Support Shelley D'Amico in her time of healing

UPDATE FROM SHELLEY: This is hard. Most days I feel like I’m going crazy. My life has been completely upended and I struggle with the lack of control. What happened to the person I used to be ? Where did she go ? My loved ones tell me not to worry. To rest and heal. That everything is ok. Easier said than done when you’re self employed. I used to be fierce. Strong enough to show up - every single moment of every single day. For every and any one who needed me. I had the capacity to multitask and manage several projects simultaneously. I had the mental faculty to read, write, speak and learn well. I was a teacher of yoga, who built and started her own studio without any students. Brave or crazy, I wonder now. I ran my business 24/7. Ate, slept, and drank it daily. I even made it through the pandemic — pivoting and adapting every step of the way— despite FOUR government mandated shutdowns between 2020 - 2022. I sadly watched bigger, more established yoga studios shutter around me. But nothing and no one could/would make me give up. Now I barely have the physical strength and energy to practice yoga, let alone teach. My beautiful mind is not as sharp as it was, which is even harder to accept. I’ve had to turn many reins over as I no longer have the energy to do all the things. I can’t eat or digest food well. I have no appetite and am sick to my stomach daily. Smoothies and bone broth are staples in my diet and I’ve lost 30 lbs — which under ordinary circumstances, I would be thrilled. But losing weight rapidly and without trying to, has devastating effects on my physical body. Food is fuel. When you can’t eat for days, for months on end, it wreaks havoc on your vessel and your brain. Our medical system is broken — especially for those like me, without a family doctor. No one cares about an anonymous 52 year old woman who has persistent stomach pain and nausea. I’m just one of millions of people who don’t have sufficient access to our health care system. My pain and suffering is just another day on the job for doctors you only get to meet once. No one listens. No one has the time or patience. The lack of attention or urgency has been frustrating and frankly, I’m exhausted. Right now there’s nothing more to do than sit and wait. If yoga taught me anything, it was to trust my Creator. Thank you to everyone for your patience and support. Shelley ________________________________________________________________________ ORIGINAL POST: Friends - it is with a very humble heart that I write this. I have created this GoFund Me page on behalf of our dear friend - Shelley D'Amico, Owner and Founder of Namaskar Yoga Studio. Unfortunately, Shelley's health has been declining over the last 3 months and she is being forced to step away from teaching for the immediate future so she can rest and heal while her doctors figure out what is going on. As a self-employed business owner- stepping away from teaching means that she will not have adequate income coming in to support herself. So, this GoFund Me page has been set up and if you feel called any donation that you can provide will be deeply cherished and appreciated. Your generous donation will allow Shelley to seek the healing and treatment that she needs and lighten the financial stresses while she does so. Those of you who know Shelley know that she pours every ounce of herself (body, heart, mind and spirit) into what she does. You know that she gives endlessly to her community- without expectation, without hesitation, and without question. She loves fiercely and would walk to the ends of the earth to serve her community. Those of you who know her will also know that she would not be doing this if it was not absolutely necessary. She has persevered through Covid. Survived cancer, divorce, heartbreak and life as a single mother. She is a survivor. She is a warrior - but like all great warriors, right now she needs to take some time to rest and to heal. Shelley has inspired so many of us. Guided so many of us. Held space for so many of us in our times of need. Now - it is our turn to return that love and support. Let us hold her and support her the way she has held and supported every one of us and the community. We will share updates as they become available. In the meantime- thank you for your love, trust, and support. With love and gratitude, On behalf of Shelley and her family