Throughout January and February we’ll be featuring “You in 2022” – a variety of stories from instructors and enthusiasts alike on what inspires them to be healthier. We hope they inspire you to make a healthy choice, too!
I have been a client at Blue Moon Pilates since 2018, taking classes from multiple trainers. I decided to add private sessions in 2020 with Alexis, Heidi and Taryn, since I had been experiencing severe sciatica. Within a few months, I noticed so much progress and gained strength, it felt as though I was on the mend!
On November 4th, 2020, I was at home when my left leg gave way. I fell and my femur broke into three pieces. Thinking it had broken from the fall, I tried to push it back into place while waiting for the ambulance. At the hospital, Doctors took me into surgery to begin repairing my leg, initially by inserting pins in my femur in order to put in rods. Unfortunately, they found a large tumor and determined it was the cause of my femur breaking. They took me out of surgery and the doctors gave me the choice of cancer treatment or amputation. Without hesitation, I chose amputation. As a survivor of Breast Cancer, I didn’t want to revisit those treatments unless absolutely necessary. I remember very clearly what it did to my body and I wanted a chance to live life, even if it meant without my leg.
On November 19th, 2020, they amputated my left leg 4 inches above the knee. I knew this was going to be a long road ahead, but I knew I couldn’t give up. In the rehab facility, we began with basics but I had set goals to return to my life and Pilates as soon as possible. I told my PT’s to stop showing me how to get around a kitchen and instead teach me how to get up and down from the floor. Because of my prior Pilates work, I was only in the rehabilitation center for 8 days!
Only one month later I resumed my private sessions online with Alexis. Working hard on my core strength and even doing rehabilitation exercises, I managed to surpass the standard of a ‘normal’ amputee patient and was ready for a leg in February of 2021!
I have had many obstacles in my journey, including having a large neuroma and 8 inches of my sciatic nerve removed in September of 2021. All of which had prevented me from using my prosthetic leg for months. Through everything, I added on Private sessions with trainer Michel, and have continued to take the online Gentle Yoga & Meditation class. I have found invaluable benefits from my continued training for my mental health as I live alone and rely on myself to do things around the house, even driving to and from Pilates. Without the help of the Blue Moon Pilates team, I know I would not be where I am today.
I am now working towards a microprocessor knee and am looking forward to one day reaching my goals of walking with a cane and joining in person group classes again in 2022!
Established in July 2002, Blue Moon Pilates has been serving Southern California and Orange County as its premier Pilates Wellness and Education training studio. Owned and managed by Kelly Leonardi-Uygan, Blue Moon Pilates is also Southern California’s flagship Teacher Training studio for the internationally renowned Balanced Body Education. At Blue Moon Pilates our focus is on helping clients achieve their goals with our specialized programs. Our programs range from Privates to Group sessions which include Pilates and other functional fitness modalities and are taught by our caring, highly skilled, certified instructors.
