In early February, I decided I wanted to do something special for my birthday. After a whirlwind of a holiday season between visiting relatives and my sister’s wedding, I was reminded of how thankful I was to have loving and supportive people surrounding me. Senior year of college left me feeling frustrated, questioning who I was beyond the green quads of my undergraduate college.
For years I have found such empowerment in sharing my journey of struggle, relapse, and recovery from my eating disorder. I was looking at the National Eating Disorders Association walk calendar, and there it was, March 25th 2018 the DC NEDA walk. Conveniently 2 days before my 22nd Birthday and the city my sister and brother-in-law call home.
So I texted my sister, “I kind of want to do something special for my birthday this year.” She joined on fast. I made my team web page, Together We Can , and pasted a picture of my sister and I for all to see. I set a fundraising goal of $1000, it seemed daunting, but so is eating disorder recovery so I decided to give it a try.
After my sister and brother-in-law signed on, I started to spread the word. From Instagram, to Facebook, to sorority group chats, and classic snail mail, I started to share more of my story. There was such support through comments, likes, texts and virtual hugs sent across the world.
But then came the donations, of all different sizes. Each donation notification filled my heart. Often eating disorders are invisible, but this fundraiser was proving that wrong. NEDA walks bring people together in a physical space, but this fundraiser was proving to me that distance cannot stymie love and support.
Slowly, but surely we raised. Whether it was $1 or $100, 60+ unique donors helped my team reach $1,255 for the National Eating Disorders Association.
Then I saw a post in the DC NEDA walk Facebook page asking for someone to lead a yoga warm up. It seemed like fate. I had been teaching yoga for about 2 months, but yoga had been so essential to my recovery journey. Teaching yoga at the NEDA walk felt like everything was coming in full circle.
So, I took a risk. I emailed NEDA and asked if I could teach yoga.
To my surprise, the response was an enthusiastic YES!
Fast forward five days, its a frigid March morning that felt more like January than anything else. Bundled up my sister, her husband, and his sister made our trek to American University for the walk. We got our cute shirts and bags, took some awkward and cute pictures! I nervously introduced myself to the staff.
I was welcomed with love and joy. Treated as though I was an old friend. I listened to recovery warriors courageously share their journeys. I teared up, stopped feeling my toes, and beamed with joy.
Then it was go time. Impromptu jumping jacks were essential to try to bring some warmth back to our bodies. 
Bending, folding, moving.
I honestly don’t remember much of what I said or did. I remember laughing and smiling. I remember feeling warm inside. I remember a strong sense of empowerment. I remember setting an intention to walk mindfully and to walk in honor of those whose battles were cut short to this awful disease.
When I stepped down off the podium, I felt so proud. Yes, proud for teaching in front of 200 people. But also for getting to this place. Getting to a place where I can live, thrive, and spread kindness. Recovery has brought me enumerable joys and opportunities- but teaching yoga at this walk was most definitely a highlight.
Because when the sun goes down and the tents are folded up neatly, it doesn’t matter that I slipped up on one my instructions, what matters is that we were there. That 200 individuals showed up on a frigid morning. That 200 individuals cared to be there. A community came together on March 25th, 2018 to prove that eating disorders would never run unnoticed. That recovery is real. That recovery is possible. And that together we can reach full recovery.
Thank you NEDA for all you do, but extra thank you for helping me find and harness my voice.
emma janet yoga 