thyroid for abnormal growths {these are def not my colors)
it’s been an emotional roller coaster of ride with so many appts

-MG is characterized by fluctuating weakness of voluntary muscle groups
-20 out 100,000 are affected
-MG can occur regardless of race or age
- there is no known cure

basically an invisible disease, I still get compliments daily about how great I look but tbh I would rather feel as good as I may look

please slow down when you are in hurry walking behind someone that you may think should be walking faster because they might just have one of these invisible diseases
❄️❄️❄️❄️

re-learning how
to read
to socialize
to work
to walk the dog
to go out to eat
to adjust to light
to be in this new body

im an extroverted introvert but since covid been feeling alone without my studio and seeing people on the regular, since this diagnose I feel quite alone and most of the time I just want to stay safe in my house where the light is good and where I won’t lose my balance.

thank goodness for meditation
✨✨✨

this fierce beauty showed up in my dreams I was being chased 🐯🐯

so symbolic to me with my current struggle with this auto immune M G

✨need to get rid of worries & fear along with other negative energies
that stands for the “problems” in my life
✨I have the strength of the tiger, I can use these strong qualities to achieve the freedom I desire
+
the divine support being sent your way may come through ordinary people + situations this is the more reason you should not take anything for granted

feeling hopeful + optimistic
hear me fu***ng roar

(you can look up and read lots about your dreams I just took what in needed)

some of MG things that happen is chewing/ swallowing your food properly otherwise you can choke more easily, scary s**t I know!
but also I have to learn not to eat so heavy close to bed because it feels like it just sits in my throat, I felt so nauseous all night and couldn’t find comfort!

I never eat carrots let alone juice them so I’m so proud of myself for making this it’s actually so yummy
carrot + apple + ginger 🧡🔥

INSTAGRAM
vs
REALITY
I choose reality and the reality is I have an AUTO-IMMUNE disease called MYASTHENIA GRAVIS my body is stranger to me.
please swipe to read and see how my eyes look most days
it’s a real struggle to get through the day

committing myself to 21 days of
mindful movement
+
meditation
✨
I know you all are busy getting back into more of a routine with work & family!
so this means just taking 5-20 mins a day, it doesn’t need to be super long to be beneficial.
just drop into yourself daily and see how it feels!
✨
guarantee you will always feel better for it

mark your calendar its’s back
R E S T O R A T I V E
monday nights usually look like this ✨✨
come join arlo + I for some sweet rest
starting back on sept 13

it’s been months since I’ve posted I really don’t play the IG game well at all but maybe now that I cut off all my long covid hair maybe I will post more!
feeling like I can focus a bit better now!
are you enjoying your summer??
hope so life is so short so savour it all + be present.
🤍🤍🤍🤍
that being said I am ready to work more so if you want to join me in my in-home studio for some private sessions, or I can come come to visit you in your home
DM let’s get fit together ✌️