Meet Kathryn Miles
Y4ED Community Member, Kathryn Miles
Meet our Y4ED Featured Community Member, Kathryn Miles. We can't thank her enough for her willingness to share her story with our Y4ED community. It’s this kind of opening up that gives our readers the strength to join in. Here’s what Kathryn has to say about the role of community in her recovery:
"Six years ago, I found myself beginning my recovery journey, again. It was not a place I thought I would come back to, especially in my forties. I was told recovery does not happen alone and that we heal in community. Having had negative experiences sharing my truth with others over the years and out of fear that it would impact my career, I fought this idea and continued to go it alone. Relying only on my recovery team (who were very patient with me) and a couple of close friends for support.
My yoga therapist, who was participating in Jennifer’s mentoring program, introduced me to Yoga for Eating Disorders. I started by reluctantly participating in a virtual yoga workshop. I was pleasantly surprised by the affirming and inclusive tone of the course, as this was not my experience with yoga in the past. From there I joined the weekly Connection Calls, virtual yoga sessions, and a journaling and meditation course.
For the first time I found a group with whom I was comfortable sharing. We related to one another, listened without judgment and offered support. I started to look forward to the weekly Connection Calls, especially during the isolation of Covid.
Yoga for Eating Disorders classes and groups are some of the few places I feel I can show up as my authentic self. While still complicated and very much a work in progress, I’m using the tools I’ve learned to work on my relationship with my body.
This is a type of community I haven’t experienced before. Jennifer has created an inviting and accepting space that allows for exploration, validation and connection. I am so grateful to her, and every member of this community, for providing a safe space as part of my recovery."