Hello people! I hope you’re all safe and healthy. I’m considerably free this weekend because the University I study in, has given us “Preparatory Holidays” for a month, for the final sem exams of LLB course. I decided to write today, to tell you a small story, which, many of you might like, few of you might get motivated and a few of you might even ignore, which is absolutely alright because no matter what, I decided to share this with you all and you have no choice but to bear with it. I’m not any influencer on the social media or youtube to influence you all with fake stories. This, what you’ll be reading from the next para is my true story. Without any delay, here we go…
Last year has been horrible for many, including me. On a monsoon evening last year, 6th of July 2020, to be more specific, I woke up from a small nap after a good meal and with sleepy eyes, reading some message on my mother’s phone, I wobbled on the staircase, just to get a sudden slip and lo’ I landed 10 steps down, with my left arm and right leg, especially the right leg almost immobile. I couldn’t get up by myself but somehow gathered some strength and gritting my teeth, I some how got up and got down the left over 2-3 steps and dragging my right leg along, I walked and sat on a chair. I told about the injury to my parents and some time later, with the help of my parents I climbed the stairs and silently lied down. I behaved as if it was any normal injury and didn’t tell about the pain that was killing me bit by bit and late at night, I woke up from the bed, limping and dragging my right leg, I somehow reached the other room, took a painkiller and came back to my bed to sleep. Unable to bear the pain I shed tears silently, which my mother saw and understood it wasn’t any simple injury. I couldn’t sleep that night, followed by 5 consecutive nights after that- Thanks to Wuhan Virus! We tried contacting so many known Doctors and hospitals, who denied treating any other patients. The pain was excruciating and there was no means of treatment or even first-aid for almost a week. I contacted one good friend of mine, who suggested me to a Sports Injury Specialist and I finally got first-aid. After a couple of x-rays and other such tests, I was told that the tendons of my right shin have been ruptured and damaged and the ligaments of my right knee have torn beyond a point and was suggested a surgery, in case the cast doesn’t help. I was advised bed rest for atleast 3 months and walk only if needed. I was given a few collagen supplements, which I denied from consuming because my conscience didn’t permit me to consume anything that contained animal products. I had no other choice but to bear the pain. Then came a day when I had to rush to the hospital yet again because I felt something wet on my sole, inside the cast, only to be opened to see blood stained cast. The fine fiber in the cast somehow withered and poked through the cast, into my skin and was carefully removed through a small surgical process. I was then advised to wear air-walker boot which was around 2 kgs. One whole week, I suffered. I had to spray volini/ voltaire which on touching the wounded skin burnt. I was in one state where, if I didn’t spray, my pain wouldn’t subside and if I sprayed, the wound where the minor surgery was performed to remove the fibre-cast splinters would burn. I had to keep a brave face once in every 60-90 min I sprayed Volini.
Days passed and the wound was sort of healing. On my first check-up after the injury, I was advised to walk only with the help of crutches, that too for an year. The Sports Injury center where I was being treated, also had an in-house Physiotherapist, who taught me a few mild exercises with Pilates soft ball, to help me overcome the trauma of injury. On my next check-up, I was told by the doctor that it is just a probability for my tendons to heal and even though the pain will subside, I might have to be very careful and no surgical procedures or any medication would help the tendons to stick back, because the damage was such.
I wore the cast for almost 2 months now and was now advised to take it off and wear a splint to hold the balance. I was assured that with or without the splint, I’d never be able to regain the balance I once had. I was afraid to convey this to my family, knowing the consequences of telling them so, would cause more worry in their hearts. Those 2 months were very horrible for me. It was the lowest phase I had ever been through. I’ve seen many ups and downs but never, something like this. No amount of motivation worked. I didn’t want any sympathy and kept it to myself. I knew, if I even breathed about the damaged tendons or the thing that I would never regain the balance to walk normally thereafter, the information would somehow reach into my parents’ ears. I was tired of keeping a brave face or pretending to be fine in front of my people. I was tired of all of this and would cry myself to sleep for weeks together.
Yet another week of all these insecure feelings and crying to pillow passed and one day, I decided to take off the splint and walk without any support. The initial steps I took, I was super scared of falling down and if I did, even the 0.005% possibility of me walking normally wouldn’t happen. I learnt to walk like any baby would, without any support, this time, on my own. Everytime I did so, my mind threatened me not to, flashing the consequences of fool-hardiness in front of my eyes. I was confused. This was a slow process and I finally began to walk around my house, without any support and tried bending my knee slowly and when this was progressing, I yet again slipped and had a fall, this time, injuring my left leg. My parents were scared and rushed me to the hospital and luckily, it was just a sprain. A few painkillers and I was fine. One night, it was raining heavily and I decided to watch a movie and fall asleep. It was a weekend and I had no classes the next day. But something stopped me from watching a movie and I instead pondered all night about many a things. I did see a few scenes of myself walking with crutches but something within was telling me this is not the end and I had to be thankful that the whole leg as such, along with the bones and muscles are great. Tendons have an ability to heal themselves as they’re a mass of tissues. The Science graduate in me was making me take a more logical and practical approach and I decided, come what may, I will walk and get my balance. The next day onwards, I reduced limping or depending solely on my left leg and began giving some pressure on my right leg as well. Weeks passed and I could now climb the stairs, with and without support, but only once or twice a day. I did a bit of walking on our balcony every evening.
One day, when I took a break from my studies, I got a whatsapp message from a friend of mine, who enquired about the accident and the injury. I told him that I gained some weight by sitting all day and that it has ruined my routine. He told me that he too faced a similar and more serious injury after an accident and how he came out of it. I was inspired by his words and decided to do some cycling at home, to strengthen my legs first. I got myself an exercise cycle and started working on the same. One more month passed and I decided to work out. Owing to pandemic conditions, many gyms were closed and I was also sceptical on joining one because gym is more of weight training and I was asked to avoid it. I enquired about Zumba, Aerobic and what not! One thing I didn’t enquire about was Yoga, because in my mind, Yoga was something meant for “holy” people and not cracks like me. I mocked at anyone who told me to do yoga. The well-wisher friend of mine, requested me to try doing yoga once. I was a bit hesitant initially, but I did wanted to give it a shot. I looked up for youtube and found everything so “bleh” but somehow, I ended up buying a yoga kit on Amazon and did some circus stunts with it. A week passed and I voluntarily called up my Well-wisher friend and asked her the details of the Yoga teacher she once told me about. Few days after receiving the contact, I finally called her up and the conversation went almost for an hour or maybe even more. I felt a bit motivated to join the classes online, but I was quite sleepy and hesitant to attend the Demo classes. Just watching them perform the asanas made me feel the need to start doing yoga and I joined the class.
My yoga teacher asked me to join the morning batch which were simple and mild warm-up and asanas, but due to my work and classes, I chose the evening session, where intense workouts were being taught and done. Initial days were scary and I wondered if I could do the Surya Namaskar because, once, 8 years ago, I met with an accident and my lower back was injured. I was asked to avoid Surya Namaskar because it would affect the spine even more, but, nothing wrong in trying, right?
I slowly started doing a few sets of Surya namaskar and a few poses. Best part of the yoga classes were the meditation classes where I get to rest and connect with my true self.
Months passed and I’ve only been getting better at it. Today, after 5 months of doing yoga, I’m able to balance on my right leg, knee, shin etc with super ease. I am able to do complex and advanced poses which need core strength and obviously strong limbs. My yoga teacher, being the wonderful person and motivator that she is, always has been encouraging me that I’m getting better each day.
From someone who almost broke and lost it all to someone who limped and now balances on the same damn leg, it has been very challenging, but worth it. Through yoga. I’ve been able to connect with my true self, the nature and I’m learning to be one with nature.
I don’t exactly know what pushed me to do this and see so many changes within myself, but it is definitely worth it. I know I’m no expert in yoga but someday, I’d definitely be able to understand the hidden goal behind all of this .
I realised that when everyone around loses the last left hope and feel that it is impossible to do it, somehow, if we push ourselves to that extra mile, we’ll be able to achieve anything and this is something to remind me that no matter what, stay strong and focused because end of the day this will matter the most.
Love and Cheers
Aarya a.k.a Meenu Iyer 😄❤️
Aarya Writes 