“All in all, it’s the best thing I've ever done.”

Madeline’s Story

I was becoming sedentary because of joint pain, and I was only in my late 50s. I could neither walk nor sit for longer than 15 minutes, with my back aching and my knees throbbing and locking. Getting up from a sitting position required me to grab onto the table and slowly walk my hands up the top of my thighs as my body took the shape of the chair. As much as I tried not to, I had to stop doing the things I enjoyed, like swimming, walking and yoga.

I decided to get surgery when spinal epidural and injections only lasted two to three days. I had my hip replaced in 2010 and both of my knees in 2013. I returned to chair yoga just three months after surgery. After four months, I graduated to the yoga mat.

The best thing I could have done after surgery was rehab therapy because I wanted to be on my way to a better quality of life. Knee rehab was difficult but instrumental to my recovery. All in all, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.