Today we meet Kelly, an Ashtanga yoga student and teacher trained in the practice of holding each posture—observing her thoughts and feelings and learning to simply be present without reaction. Six years ago, Kelly woke up with a strange feeling in her chest. Emergency open heart surgery led to spinal and brain strokes that left her unable to move from the waist down. In the rehab mirror, she saw the details: messy hair, chest glue, swollen feet in white Adidas. And she realized she was doing exactly what her yoga teacher had taught her—not reacting, just being there, in her posture, noticing. Through months of rehab, relearning how to move, how to walk, how to live, Kelly found that the practice she'd taught for years was now teaching her—one moment, one movement at a time.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• The head of recovery told Kelly, "I believe this is where your yoga comes in." What practice or skill from your past helps you now?

Mentioned Resource:

• Insight Timer Free Meditation App

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Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

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