Hi, I'm Shannon, Founder of Nourish Therapeutic Yoga for Chronic Illness Warriors
I would like to share my personal journey. I once led a vibrant and adventurous life, filled with sports, travel, and social activities. However, in May 2003, I was struck by a debilitating disease that significantly altered my life. At 28, I found myself mostly confined to my home, grappling with my new diagnoses while seeking effective treatment options. Regrettably, despite undergoing various medical interventions, I was unable to achieve recovery.
Determined to improve my health within new limitations, I experimented with various exercises, and found that gentle, therapeutic yoga practices significantly improved my health and well-being. Inspired by this, I became a certified yoga teacher and founded Nourish Therapeutic Yoga, offering online classes to support the chronic illness community.
This journey has not only transformed my life but has also positively impacted others dealing with chronic illnesses such as MS, ME/CFS, lupus, fibromyalgia, long Covid, and various autoimmune conditions, by offering safe practices that do not exacerbate symptoms. Additionally, many individuals with these conditions often find themselves without adequate support. Nourish addresses this by hosting weekly chats and monthly online gatherings that promote connection, laughter, and empowerment.
While my training as a yoga instructor centers on therapeutic adaptive yoga, the wide array of medical conditions faced by my community drives me to deepen my knowledge of the medical foundations behind the benefits of yoga. Therefore, I hope to enroll in the International Institute of Yoga Therapy Training and become fully trained as a yoga therapist. This highly specialized program offers extensive training on the anatomy and physiological functions of various body systems, including the nervous, musculoskeletal, digestive, and endocrine systems. It emphasizes the integration of yoga as a complement to conventional treatments. This training will enable me to better assist my community by customizing yoga practices to address specific symptoms that are prevalent among patients.
The cost for this 2 year training program is $3800 USD. As I live in Canada, there is currently a 30% exchange rate making it $5433 CAD. Since most of the individuals I work with are chronically ill, I ensure my pricing remains affordable and accessible, resulting in a modest income for myself.
So, I am reaching out for your support to help make this dream a reality. Your donation will empower me to better support this underserved community. I am dedicated to investing the necessary time and effort to undertake the hard work, as well as sharing the knowledge and tools I gain from this training. With this new knowledge and skill set, I truly hope that I will significantly enhance my contribution to the health and well-being of my community.
I am not typically active on social media, nor have I ever sought financial assistance or help before. This is my very first GoFundMe request. My hope is that my story might resonate with you and encourage you to lend your support. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to read and consider my objective of improving the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses.
In sincere gratitude,
Shannon
DONATION REQUEST FOR EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AT:
International Institute of Yoga Therapy Training
IIYT, is the first accredited yoga therapy program in the United States to be held under the auspices of a hospital. It is also in affiliation with Henry Ford Health System Pain Clinic and Cancer Institute
(I am pre-approved for acceptance into this course).
Organizer
