Body Positivity
This Yogi Shares How Yoga Saved Her Life From Genetic Scoliosis
“I had to wear a corset for 5 years.”
Yoga has saved lives, and Eri, a practitioner of over five years, has felt it firsthand. For many of us who do not practice it, we’ll definitely find many poses that Eri strikes are particularly difficult.
But who would’ve known that Eri once suffered from back pain due to scoliosis as well?
Now a licensed Yoga teacher, she often shares how she manages to reach the forms on her social media.
Eri shared how her life began, “When I was nine years old, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, and I had to wear a corset for five years in order to prevent it from getting worse.”
“I had always been a very shy and introverted child, and with the addition of this, I hid more into my cocoon. The corset was stiff; it prevented me from moving or even breathing freely.”
“I felt that I had no control over my body, which later led me to experience health anxiety in my adult life.”
“Moreover, the constant back pain was a reminder that I have to limit myself and take care of my fragile body with the only permitted workout being swimming,” she continued.
Yet, the Greek woman today has over 145k followers on her Instagram, many of who often praise her for her variations in Yoga poses.
Eri attributed Yoga to the reason she’s changed in many ways, helping her heal and gain confidence in herself.
“Many years later, while searching for a new workout, I found myself in a yoga class. Early on, I started to realize how misaligned my body and mind were,” she shared.
Practicing Yoga had helped her face her “fear, frustration and insecurities.”
“Balancing my left and right side was also a crucial part of my practice,” she added.
“Today, after about five years of practicing, I have achieved asanas that I wouldn’t have imagined even in my wildest dreams.”
“But the most important thing is that I found my confidence and started coming out of my shell.”
Eri started sharing her daily yoga routine on Instagram with tutorials.
She also maintains her health by adopting a vegan lifestyle.
“The pain lessened as my core was getting stronger, and I believe to have gained a few centimeters in height due to my back getting straighter.”
