Connie Fedel's amazing life story creates her vision and motivates her to help people find the peace within them.

Yoga is for Everyone - "The benefits of Yoga helped me to save my own life,” says Connie Fedel, Taylor Yoga yogie. “Yoga has been around for thousands of years. When practiced, it can lead to greater health, mental control, and ultimately self-realization. I believe that I can help others, and [I] feel it is time to give something back for all that I have gained from my experience."

In 1998, at the age of 32, Connie Fedel was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. Lupus is an auto immune disease, the cause of which is unknown. Her doctor at the University of Michigan Medical Center once described it to her as “friendly fire” where the body’s natural immune system is over active, and otherwise healthy cells begin to attack themselves. She began to experience an inflammation around her heart causing chest pain, extreme fatigue, rashes on her face and body, swollen painful joints, seizures, and elevated levels of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in her blood that showed something was out of balance.

In June of 2001, Fedel had a hysterectomy to remove a grapefruit-size tumor from her uterus. Soon, Connie was taking 38 medications a day and by September 1, 2001 she was extremely depressed, disabled and unable to work. Knowing that stress was a major factor for anyone with lupus, she decided to take control of her life and make some much needed changes. Connie changed her diet and picked up an instruction video on Yoga for stress relief. After watching the video several times, she started with baby steps, doing little bits at a time. After several months Connie began doing the Yoga poses, learning how breathing exercises can calm the mind and body. In doing so, she was able to meditate and focus on her inner-self.

By August of 2004, she was down to one medication a day and practicing Yoga regularly. Her journey into a Yoga lifestyle has helped her to realize that "we are all in control of our own health." Stress and the way we react to it, are in our control. In September of 2004, she returned to work full-time, she was medication-free and the lupus is gone forever!

Over the past few years Connie has been studying numerous forms of Yoga including: Bikram, Iyengar, and Astanga. She has also participated in an intensive 7-day Isha Yoga course that has enhanced her breathing and has given her a deeper understanding of Yoga. She has been teaching private lessons for individuals with special needs since 2005. Look up class schedule for group lessons offered at the Taylor Recreation Center. For your health and wellness, start your journey today!

"Yoga helps people to see that many physical, mental and emotional problems can be avoided when we look after ourselves in a more caring manner."