Meet Allison Garvin of Loving Kindness Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Garvin.

Allison, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Everything I had known as an able-bodied, healthy thirty-four-year-old person was literally taken from me overnight. 7 years ago, I suddenly became very ill and was eventually diagnosed with several chronic diseases that left me bed bound, in and out of the hospital, and initially with multiple medical implants in order to survive. To say that I was suicidally depressed and struggling is an understatement. I began IV treatments and eventually a nasal and abdominal feed tube. By Spring of 2017, my life was completely unrecognizable. I was deemed permanently, legally disabled by Social Security.

At the time, meditation had been recommended to me by several of my doctors since becoming ill. And to be honest, the suggestion that I could help myself cope better by breathing a certain way was difficult to imagine and almost insulting. Reluctantly out of desperation, I attended a few classes such as Yoga Nidra at the Mayo Clinic Hospital. These class experiences were incredibly transformative and helpful. Over the next several years I became extremely passionate about learning all that I could about the practice of meditation.

Eventually, I enrolled in a yoga/meditation teacher training program in order to become certified, with the intention of helping other patients such as myself. After completing teacher training, I proudly began working part-time teaching Yoga Nidra meditation, very gentle yoga, and chair yoga. Today, I host free online patient support classes for those living with pain, illness, and disability. In addition, I am the author of “Living a Beautiful Life Alongside Illness, Pain and Disability” a ten-day course. Recordings of my guided meditations and gentle yoga can be found on all music platforms, including YouTube, and Insight Timer.

I continue to work towards helping more patients learn coping skills such as meditation and yoga. And, I now teach at several inpatient and outpatient behavioral health centers and a senior community center here in the Phoenix area, as well as online. I experience the transformative effects of meditation and yoga as an observer facilitating the classes. I never tire of seeing the light in their eyes when they realize that none of the peace or calm came from me. It was simply settling their mind, and focusing on their own breath and body.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I do not believe anyone who suffers from illness, pain, and disability would say it has been a smooth road.

There were years of suffering, struggle, and deep sadness. It has been a continual re-acceptance over and over again of my current circumstances. I still feel as if I have the chronic flu most days, and to say my life is easy would be a lie. But, ironically I have a much fuller life now despite it all. Life is ever-evolving and learning to find joy in my suffering as well as my happiness has been crucial for me.

I do not wish anyone the suffering that I have experienced, but I do wish everyone could experience the beauty that comes with that kind of suffering. I am truly happier, more resilient, and incredibly grateful. I know without a doubt that I can make it through anything waiting for me in the future.

If you are in the midst of an insurmountable challenge right now, please remember the greatest resilience and beauty come from the deepest suffering and it will not last forever.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Loving Kindness Yoga was created purely out of a desire to help other patients cope better.

Currently, there are twice weekly, free patient support group live sessions where people from all over the world connect. We also have an Illness, pain, and disability support group that is growing. If you enjoy courses, “Living a Beautiful Life Alongside Illness, Pain, and Disability” a ten-day audio course is also available in addition to guided audio meditations.

Loving Kindness Yoga’s newest offering is individual and group video patient support sessions. We are also able to come to help you or your loved one in person within Arizona. Check out the Loving Kindness Yoga website for more information!

What are your plans for the future?
The practice of meditation, quite honestly saved my life and brought me back to a healthier state of mind and body. It allows me to cope better with my daily symptoms and connect with my body. My purpose in life now is to help as many other patients as possible by sharing what I have learned. After falling ill, I had a lot of time to think about what was truly important to me while hospitalized and bed bound. With all that I had to overcome to get to this point, I have more passion, and motivation than ever to help others.

I am incredibly grateful each day for every ability that I have regained, and I need to do the most with the second chance at life that I have been so graciously gifted. Going forward, I am focused on building my newest offering, zoom patient support groups for those with pain, illness, and disability, allowing them to connect and feel supported. I also plan on continuing to grow our illness, pain, and disability support group community. Join us!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lovingkindnessyoga.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loving.kindness.yoga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042599993841
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisoncarrollgarvin/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPsnEo9C534D5izRp2jBV9Q
• Other: https://insig.ht/QoobUxFlCzb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share