May 2003
John Spanek said he felt as though he were “walking on a cloud” after he finished his first Bikram Yoga class. It was, he said, the firs time in years that he had felt good and energized, not bad and exhausted.
No wonder John had been feeling bad. Suffering from Type I diabetes, John was doing little to alleviate his condition and a lot to aggravate it. Besides ignoring dietary precautions, John was smoking and drinking—as he put it, “two very big no-no’s for diabetics.” Consequently, John walked around chronically sick and fatigued. He suffered pain from impaired circulation in his hands, feet, and legs. He checked in and out of the hospitals with episodes of life-threatening blood sugar levels. And, despite “death-bed resolutions” to change his lifestyle, he’d inevitably slide back into his old, self-destructive habits.
Since John knew he was onto something good, he immediately signed up for an unlimited monthly pass the day after his first class.
That was just over a year ago. John now claims to feel like a totally new person. To begin with, John says that through his yoga practice, he’s lost his craving for junk food, alcohol, and tobacco. He’s no longer tempted to indulge – even during social situations that before would have thrown him over the edge. John as lost nearly 30 pounds and feels great. His hands and feet—once red and purplish from poor circulation—are now normal, healthy color. And, most importantly, his blood sugar level is 90% better than before he started.
John deserves ample credit for his impressive results. He has, after all, practiced diligently. He took the 60 day challenge, and he has not only met that challenge but surpassed it. As of this writing, John is shy a few days from meeting the 90 day challenge! His next goal is to practice five to six days a week for the rest of his life.
John has chronicled his diabetic experience and his road to recovery in a book called No More Diabetes: How Yoga Saved My Life. (For more details, you can visit his website at www.diabetesyoga.com.)
It seems almost too obvious to say that we in the studio are impressed and, in fact, in awe of John and his amazing journey, but —WE ARE! Keep up the inspirational work, John!