INDEPENDENCE AND MOBILITY AIDS BY SHAKTI BELL
In 1997, I had a promising career as a visual effects artist. Between work, my involvement in the arts and a very active social life, I didn’t devote much attention to caring for my health. I attended the Burning Man Shakti Bell Festival that year and woke up after a night of play with tingling and numbness in my feet. By the end of October I had the diagnosis of MS. The disease didn’t take long to have a serious effect on my mobility. Within the first year I was using a cane, a walker, and then added a scooter to my collection. With each new tool, I gained back independence. After nearly 15 years of using almost every mobility aid, I have settled into and embraced using an ultra lightweight manual wheelchair. When using my chair, I feel strong and free. Without it I would not be able to do a fraction of what I do today. Each day starts with my yoga practice. My weekly regimen includes swimming, handcycling, weight lifting, using specialized adapted exercise equipment, walking (using a treadmill), acupuncture, and Qi Gong. In 2008, I became a certified yoga teacher, and now I teach several times a week, including a
yoga class designed for people living with MS that interweaves a physical practice with the philosophies that are the foundation of the practice. I have found the spiritual practices of yoga extremely helpful in my own life, and I teach these hoping others may also benefit from this ancient wisdom. I want people to see devices like crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters as tools that can give them more freedom. So often adaptive aids are framed in a negative light - especially wheelchairs. I try to move people away from saying I am in a wheelchair, to simply saying, I use a wheelchair. It is not some kind of death sentence; using my wheelchair allows me to get around quickly and easily with grace and ease and gives me life. On April 22, 2012, I will be participating in Walk MS: Monterey Bay. I will proudly “walk” the route using my chair along with my team: Team Yoga For MS. I will also be leading yoga before the Walk to help show others how helpful yoga can be! To learn more about mobility aids, please contact the Northern California Chapter at 800-344-4867 or www.nationalMSsociet.org/can. Learn more about Shakti and her yoga classes and follow her blog by visiting shaktibell.com.
Newly Diagnosed Orientation
Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:30–8:30 PM National MS Society - Santa Clara Office 2589 Scott Blvd. Santa Clara, CA If you have recently been diagnosed with MS, please join us for our Newly Diagnosed Orientation. This orientation provides accurate and up-to-date information about MS in order to help you make well-informed decisions, successfully take on the challenges that often accompany a diagnosis of MS and begin to understand and gain control over this unpredictable disease. Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit www. nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 800-3444867.
Yoga for MS Santa Cruz 1307 SeaBright Ave Santa Cruz, CA
Yoga is not just about exercising your body. It’s about exercising body, mind and spirit together.
Staying Safe: Fall Prevention Workshop for MS Saturday, June 2, 2012 9:30 AM-2:00 PM Santa Cruz, CA Lunch provided
This workshop focuses on MS as it relates to balance, falls, fall prevention, and energy management. Learn about common sources of falls among people living with MS and learn what you can do to reduce your risk. Discussion focuses on assistive devices, household safety, and information about what to do if you fall. This workshop features two parts: the morning session, a discussion component focused on awareness of issues related to falls; the afternoon session, an exercise component directed at improving postural alignment, balance, endurance and mobility by learning functional fitness that each participant can implement in their day-to-day lives.
About the Speaker: Tashina Fuelling, PT Tashina is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences, and has been a practicing Yoga for MS is a gentle form of yoga adapted to Physical Therapist at Stanford Hospital & Clinics the needs of each student, taught by an instructor since 2000. Tashina has completed training living with MS. The classes are held in Santa in the Neurodevelopmental Approach to the Cruz at the Pacific Cultural Center. Please contact Treatment of Adult Hemiplegia and is also Shakti Bell at 831.295.6222 or trained in Pilates mat and reformer. Tashina shakti@baymoon.com to enroll today, To uses her knowledge to help individuals improve find out about upcoming dates (the next sixcore strength, flexibility, balance and vestibular week series start in April 2012) and pricing system functions, gait, overall functional strength information, please visit shaktibell.com. for ease of transfers and activities of daily living, coordination and endurance. As with any exercise program, check with your physician first. Don’t live in Santa Cruz? Give us a call and we can help you locate yoga resources Pre-registration is required. To register, please in your community. Financial assistance for visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call wellness classes may be available through the 800-344-4867. National MS Society by calling 800-344-4867.
Self-Advocacy Skills Training: Overcoming Barriers to Getting What You Need Saturday, June 30, 2012 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM San Jose, CA
Whether you want to obtain approval for services or accommodations from your health plan, doctor, employer or favorite grocery store, many of the same principles apply. This practical “hands-on” workshop will offer you an opportunity to hear from communication and advocacy professionals about the most effective methods for presenting your fact-based needs to achieve maximum results. At this workshop you will learn: • Resources to help you resolve disputes with your health provider, employer or local business • Enlist your elected officials to help you shortcircuit problems • How to file winning grievances • How to identify and prepare for potential problems before they arise Representatives from congressional and statewide offices will also be at this training. They will discuss how to expedite problems with Medicare and Medi-Cal, accessibility issues, Social Security claims, and intervening with governmental issues. Community resources related to topics such as housing and discrimination will also be discussed. Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 800-344-4867.
South Bay Area Self-Help Groups MONTEREY COUNTY Monterey, Currently on hold. Seeking new leaders. Please contact Susan Wallis at 800-344-4867, option 2, ext 74102. SAN BENITO COUNTY Hollister Group Gina 831-636-3241, Joann and Andrew 831-630-0266 SANTA CLARA COUNTY Milpitas Indu 510-656-3408 or Phyllis 408-509-8137 Palo Alto George 650-281-7646 or Kathy 408-921-9888 Palo Alto MS Caregivers Group, Bob 650-826-0300 San Jose David 408-578-3752 Santa Clara Susan 408-253-4489 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Capitola Tom 831-684-2252 or Ada 831-440-1211
What’s Happening Around the Chapter Central Valley
Sacramento
Play Ball! - April 14 Newly Diagnosed Orientation - May 1 Insurance Appeals Workshop - May 12 Navigating Systems & Community Resources - June 14
Strike Out MS Night - April 13 MS, Memory & Concentration - April 17 Newly Diagnosed Orientation - May 3 Terry Rossman MS Golf Experience - May 11 Connecting through Clay - May 19
Greater Bay Area
North Bay
Newly Diagnosed Orientation - May 2 Kayaking - June 2 CogniFitness - starts June 15
Kayaking- June 2 Eureka Yoga Retreat - June 23
Visit nationalMSsociety.org/can to register and for full program descriptions.
Accessible from the Comfort of Home New! Online Newly Diagnosed Orientation Thursday, May 17th & Thursday, June 14th 6:00 – 7:30 PM Online and over the phone Are you Newly Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you may be facing. This web based program will be conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Crabtree, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCSF and Director of Patient Program Development at the UCSF MS Center. Dr. Crabtree will address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed. This orientation provides an excellent opportunity to have any questions you may wish to ask answered and learn more about the resources available to persons with multiple sclerosis. A phone and computer with internet access will be necessary to join this program. Please call 800-344-4867 or visit us at www.nationalMSsociety.org/can to register for this program.
Pain Management - New Program Coming Soon! – Date & time TBD Online and over the phone Stress, pain and discomfort are very common in MS. MS creates its own emotionally taxing predicaments, not the least of which is dealing with the unpredictable course of this disease. Furthermore, some studies suggest that over 55% of people living with MS had “clinically significant pain”. Almost half (48%) were troubled by chronic pain. This program will be facilitated by Dr. Pearl Werfel, a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience. Her areas of expertise include living well with MS and other chronic illness and anxiety, stress and pain mitigation. If pain and discomfort are symptoms that you experience, we invite you to join the Northern California Chapter in a chapter-wide program starting this spring. Please call 800-344-4867 for more information.