IBD is a Process, We Are All At Different Steps

IBD, as with any chronic illness, involves a process.  Diagnosis doesn’t come with a one way ticket to activism, confidence, and openness.  As we are all very familiar with, a diagnosis of Crohns or Colitis often involves confusion, embarrassment, and a complicated cocktail of emotions for which we are likely unprepared.  No matter what disease you have, whether it’s chronic, terminal, or just plain painful, hearing the words “You have [insert condition]” really means, your life will never, ever be the same.

Coming to terms with an IBD diagnosis involves stages similar to those of the grieving process- denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.  To complicate things, our diseases have an element of taboo- symptoms that others do not seem to want to hear about, things we don’t want to admit to ourselves, and experiences with things like colonoscopies and enemas.  Throughout our journeys, we may think we’ve conquered these stages, only to be set back by an unexpected flare or even a lasting memory of the pain- physical or emotional.  At the end of the day, we’re all taking this journey, and we’re all at some point along it, and we’ve all got to be here to help each other.

Support is Sometimes the Best Treatment

One of the most underrated treatments for IBD is building a support system around yourself.  This is likely a mix of your significant other, family, and maybe a few close friends that aren’t deterred by the nature of your disease.  But another important part is just having others in your life that simply “get it”, because they’ve been through a very similar experience.  Somehow, although it may have no medical or physiological benefit, having someone respond to your descriptions of life with IBD with understanding and acceptance can make all the difference in the world.  That is one of the best side effects of being a part of a GYGIG ride weekend, after all of the fundraising, training, and volunteering, we come to a place that we know we have support.

I believe it is our responsibility to others and to the IBD community to take what others have given us in the form of support, a listening ear, or as a role model, and pass it on to others who are still struggling with this.  I remember being sick during college, and being so desperate for someone that would just sit and listen to my frustrations, or understand that I was too tired to go out, and just hang out and watch movies.  To just be, and let me know that it’s OK to have IBD.  After many years, I feel like I have found that, and I’m honored to have the chance to provide this to someone else.  We all know how valuable these seemingly little things can be, and that they can truly change a life.  They provide little stepping stones for others along our path to IBD acceptance.

An Embarrassing Disease, but an Experience to be Proud Of

A striking comment I heard on Ride Weekend was that the hardest part about having IBD is trying to hide it.  This comment caught me off guard, and also stuck with me.  It’s been a long time since I thought of my disease like that, but yes, years ago, I too felt I had to hide it.  But as I began to get more involved and see others dealing confidently with the same disease and the same experience as me, and as I started to open up and tell others about what it is like to live with IBD, and how I was being proactive about it, I got a little closer to acceptance.  I am forever indebted to those who went through that process before me, and were present in my life to become a role model, whether they knew it or not.  It is vitally important.

The thing is, yes, Crohn’s and Colitis are embarrassing diseases.  Many people don’t understand the urgency, the pain, the fatigue, and the things we see in the toilet.  They might not want to hear about your surgery and your resulting ostomy.  After all, we learn at a very young age how to “hold it” and use the toilet, and that poop is dirty.

We didn’t choose to get these diseases.  Likely, surgery was not a choice either.  But what we can choose is to do something about it.  We have an experience to be proud of, whether it is becoming active in the community, raising money for research, and even participating in GYGIG.  But sometimes, it’s simply making it through day-to-day, finding the positive in your experience, and just getting through a life that is probably tougher than many others’ lives.  This, for me, is a big step to acceptance and openness about IBD.  Even if you are embarrassed about your disease, you can be proud of your experience.

Throughout ride weekend, I was reminded of this precious concept again.  We are all there to mark different points of our journey.  We are all there to inspire each other.  We build a special, positive, and unconditionally supportive community.  I’ve seen people with ostomies be impressed at those with colons completing the ride.  I’ve seen “intestinally normal” people be impressed with the level of activity that ostomates can handle.  I’ve seen people in remission be inspired by those who are still fighting symptoms, yet still out there riding or volunteering to make the weekend happen.

We all go through the same process.  We are all here to remind each other what it’s like to be at a different point in the journey, whether it’s the confidence and openness, inspiring others that yes, there is hope and yes, you will get here, or the ones not as far on the journey, reminding us where we came from, and what we went through to find the confidence that we now possess.  And we all help each other through it.   Our community works together to get everyone to the acceptance stage of IBD, where we can spread the goodness and pass it onto others.  We can collectively take that attitude and become role models to others outside the IBD world, and show them how strong and successful we can be, despite IBD.  And that is something I wouldn’t trade the world for. We are all here to inspire each other. 

See you this June!

Back in 1999 when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease I had much to learn about a lot of different things. First and foremost, I had to learn what Crohn’s disease was. At 18, I hadn’t even heard the words “Crohn’s disease” until they were coming out of my GI’s mouth when he was telling me that I had it. So, I set out to do my homework. I immersed myself in everything that I could read on IBD.

What quickly became apparent from all of my reading was the importance of what we put into our bodies; our diet has such a significant effect on how our bodies function (something that an 18 year old doesn’t always think about).

It is important to feed your body right to keep it functioning properly, and this can be especially difficult when you have a digestive disease. Eating right and exercising are vital to obtaining and maintaining good health. As our name suggests, encouraging people to get moving has always been a big part of Get Your Guts in Gear, but we’re just as invested in every area of people’s digestive and overall health.

That’s why we’re so excited to have GoodBelly as a sponsor for our 2012 Get Your Guts in Gear Rides. GoodBelly is a probiotic drink containing live and active probiotic cultures. Their drinks come in a wide variety of delicious flavors, and are dairy-free, soy-free and vegan. GoodBelly’s products contain Lactobacillus plantarum299v (Lp299v) which is one of the most studied probiotics available. You can find out more about their products and the potential benefits of probiotics at GoodBelly.com .

While you’re there you can also sign-up to take their 12 Day Challenge, where they guarantee you’ll love it or it’s free. So check them out at GoodBelly.com and see if GoodBelly probiotic products are right for you.

See you this June!

Redefining Success with IBD

When I was a little girl, I wanted to go to the moon. I was maybe four years old and I thought for sure I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up.  Needless to say, that didn’t happen and I have yet to walk on the moon, but it’s not because I gave up on this dream, rather, I found that I had strengths and talents elsewhere, and worked hard to find a career at which I’m both successful and happy.  From the time I was four until now, there have been lots of situations similar to this, both big and little.  I didn’t always realize it, but I didn’t give up on my dreams and goals, I just re-defined what they were, and that’s okay.

In my journey with IBD, I had a defining moment nearly a year after I was diagnosed.  My first year at college had just concluded, and I reconnected with my high school friends to go to our school’s spring track meet.  We couldn’t wait to cheer for our former teammates, visit with our coaches, and be a part of a sport that had brought us all together and created four years of awesome memories.  During that time, I could hardly run due to Colitis.  Partly the depleted energy, and partly the uncomfortable motion, which would send me running straight to the nearest bathroom!  Watching the track meet, and hearing my friends talk about their plans to run marathons and do triathlons was honestly one of the toughest parts of dealing with my disease, and also one that I have found hard to describe to others.

Living daily life with IBD comes with a lot of hardships and sacrifices.  For some people, it means putting off school or not being able to hold a job.  For others, it’s missing out on social occasions and losing friends because we can’t do “normal” activities.  Sometimes it even means watching your peers achieve the successes that we once were after, if it weren’t for this stupid thing called IBD.  And it’s tough, on top of all the physical pain, medical regimens, and side effects that we deal with, and wondering if and when we will ever find relief.  It’s really, really tough.

With IBD or any chronic illness, it can seem like every day is a challenge, and just a little bit harder than someone who is “intestinally normal”.  I could go into all the details here, but I’m sure most people are already familiar.  The bottom line is- unlike a running race, with chronic illness, there is no finish line.  You have to keep going, no matter how tired you become, both physically and mentally.  There’s no coach strategizing for you, telling you when to take it easy and when to sprint to the finish.  There’s no athletic trainers waiting at the end to treat your sore muscles and make you feel great again.  You just keep going.

What does Accomplishment Mean To You?

Throughout my journey with IBD, and my efforts to become open and confident with sharing my story, I wanted to get across to people that IBD is a tough disease!  Just because it’s not terminal, doesn’t mean it’s not life-changing.  During my worst flares, I truly felt that every day that I got through was an accomplishment.  Anyone who has ever stuck it out, recovered from surgery, came back from anemia, went to work sick, been a mom, dad, husband, or wife when they were too sick or tired to move…that is an accomplishment.  Anyone who has kept on truckin and not used their disease as an excuse to quit, who did their best through school or work or whatever their goals may be…that is an accomplishment.

This made the most sense to me at the end of one of the GYGIG rides.  One of my friends had volunteered that year, and although I love her dearly and am grateful that she came out to support me, she talked a lot about the Boston Marathon, for which she had just qualified.  She had worked really hard and was excited, this was one of her major goals. (She did great, by the way)

Meanwhile, a rider with an ostomy was pedaling the long miles and rolling hills of the midwest course, having hours on the bike to think about how far he had come with his disease, and how he was in the process of riding his bike farther than he ever had before.  When he finished, I saw a grown man cry.  When he started the ride, he wasn’t sure he could do it.  When he first got his ostomy, I’m sure it was the farthest thing from his mind!  But he did it. Every mile.  THAT is an accomplishment.

Not to diminish the success of anyone who has ran a marathon, especially Boston, but take an average athlete like that and give them IBD.  Put them in a hospital, start them on some of the strongest drugs there are, don’t let them eat.  Now take away their cheering section.  Who’s tough now?

So, what’s your Boston Marathon?

We get caught up in not being able to accomplish the things we once wanted to.  We get frustrated that the world doesn’t look at our accomplishments in the same way it does things like completing a marathon.  It adds to the anger we hold about our diseases, and stalls us from staying positive and moving forward in our journeys.  But that doesn’t mean that we don’t accomplish things every single day that we are living with IBD.

Sometimes you have to re-define what success means to you, even if others don’t understand.  I didn’t realize it until recently, but I had been doing this all along.  In college, I gave myself a personal goal to complete all my classwork and not drop any classes, even if I had to miss days and turn in work late.  At work, my goal was to work as hard as my disease would let me, and never let myself use IBD as an excuse to get out of work or work less hard, because sometimes I knew it really would be a reason.  Ten years ago, my goal was also to begin running marathons and qualify for Boston.  But now my goals are to keep inspiring others with IBD to stay strong, to be an outlet for people to talk openly about their experiences and frustrations, and to help people with different IBD issues to connect with each other and help each other.  And that is just fine with me.

Have you experienced this frustration with achieving your goals?  Do you need to re-define your idea of success?  What is your Boston Marathon?  Don’t worry if it’s not something that’s going to be widely recognized, or earn you a medal.  It’s okay, it really is.  The truth is, we are successful, and we are some of the strongest people out there.  We didn’t sign up for this, and we don’t have a finish line.  Re-define your goals to something you are satisfied with, and I bet you can even find others who can relate within our IBD community.

Then take any of those marathoners, who deal with a few hours of pain, and pitt them against any of us who have learned to deal with lifetimes of pain and disease.  Who do you think is tougher? I’d put my money on us, any day.

See you this June!

This blog post was written by Claire Balmas. You can visit Claire’s blog here: 8petallotus.wordpress.com

My mother asked me to help out some dear souls, that are very close to my heart. When I was younger I had a chronic illness, and below is an article to help people with IBD. However these steps will help any one with a chronic illness and especially any one with digestion issues. The article is in three parts, one being an introduction to the practice of yoga and chronic illness including my story, the second is a sequence of asanas designed to help with digestion and flairs, and finally a guided meditation to help with the emotional and energetic bodies, and healing. Enjoy sweet friends! Please do let me know what you think below!

Yoga is a practice, yoga is a balance, and yoga is a great way to deal with the symptoms of any chronic illness, such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)-Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis (UC). With a combination of asana, breath and meditation; yoga often opens doors to a healthier lifestyle that will work for you, calm your symptoms and help you heal from the pain chronic condition can cause.

I myself suffered from UC ending in a J-pouch at the ripe old age of ten, then there was the constant struggle of dealing with aftereffects. At around the age of nine, I started down the great path of yoga, and by age 13 was a full fledge vegetarian. Eventually I became a vegan and was able to go off all of my medications, and stopped having flares, from my surgery, for about ten years now.

Granted everyone has their own way of dealing with IBD and the off shoots. I myself found that the ways towards the traditional Indian healing methods, including yoga, diet and Spirit, not only calmed my condition, but also helped me to heal from the emotional pain that it caused as well. My love grew so much two years ago I became certified yoga instructor, and plan on going to India the first chance I get.

If you are suffering from IBD and want to get into yoga fear not! At the end of the article I will post a few poses that are special to digestion problems and how to do them in a sequence that will help. I warn that for any first time yogi, the best thing to do is seek out a good studio that you feel comfortable in and like.
Talk to your instructors and tell them your conditions and concerns. With the outlines by the Yoga Alliance on instructors, many of us are open and aware of our students. The goal for any instructor is create a safe environment for their students to explore themselves threw yoga.

Asana, or the physical practice of yoga poses, has great effects on the body. Each pose is placed together in a sequence that will help balance the body and heal it with a gentle opening. Here is the place on the mat where students ease into themselves and the open tight spots within their own bodies. Even attempting poses, doing modifications, or preparation for a pose, will give you many of the benefits of the full expression of a pose. Just concentrate on what is right for you, and eventually you and your body will be ready to move on to the full expression.

My general rule for students is, if it HURTS do NOT do it. Yoga is about exploring you for yourself, so do not worry about if the student next to you can do a headstand or touch their head to their knee in a forward fold and you can not. This practice is about your own exploration and gentle opening of your body, if you strain you can actually make yourself worse. Listen to the messages your body gives you.

Breathing is the next big step in yoga. While practicing asana, it is recommended-heavily-to practice the breathing technique of ujjayi, or victorious breath. Generally it is described as being a nostril breathing, that reaches deep into the diaphragm, constricts the throat and causes an ocean like sound.

Breathing during asana is as important as an aquarium is to a fish, it opens up the body and can be used to heal. Breath is the way that our body gets oxygen to our organs. Thus when in a pose, focusing on the tight parts of the body and ‘sending’ the breath there, will help your body open. Further the breath is used as a focal point in asana, while listening to the breath one can stay in the moment and separate the ego-mind stuff-from the body. Otherwise, while breathing you can tell when it is your mind keeping you from a pose, or your body that is hurting.

There are other wonderful breathing techniques in yoga that help open up the mind and the body. Anything that is to work with breath, or energy/prana is called pranayama. Though ujjayi is the only one used in asana practice, incorporating other forms of pranayama is very beneficial to any yoga practice.
I feel the most beneficial part to any healing yoga practice is meditation. During my Teacher Training, I began working with a group called Higher Ground, teaching yoga to HIV and AIDS patients. While teaching them I found that meditation was the best way to help people open up and heal from a condition.

I like working with the charkas, the seven energy points in the body. These points ‘rule’ over different organs in the body and different emotions. There is much work on charkas out there, and I find them to be a great tool for healing. I use a guided meditation in Savasana–the last pose of an asana practice used for rest. Savasana is one of the most important poses in asana, because it allows the body to soak in the wonderful asana practice that just happened.
Having opened up the body with asana, at the end of practice is a great time to begin to open up the energetic and emotional aspects of a person. Chakras are said to hold in the emotions that were too intense for us to deal with at the time. The more you work with them, the more you open up to reasons behind actions, and can heal.
For example, say have low self-esteem. You begin to work with Manipura Charka, third charka that rules ego and self-esteem, and you find a repressed memory from childhood of some kids picking on you in middle school because of your IBD. These emotions may have been too hurtful for you to be able to cope with them at the time, so you suppressed them, and to help you pick up your self-esteem, you have to heal from this first. Often times these excess energies cause cause express reaction, like maybe the kids that made fun of you were blond, so now for some reason you have an aversion to blonds causing you to miss many wonderful people in life. As you heal, you will find many of these aversions drop away on their own, feel lighter, and usually the part of the body ‘ruled’ by that charka will inevitably feel lighter and less stressed. (Hence the idea of stress causing physical harm)

The meditation that I use will be given below after the asana flow. If you plan on practicing this alone or without a studio, just think the meditation in your own head while laying in Savasana. However I again recommend if you are new to yoga looking into a good studio. Studios are valuable to beginning, and all, yogis. Studios are often times their own community of people with ideas that can help in the journey. Further being in a class with a instructor is always safer than a video or at home practice. An instructor is a third party that can see if you are going too far in a pose, not far enough, or holding a pose in a harmful way to your body. Until you know your own body, when to go deeper and when to back off, please try and practice with someone who can help you learn to avoid any possible harm.
Yoga as a practice helps open up and heal the body, mind and Spirit. When practiced, for many it reduces stress thus reducing flairs and helping heal the body. It is not a permeant solution for everyone, but it worked for me. Yoga led me to a vegan diet which led me to be medicine and symptom free.
Much love my sweets, AUM Namah Shivaya!

Twenty Minuet flow designed for digestive health and IBD

Centering before you begin:
Sit on the ground, pillow or block, in a position that is comfortable for you. Pull the flesh back and away from your sit bones, close your eyes and breath. Clear your mind and feel your body, your breath, and see how the two interact with each other. Feel supported by the earth underneath you, begin to breath threw your nose. Inhale feeling your lungs fill up from the bottom, the middle and finally the top. Exhale in the same slow way. Slightly contract the muscles on the back of your throat causing an ocean like sound to accompany your breath. Begin a slight contraction in your lower abs, slightly curving your tail bone under and straightening your spine. (Always remember to try and keep the spine straight thew out an asana practice, and keep these lower abs contracted to protect the lower back)

Set an intention for your practice, one for yourself and one for something outside yourself. Think of a person, place or event that could use some extra healing, and on your next exhale feel that energy going there and helping.

Warmups, gently waking up the spine with the six movements:
Now begin moving when your body tells you removing any props you may be sitting on, when you feel ready. Inhale and slowly lift your arms over you head, exhale and slightly tip your hands to the right, stay here for three breaths. Inhale back to center and repeat on the left. Feel your side body slowly opening up, breath into any tightness you may feel.

Next, as you exhale, fold forward, stopping when it hurts. Keep in mind our first forward fold of the day is often very tight, especially if you practice first thing in the morning. Let go of any expectations that you may have for yourself in any asana, every moment is new. Breath in your forward fold, and stay here for three breaths, on your next inhale come back up.

Inhale your hands overhead, then as you exhale swing your back behind you. Inhale one more time and as you exhale slowly ease into a back bend. Only go as far as you feel comfortable, and stay for three breaths. Inhale and slowly come back up.

Come back to center, take a free inhale and exhale. Moving into twists, keep in mind that if you begin by twisting to the right you will help constipation, to the left will help diarrhea. Move according to your symptoms. Keep this in mind for the practice and start on the left. Whichever side you need to start with, inhale that arm up over head, and exhale it behind you close to your spine almost like a kickstand for support with your back. Place your other arm on the knee of the side you will twist to, inhale lengthen the spin, exhale twist from the abdomen as far as you feel comfortable. Stay here for three breaths. Inhale come back to center, and repeat on the other side.

The practice (if you do not feel warmed up yet, keep working on the six movements)
A few notes on asana with IBD or digestion poses: keep the twisting light, be weary of deep forward folding, knees to the chest, and doing a lot of seated postures. These things tend to sped things up digestion, and there for should be explored slowly, and with lots of causation. That being said I have found that too many standing poses tend to leave me feeling too energized and ‘flaky’, so I get bursts of energy and run around from thing to thing without really accomplishing anything. If your finding that seated poses are causing you lots of problems, try longer centering before and after practice, or lay in Savasana for a longer period of time to calm the energy down a bit.

(Tadasana, mountain pose) Start standing, with the outside edges of your feet parallel, hands in prayer at your heart center. Close your eyes and breath. Lift up your toes and feel the support of the earth under your feet. Tip slightly front, back and side to side, notice that you will not fall. Put your toes back on the earth, breath and reconnect with your intention.

Inhale, lifting your arms over head. Exhale, folding forward and bending at the hips. Inhale lengthening the spine, exhale returning to the full forward fold and grounding your hands on the earth. Step back with your right foot then your left to an expression of downward facing dog. Hands shoulder distance apart, arms outstretched, shoulders melting away from the ears. Feet hip distance apart, with a slight bed in the knees, and the heals inching towards the ground. Spine straight and the lower abdomen slightly contracted. Breath here for a few, then when you are ready exhale, and step the right foot forward between the hands, then the left. Inhale lengthen the spine, exhale release then inhale coming all the way back up. Exhale your hands back the prayer at your heart. Repeat until you feel warm, alternating the right and left foot steeping back.

Virabhadrasana I & II, Warrior poses I & II; Start in Tadasana pose, feel grounded and take in a large inhale. Exhale stepping your right foot back, about the length of your torso, slightly to the side of your left foot. Turn your right foot out, so it is perpendicular to your left, and point your left in front of you. Exhale bending your left knee to a close 90 degree angle, without your knee going beyond your toes. Inhale your hands over head, maybe binding them in a prayer pose maybe not, and slightly turn your hips to square to the front of the room. Check your self and make sure your contracting, your spine is straight and lengthened, feel your feet grounded supporting you on the ground. Gaze straight in front of you, looking at a single point. After five breaths,, inhale bringing yourself back to center. Turn your left foot out, and turn your right foot to be pointed behind you and repeat on the other side.

Inhale come back to center, and come back into Virbhadrasana I on with your left foot. Exhale your hands to your heart, inhale open them up (so that one is in front of you and one behind you. Square your hips to the right side of the room, and turn your head to the front of the room. Check yourself for your contractions, and your posture. Breath here for five breaths, then switch to the other side.

Exhale and come back to Tadasana.

Trikonasana and Parvritta Trikonasana, triangle and revolved triangle (These may require the use of a block, or prop for you hands have it ready before going into the pose); Exhale, and set up your stance as if you were going to do Virabhadrasana. Turn your left foot to point to the front of the room, and your right foot out. Square your hips to the right side of the room, inhale lengthening your spine. As you exhale reach to the front of the room with your left hand as far as you can, then begin to come down. Rest your left hand on a block, your shin, ankle, foot, or ground, what ever feels best. Inhale your right arm up so that there is a straight line from the tips of your right hand to the tips of your left, and if it feels good, turn your head to look at the ceiling. Check your self, your contractions, your spine and your breath. Make sure to breath! Stay here for five breaths, then switch sides.

Come back into Trikonasan on your left side. Exhale your right hand down and ground it on a prop, your shin, ankle, foot, or the ground. Inhale your left hand up, and if it would feel good, turn your gaze skyward. This slight twisting will help regulate digestion, because it is not too intense. Check yourself, your breath, contractions and your spine. After five breaths, exhale and look towards the ground, then inhale and windmill yourself back up. Switch sides.

Ustrasana, camel pose; Come back to Tadasana. Exhale and come down on your knees with them hip distance apart (if your knees do not agree with the hard floor, use a pillow underneath them without compromising the line of energy from the top of your head to your knees), with your thighs perpendicular to the earth. Place your hands on your lower back with your fingers pointed to the earth. Inhale lengthen your spine, then as you exhale slowly bend backwards, as far as feels good. Make sure that your shoulders are staying down and back, your contracting your lower abdomen, and you are breathing. Stay here for five to eight breaths, then inhale and come back up. Repeat three times, breathing into the tight spots. This pose helps stretch the abdomen and strengthens the muscles.

Sarvangasana, shoulder stand; Inversions are great for releasing tension on the digestion track that gravity causes, however if you do not feel right about doing an inversion there will be a modification at the end which promotes the same benefits. When you are done with Ustrasana, lay down on your back with your feet flat on the floor and knees bent, and arms parallel to your sides and hands flat and open on with palms on the earth. As you exhale contract your lower abdomen, flattening your back to the earth, inhale and bring your legs up to form a 90 degree angle with your torso. You can stop here, if this feels right. (Staying here for a few breaths will help you build up the strength for the full expression) Exhale your feet behind your head keeping your legs straight and curving your back slightly. Inhale your feet up over head, and creating a base with your shoulders supporting the rest of your body. Stay here as long as you want, but never turn the neck to the side, keep it straight and your gaze on your feet. When you are ready to come out, exhale your feet back behind your head, then slowly, vertebra by vertebra roll back down to laying position.

Alternatively, come to a wall and place your right hip as close as you can get, swing your legs up the wall, it should feel as if you are sitting on the wall with your back flat on the floor. Start with your hands parallel to your body, inhale your lower back up off the earth, and slide a block, or solid prop underneath, avoiding setting it on the lower curve of the spine. This slight inversion, legs up the wall, will give you the full benefits of Sarvangasana, if this is where your are, this is a beautiful place to be.

Matsyasana, fish pose; to balance Sarvangasana, there is Matsyasana, which if you practice one it is imperative to finish the flow, and balance out the body. While you are laying on your back, snuggle your arms into your body parallel. Inhale pressing down with your forearms, and lift your chest, exhale tip your head back and rest your crown on the earth. Stay here five breaths, then inhale lifting your chest, then exhale release back down to laying down.
Twist; finally to bring the body into full balance and be ready for Savasana we have to twist and ‘reset’ the spine. Exhale bringing your knees into your chest and opening your arms to each side. Depending on your symptoms, exhale your knees to either the right or the left. Then if possible, turn your head in the opposite direction. Stay here for five breaths, inhale back to center then switch sides.

Savasana, resting pose; Inhale back to center, and release your feet to each corner of your mat, or hip distance apart. Bring your arms along your body with space between them and your torso, with palms up and shoulders rolled slightly back. Here you want to be comfortable, use a pillow under the knees, or your head, lay a blanket on top of you, do whatever would feel nice. Take in a big inhale threw your mouth, then exhale letting out a little sigh. Close your eyes and return to your normal breathing. Let go.

The meditation (use in Savasana before final rest)

Once you are comfortable laying on your back with palms up, shoulders rolled back, and eyes closed. Breath and relax, come out of ujjayi breath and return to your regular breathing pattern. Clear your mind

Begin to see a beautiful bright red orb forming between your legs just below your gentiles. This is the first charka, Muladhara chakra. This chakra rules connection, support, money and community. Focus on this red orb, just observe it, do not try and change it. Then as you inhale feel this beautiful red energy flow up your spine and threw your body, feel connected and supported as you do this.

Next move up the the space just above the gentiles between the hips. See a beautiful bright orange orb there. This is the second charka, Svadhistana charka. This chakra rules the sex organs, the bladder, lower intestines and everything fluid in the body. It deals with sexual energy, creativity and fluidity. Watch this beautiful orange orb, see its size, if it moves, what is its shape? Then as you inhale, watch this beautiful orange energy move up your spine and threw your body, move with the flow, and feel creative.

Now move just slightly above the hips to the solar plexus, just below the bellybutton. See the beautiful yellow orb there. This is the third charka, Manipura chakra. This chakra rules self-esteem, ego, confidence, and the balance between them. Notice the color and size of this chakra. How large? How small? As you inhale feel this beautiful yellow energy flow up your spine and threw your body, feel confident and humble with this.

Bring your attention to the heart. The heart is either green or pink in color, use whatever one comes to you first. The heart is the fourth charka, Anahata charka. Anahata rules the chest, breasts, arms, circulatory system and lungs. Anahata also holds all of the deeds that we have never forgiven ourselves for, love and kindness. As you breath this beautiful heart energy up your spine and threw your body, forgive yourself for the past, feel love fill you.

Focus on your throat, see a beautiful turquoise orb of energy there. This is the fifth chakra, Vishuddha chakra. Vishuddha rules the modes of communication, speaking and hearing. It allows to hear the truth in other’s words, and to speak truthfully and clearly. Notice this orb, how fast or slow is it moving? Inhale and bring that beautiful energy up, and threw your body, feel understanding and clarity with this.

Notice the place between your eyebrows on your forehead. See a beautiful dark midnight blue orb there. This is the sixth chakra, Ajna chakra. This the the space of the true Self, the Spirit, and rules the aspect of sight, both inner and outer. Ajna gives us wisdom and insight. As you inhale this beautiful energy up to your crown and threw your body, feel wise and true.

Finally notice at the crown of your head a beautiful royal purple orb of color. This is the seventh charka, Sahasrara charka. It connects us the whatever power we believe is above and/or greater than us. It could be God/dess, the Universe, or just Karma. Whatever you believe to be above you, connect with it threw this charka. Notice the orb and ask yourself how you can be more like this power above you. Exhale and feel this beautiful connection as a blanket of pure white light wraps your body. Feel open, fluid, free and safe.

Now rest sweet ones!

When you are ready to come out of your rest (and please take at least five minuets or so) slowly bring awareness back into your body. Deepen your breath, then wiggle your fingers and toes. Start making circles with your wrists, ankles and finally your neck. Curl up into the fetal position and lay to either your left or your right, whatever feels best. Feel refreshed and rebirthed threw your practice. Each moment has never been lived before, it is always new and fresh. Slowly come back up to a seated position. Bring your hands to a prayer position at your heart bow and say “Namast”

See you this June!

My first experience with Get Your Guts In Gear was in 2006.  I traveled to a new city and began a journey with a new group of people – none of whom I had ever met before.  Like many other riders, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, and I certainly couldn’t predict the positive impact this would have on my life, and the ways it would fuel me to help others have that same experience.

Get Your Guts In Gear’s tagline is, “It’s More Than A Ride”.
To truly explain this would require pages and pages of rambling blog postings and a box of tissues, but it’s true.  I know it’s true from watching hundreds of participants over the years roll into the end of the ride, some with tears in their eyes, all with pride on their faces, and say “I get it.  I know why you say it’s more than a ride”.  Magic happens on GYGIG weekends.

I’ve done other rides for charity or just for fun, and I’ve gotten involved in a handful of other IBD organizations.  But I always, always take the time out of my year to be there in June to reconnect with the GYGIG community and be a part of this event, which is truly unlike any other event, or community, I’ve ever encountered.

Here are my top 10 reasons to keep riding GYGIG:

10. The support and positivity.  I noticed on my first day of my first year, was that every single person I met was open, friendly, positive, and supportive.  Throughout that ride and subsequent rides, I have found that this attitude persists and is passed down every year.  People are unconditionally understanding of any GI issues, whether they be at the camp bathrooms, or on the ride.  People that come out to ride and spend many legs in the sweep van get just as much support and praise as those who are strong riders or healthy people.  This has become a comfortable place for people to discuss non-GI issues that they are dealing with, only to be met with the same support and understanding.  Let’s face it, everyone has obstacles to overcome, and who understand that better than those who live with chronic illness.  I’ve never found a place where everyone is so eager to help each other out and dole out support.  I wish all of life was like this.

9. The challenge.  The first few years of riding GYGIG, I was sick with Colitis symptoms.  This meant camping close to the port-a-potty, using it first thing in the morning, sending an extra pair of bike shorts in the sweep van, and packing my seat bag with Immodium and Tums.  Those are the years that finishing the ride meant the most to me, when I wasn’t sure I could do it.  I’ve seen other people that are battling similar symptoms, or people that aren’t athletic to begin with, or people that weren’t sure they had properly trained, finish the ride as best they could.  Those people are the proudest of their accomplishments, and have no regrets about coming out and doing this event.

Sometimes as patients of a chronic illness, we have to re-define success.  It’s not finishing the fastest, or winning a medal, or qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  Sometimes, for us, there is more success in just getting out there and doing something like GYGIG, despite our disease, and never giving up when we’re already fighting something harder. And let me tell you, the reward is sweet.

8. Traveling, or showing off my city.  Making a mini-vacation out of the New York ride in the early summer is the highlight of my year.  The first time, we did every tourist thing we had time for.  I began sleeping on GYGIG friends’ couches, and spent time discovering some more local flavor.  Then the ride starts and I get to see the gorgeous Hudson River Valley, small towns, and upstate NY.   I feel like I have so many memories along every mile of the GYGIG ride, and I’ve carved out a special place in New York that I get to return to each year.

I was beyond excited when GYGIG chose to add the Midwest ride.  I grew up here and I love the chance to show off my region!  We are full of friendly people, rolling countryside, and a wonderfully sized city that allows you to experience urban flavor, then pedal out to a lake or a state park in no time.  Did I mention we also have tons of microbreweries and fresh cheese?  And some of the best cycling events and organizations in the country?  Well we do, and I’m proud to show it off each fall.

7. Getting my friends and family involved.  My mom has been an all-star crew member for many rides, doing basically whatever is asked of her with a smile on her face and orange pom pom in her hand.  I know she loves this community as much as I do, and over the years, it has become as important to her as it has to me, an IBD patient. It means a lot to have friends and family come out, give up a weekend, and do this for me.

But what I really love about having these people on GYGIG with me is that they get a chance to meet other people with the same disease, and learn other IBD points of view.  Although I am open about discussing Colitis, I don’t like to complain when it gets tough, so I might not tell the whole story.  My friends and family that come out get a bigger picture of what it’s like to live with Crohns or Colitis.  It’s a fantastic learning experience for a caregiver.

6. The laughter.  Maybe something about having a bowel disease makes you not take life so seriously.  Maybe spending hours on a bike makes you giddy.  Maybe sleeping in fresh air relaxes you.  Probably a combination of these.  I can tell you that I have never, ever laughed so hard in my life than I have on these events, among these people.  I have laughed until I cried, and until I couldn’t breathe.  Whether I can’t even remember what we laughed about, or we form inside jokes that last forever, there’s just something about the combination of amazing people and this great weekend that encourages excessive amounts of laughter.

5. The connections.  GYGIG has introduced me to people I never would have met.  One of my best memories is sharing our hotel room in NYC with whoever wanted it.  We had people from different locations, backgrounds, and walks of life, all brought together by the common thread of IBD, and I remember thinking at that moment, there’s no place I’d rather be, and no one I’d rather be with.

I love hearing everyone’s unique stories.  People are open about their experience with their disease, or about the legacy of people for whom they ride.  People talk about their struggles, their surgeries, and their medications; their jobs and relationships, their families.  I feel like no matter what issue I have, I can turn to someone that can relate.  I’ve introduced these friends to new people who have questions about IBD that I can’t answer.  I’ve built an incredible network of other IBD patients.  Everyone is so different, yet so the same, and for a weekend, we are all brought together for the same mission.

4. Being in GYGIG world for a weekend is magical.  I’ve heard GYGIG weekend described as “summer camp on wheels”.  That’s a pretty accurate description, I think.  Starting from the meeting the night before, till the very end, where there are countless hugs and tears and see you next years, we are part of something unique.  During the miles on the bike, the time spent at rest stops, and hanging out at camp, conversations are had, jokes are told, and friendships are formed that are so special to this event.  I put my cell phone away and savor this time with my friends, new and old.  I leave the makeup at home and stop worrying about my helmet hair and find the best sense of enjoyment and satisfaction.  I belong here.

One thing that is truly special is that for this weekend, we’re just us.  We’re patients of IBD, we’re ostomates, we’re friends and family, or people that are just interested in making a difference.  We escape from the outside world for a weekend, and create this environment where strength in spite of your disease is the standard, and urgent trips to the toilet are normal.  We’re not just a bunch of people injected into a bigger event, but we make our own group, and every year it is that environment that keeps people coming back and attracts new ones.  There is truly nothing like GYGIG weekend.  I get more excited for this than I do for Christmas.

3. I get to make a difference. The money raised for GYGIG goes to an array of great organizations.  I love that the beneficiaries are hand chosen, and maintain relationships with GYGIG.  Some of the organizations are large, such as CCFA.  The GYGIG money that goes here doesn’t go into a general fund, but directly towards research grants.  The smaller beneficiaries such as Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness truly appreciate the funding they receive, and it makes a difference for their non-profits to keep going and keep helping others.  They give the most heartfelt thank you speeches at closing, and I’m reminded that all my fundraising really makes a difference.

Learn more about what GYGIG beneficiaries are doing with this IBD Infographic.

2. The ongoing positive effect this has on the rest of my year. The first year I did GYGIG, I thought it would be a fun way to do something about my disease and raise some money and awareness, but clearly it has impacted me a lot more than that.  My first experience with GYGIG was a turning point; it was the first time I had ever met anyone else with my disease, been able to discuss it openly and hear others do the same, and it was when I began to see my disease as a source of empowerment, rather than something to be bitter about.  This is a trait that is so invaluable, and allows me to be successful with GYGIG, other IBD organizations, and inspire those around me.  What could be better than that?

1. It really is a family, and every year we get to grow it. Spoiler: Sappy alert!  There are so many reasons that I keep coming back to GYGIG.  When my fundraising efforts stall, or I feel like I don’t have enough time to train, or making travel plans gets overwhelming, I stop and remember why I do this, and why I want to bring others into this community, and it makes it all worth it again.  I’ve met some of the best friends I could imagine on this ride.  I’ve never been a part of a community where I feel so comfortable, and feel like I belong.  GYGIG is my friends, my family, and my support group.  There are people I turn to when I need to talk about IBD, or need a good laugh.  There are people I look to for inspiration and strength to get through another flare.  There are a million reasons to visit friends all over the country.  And I know I’m not the only one that feels this way.

Every year when we get to the meeting the night before the ride, it’s like a family reunion.  We hug and laugh and talk about the upcoming weekend, and it’s like we picked up right where we left off last year, hopefully all in better health.  We notice the new people and say hi, and do our best to make sure everyone is taken care of.  They think it’s funny, but we let them know that by the end of the ride, they’ll feel like they’ve known us forever.  Then at the end of the weekend, they tell us that we’re right.  This is the part of GYGIG that I just can’t say enough about.  And I really can’t put it into words.  But I’m eternally grateful that I registered that first year, and I can only imagine how much worse off my attitude, and life, would be, without this experience.

What are your reasons for participating in GYGIG?  Share them on our Facebook page!

Register to ride or crew GYGIG 2012

See you this June!

Training for an athletic event such as Get Your Guts In Gear takes preparation, and can be complicated by the fact that many riders are patients of Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.  It is especially important to prioritize your health during training, but you can do it!  Here are some tips on successful training and management:

1.  Know your body.

You’ve probably learned a lot about your body through your journey with your disease, such as which foods and medications help, and which ones cause reactions.  As your training progresses, be attentive to similar things.  Do you get hungry or need to use the bathroom at a certain time?  Does an intense or long workout trigger symptoms?  Do you feel drained the day after a workout?

Use a calendar or diary to record your workouts, along with your diet and symptoms, to help you determine how all of these affect each other.  Training smart can help you get the most out of your efforts with the least stress on your body and disease.

2. Build a support system.

There are a lot of experts out there that can help you.  If you are experiencing symptoms and you’re concerned they may affect your training, talk to your doctor.  He/she will likely have some suggestions to managing your fitness, or be able to refer you to a specialist that can help you further.  Going from none or little athletic activity, to training for a multi-day ride like GYGIG will affect aspects such as your weight, appetite, and metabolism, so it’s important to let your doctor know that you’re doing this (Bonus- ask him for a donation!)

If it’s within your budget, consider finding a coach, nutritionist, or both, that can advise you during this process.  Digestion is vital in absorbing the nutrients and water that a body needs to undergo this type of training.  Finding a professional that can help you determine the best way to do this, and help manage your training throughout the process can be an invaluable resource.

3.  Learn how to eat.

Many nutrients, as well as water, are absorbed through the colon.  If your digestive system is not normal, you’ll need to be extremely careful to make sure you’re getting enough to keep you going.  Learn to eat and drink consistently, that is, a little bit at a time, but often during long rides.  You’ll need to eat before you are hungry, and drink before you are thirsty.  Don’t overwhelm your gut with unfamiliar energy foods, but keep the caloric intake steady.  The more you ride, the more you will learn to eat and drink effectively.

Find nutritional products that work for you.  Having water in one bottle, and Gatorade or an electrolyte drink in the other is a great balance for fluids.  This gives you hydration, calories, electrolytes, and variety in taste.  Carefully try gels, chews, and bars, to find what works with your digestion.  Many of the products out there are highly processed, and while they have a calculated formula for energy, are tough on the gut.  Try some before the ride to figure out what’s best for your body.

Clif Bar makes some great products such as Shot Bloks, and a variety of healthier energy bars.  Another favorite is Honey Stinger energy gels, which are organic, and get the natural energy found in honey.  These are some of the easiest to digest.

Don’t forget about recovery foods, which will help your legs feel better faster.  Many recovery drinks and bars you can purchase are high in protein.  If this is too hard to digest, try a large serving of yogurt, which has lots of dairy protein, and is often easier on the gut.

4. Be prepared- bad days will probably happen.

We all know that Crohns and Colitis can decide to flare when it is most inconvenient.  Be mentally prepared, this is probably going to happen, but you can’t let it get you down.  Be smart about your symptoms, and don’t feel guilty about taking days off if your disease can’t handle it.  Don’t let yourself get too frustrated about the situation, because it’s inevitable, and take advantage of the days that you feel good.

Participating in GYGIG is all about overcoming your disease, and doing something great despite what you have been handed!  Your attitude goes a long way in keeping you going through these small challenges.  IBD might affect you some days, but don’t let it stop you!

If you do have a bad day and can’t ride, find an alternative exercise.  Yoga is a great low-impact exercise that builds strength and balance, clears your mind, and can allow you to stay near the bathroom.  Find a studio or class that you can attend.  I bet the other participants are willing to donate also!

Get Your Guts In Gear is known for building an extremely supportive community.  If you’re having a downer day or need some advice, post it on our Facebook wall, and we’re pretty sure you’ll find some positive responses!

5. Be prepared on the road.

Some days, you might not expect the urge to hit when you’re on your bike, 20 miles from home.  Be prepared for this by carrying a small roll of toilet paper or a travel pack of flushable wipes in your bike’s seat pack.  Keep your cell phone with you, in case you need to call someone for clean undies, or more likely a ride back.  Ride with friends if you can, that understand your situation.  Let them know that you might have to find a bathroom suddenly, and they may need to hold your bike while you go.  If you have a really good friend, have them drive out and meet you at certain check points with extra water, and even clean bike shorts, if needed!  Thank them graciously.

Many riders also carry items like Tums or Imodium in their seat packs, just in case.  These should be used as something to get you through a situation, not to depend on every time you ride.

6. Remember why you’re doing this.

Sometimes, the most motivating thing to remember is how much pain you felt during your worst flares, or post-surgery, or during an extended hospital stay.  You’re doing this for a reason, whether it be to prove to yourself that you’re not letting your disease win, to show others that you’re being active in making a difference, or in honor of those still unable to do something like this.

Keep that in mind when you train and when you ride.  Remember how your disease forced you to find strength, and taught you to deal with pain.  Use those seemingly negative tools and turn them into a positive.  By training for, and participating in Get Your Guts In Gear, you’re making a difference in your life, and the lives of all IBD patients, and that is something great!  We’re all here to accomplish our goals, whatever they may be, and build a community, not to be the fastest rider in the group.

The Get Your Guts In Gear community is almost a decade old, and every year we see the return of old riders, and the addition of new riders, who instantly feel part of the GYGIG family.  If you ever have a question, need advice, or just seek a tidbit of motivation, please post it on our Facebook wall, and someone will be eager to share their experience with you!

Support On The Ride

During the 2 days of riding of Get Your Guts In Gear, lots of steps are taken to customize the ride experience towards IBD participants.  Rest stops every 12-15 miles will have a variety of gut-friendly snacks, water, Gatorade, and people to check up on you and encourage you.  Registered Nurses are usually stationed at the lunch stop, and at camp.  Bathrooms are at every single rest stop, including lunch and camp, with lots of soft toilet paper!

Sweep vans will be monitoring the riders along the course, and riders will be able to reach any of these via cell phone during the ride, whether it be for a flat tire, a quick trip to the nearest bathroom, or for a break in riding.  All crew members are prepared with directories of nearby hospitals and pharmacies.

The participants on the ride are some of the most supportive and encouraging of any charity ride.  You will be able to depend on them for any (reasonable!) request, and they likely understand what it’s like to deal with IBD!  We’re all so excited for you to participate, and to see you out there doing what you can for IBD, no matter how short or far you ride!

See you this June!

As the Midwest 2011 Get Your Guts In Gear ride quickly approaches, I reflect on how important this community has become to me.  My daughter Megan has Ulcerative Colitis.

She also is an avid cyclist.  Some years ago, she found a bike ride to raise awareness and money for research for Crohn’s and Colitis and she decided she was going to go to NY and ride.

The 1^st year that Megan rode, I stayed in NYC and did some sightseeing.  We were to meet up at the closing ceremony.  When I walked into closing and the BBQ that followed, I immediately felt welcomed and felt like I was with a group of people that I wanted to be a part of.  There were so many inspiring stories of riders that had participated in the ride, some for the fist time and many who had done the ride before.  Megan had been very well taken care of on her first ride by both riders and crew.  I decided I wanted to be a part of this community and family.

The MW 2011 ride will be the 9^th ride that I will crew.  Megan again will be riding.  Crewing for me is a very rewarding experience.  To be able to help a rider along the way by cheering them up a hill, or having a bag of ice ready for them when they come into a rest stop, or setting up a relaxing camp for them at the end of the day gives me such a great feeling.  I know that I am helping the cyclists’ achiever their goals and give them a feeling of accomplishment.  This ride empowers so many people-riders and crew alike.

The community has become like a second family to me.  I look forward to the rides every year knowing that I will see old friends and make new ones.

Helping raise awareness for these diseases and helping these riders in whatever way they need has become something that I look forward to each year.

To crew this ride is some work, but it does not feel like work to me.  I feel like a crew “Mom” taking care of the riders in any way that I can.  I always have such a good time and I know that what I do for the GYGIG community is very much appreciated.

That is why you will see me here again this fall and on rides to come.

Come and join us-you will not be disappointed!!!

See you this June!

Family. That’s what Get Your Guts in Gear means to me.

When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease back in 1999 I had a wonderfully supportive group of family and friends helping me every step of the way. When my dad decided to find an event supporting Crohn’s his search engine landed on Get Your Guts in Gear. He and I signed up to ride together with no idea what to expect.

While Crohn’s symptoms kept me from riding for a couple of years, I joined the crew and was hooked from the first day. We had found a supportive community, not just with people who understood what I was going through, but people who understood what my family was going through as well. Being the family and friends of someone with a chronic disease has it’s own challenges that are often overlooked, and having people who understood those challenges was a great help to my family.

And speaking of support systems…having a support system is so important when dealing with IBD, and I have a great one. Family and friends who are willing to take on the challenges of biking long distances, raising lots of money, and sleeping in a tent (which they all ended up loving, despite apprehension). People who are there for me no matter what I need, whether it’s a ride to a doctor’s appointment or just a shoulder to lean on.

Through GYGIG this support system has only gotten bigger. I have made countless friends who I know I could call in the middle of the night if I needed to. Like the slogan says, GYGIG is more than a ride. It’s more than a fundraiser. It’s more than a chance to spend a weekend together with new and old friends. It’s more than a support group. It’s more than a sleep away camp. It’s more than a physical challenge. It’s more than the sum of its parts. It’s a family!

See you this June!

See you this June!

Like many people that are diagnosed with an incurable disease, I was in shock when I realized I had Crohn’s. The stomach pain that I had endured for a greater part of my life finally had an explanation. I had been told by doctors for years that nothing was physically wrong with me and that stress and poor diet were likely the culprit of my “rotten gut” syndrome. It’s an all too familiar situation for many people that suffer for years with IBD before being taken seriously. For me, my intestine actually had to perforate and leave me septic for a correct diagnosis to be made. After a slow recovery process, I knew I had to do something about the lack of awareness of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. If this happened to me it had happened to thousands of people all over the world. That’s when I found Get Your Guts in Gear.
After a year of battling with my rotten gut, I was finally in remission (sans two feet of intestine). I’d never felt better. I knew it was time to mentally and physically prepare to begin two things that I had never done before,  ride my bike in a long distance cycling event and talk about how my disease had nearly killed me.
After a year of hospital visits, two surgeries, a colonoscopy, two sigmoidoscopes, small bowel follow-through’s, two CT scans, one endoscopy, multiple doctor appointments and drug trials, my body was incredibly weak. My first training session lasted only six miles. It was slightly discouraging but I continued to push myself each day until I was able to ride 50+ miles on the weekends….for fun. Throughout my training and fundraising, the staff at GYGIG was incredibly supportive and helpful. They gave me some great fundraising advise and continually assured me that I can and will be able to finish the ride.

Upon my arrival in Washington, I immediately met a fellow rider named Ruth. We quickly figured out we both had Crohn’s and were both were incredibly nervous to ride our bikes 210 miles. We made  plans to elaborate on our brief conversation in 20 min. in the hotel hot tub. This, my first experience meeting another human being with Crohn’s, was great. Listening to her story was the first step in my emotional recovery process. Not only had Ruth been living with Crohn’s successfully, she was able to give birth to a beautiful daughter the year before she registered to ride in a Get Your Guts in Gear event. This gave me the hope and the reassurance I needed to begin living my life more fully rather than constantly being afraid of getting sick again.

The entire 3 days was filled with people equally as incredible as Ruth. The camaraderie I experienced was like nothing I’d ever been a part of before. It was amazing to hear peoples stories about their disease and how they overcame the stigma of IBD. I had stopped feeling so ashamed and embarrassed about my faulty guts and began to feel relieved that there were so many of “us” out there.  I was even able to crack some bathroom jokes with the seasoned GYGIG riders. This experience is what kept me coming back to participate in these events. Without it I may not have mentally or emotionally been able bounce back from the trauma of the severe Crohn’s catastrophe I went through the year before.

Throughout the years of being a part of the GYGIG community, I’ve come across so many people that have said GYGIG changed their life and view of having a gastrointestinal disease. It has not only become an event for old friends to gather at but a complete support system for those suffering with their disease, those in remission, and for those that have family and friends battling IBD. GYGIG definitely helped me through a dark time in my life. I was able to turn something negative into something positive and I credit that to all the wonderful staff and community members I’ve met throughout the years. It really is “more than a ride” and anyone that participates in a GYGIG event will figure out exactly what that means.

See you this June!