I was just living moment-to-moment and dealing with each phase, slowly and determinedly getting myself back to fitness. But once I was off crutches and starting to swim, I realised I was quite traumatised. The accident, surgery and rehabilitation had left me drained and depressed. As it became clear how much my life had changed, I seriously lost my mojo.

I had always been a very active person, riding motorbikes and hiking in mountains.

Once I could walk, I went running to build strength, but a half-marathon proved too much I started getting problems with the foot again. The consultant said no more marathons and my confidence took another knock.

Thats when I started doing yoga intensively, four or five classes a week, with my old teacher. It felt good to be back on the yoga mat a familiar place, where I felt calm, doing moves that I knew and trusted. Over time I saw a change in what my foot could do. Yoga gave me back much of the strength, flexibility and movement that Id lost. Gradually my confidence returned, and I felt like Id come back to myself.

Your perspective shifts when something so life-changing happens. Lying in bed for all those weeks after the accident, wondering whether Id be able to hike mountains like before, whether Id even walk OK, facing all those worries about how my post-injury life might be different, left me determined that the accident wasnt going to define who I was in the future.

I wasnt going to be somebody who couldnt live my life how I wanted. So, when I eventually trained to be a yoga teacher, I didnt let my life-long fear of exams stand in my way and now fully qualified, I love sharing the power of yoga in my classes and on my retreats.

My foot will never be normal again. It needs regular exercise, otherwise I get pain, especially if I sit still too much. Theres a constant throb and the bones and nerves sit differently than before, so Im always moving my toes and flexing my foot. But thanks to daily yoga my foot is so much stronger than it could have been. I know its now as good as its going to be, and I cant ever see myself stopping doing yoga if I did it would just stiffen up, as would I!

Sadly, Ive had to give up certain things. I dont ride my motorbike anymore and I cant run. Ive just had to accept I cant do everything I could do, but I can still live a lovely life. Yoga has really added to that, giving me opportunities I never thought I would have. Its given me the stability and strength to tackle whatever I may face in the future.

As told to Marina Gask

Benefits: The small muscles of the feet and ankles are worked to maintain balance and stability in the standing leg.

See the rest here:
My life changed forever after an accident but this exercise got me walking again - The Telegraph