This details her progress after the right BHR (second hip surgery) done in April 2007.

From : Ms Joan Gunnes:

Ok, I thought you’d enjoy this……I started teaching my yoga class 13 days post op! Yes, I stood with my cane for most of it, but I could do side bends, some forward and backward bending and I did in fact teach the class! And I’ve been at it ever since – taught my first children’s class last week – that would be about 20 days post-op and unbelievably, by last Wednesday or so (again about 24 days post-op), I sat x-legged! Now mind you, I was sitting up about 5 inches on blankets and had blocks for support under my knees, but it was a definate x-legged sitting posture.

My biggest difficulty is with lunges (Virbhadrasana) poses on my operated side, but I figure that will come in a few weeks. I also did a full Vrikshasana (tree pose) with the sole of my foot up on my thigh, balancing on the other leg on BOTH sides last night.

I am in awe…….tell everyone I send my love and you are the absolute greatest! Thank you for giving me so much back that I might be able to be of service to more through my teaching……much, much love, Joan

This details her progress after the left BHR (First hip surgery) done in July 2006.

From : Ms Joan Gunnes: I celebrated my 1 year anniversary of my left BHR(Birmingham Hip Resurfacing) on July 30, 2006! It was one year ago on that date that my life underwent a profound and beautiful transformation under the golden hands of Dr. Vijay C. Bose. I am 52 years old and have been a dancer, children’s creative dance teacher and yoga teacher for over 30 years. I had been struggling for over 5 years with increasingly debilitating osteoarthritis in both hips. Literally, my students were in pain watching me try to walk down the hall – I was in continual pain and in many ways, disabled. It was impossible to walk more than a few blocks and was becoming increasingly difficult to work and enjoy my natural love of life.

Thankfully, I found out about Hip Resurfacing and then, Dr. Vijay C. Bose and the India experience. Once I communicated via email with Dr. Vijay C. Bose, my fears vanished and I eagerly made plans for my upcoming surgery. Words can hardly describe the magnificence of my entire experience from hospital stay to the stay at the Taj Resort on the Indian Ocean! I was treated with such kindness, gentleness and professionalism by the staff of the hospital Nurses were continually checking to be sure my needs were met and Dr. Vijay C. Bose visited me everyday despite his busy and demanding schedule!

My recovery was astonishing! I was walking with the elbow crutches comfortably within a few days, down to 1 crutch within 2 weeks and back to teaching the day after my return from India (mind you, I was not doing a lot of poses, but I was up there teaching!!). Yes, it has taken a lot longer to fully recover, but the beauty of it is, I am still gaining in range of motion and strength! My life is so vastly improved from where I was a mere year ago that I feel blessed as if by a miracle! Hip resurfacing gave me my life back and additionally, my trip to India was a gift of a lifetime leaving an indelible impression in my heart.

Ms. Joan Gunnes from the United States is a yoga instructor specializing in teaching yoga for children. She has embarked on a two year programme known as the radiant child yoga programme. Photographs show the Resurfaced Hip Coping with the high demands of flexibility for the various postures.

Email ID: Jlgunness@aol.com