Stronger Bones Through Yoga: My Story
By Eileen Wise
Both my mother and my maternal grandmother had osteoporosis. My mother was so bent over in her later years that she could not see straight ahead. She needed to have someone guide her to walk to the car or through a store to shop for groceries. She never complained, but she certainly struggled. In her last years she relied on external oxygen to be able to fill her lungs with air because her chest was so compressed by her rounded spine.
In 2010 I was explaining my family history of osteoporosis to my doctor, Dr. Stephen Pandolph. He listened attentively and thought for a moment. Then he said, “If you want to prevent osteoporosis, I would recommend yoga.”
This was the moment my yoga journey began. Sometime that year I learned about Theresa Shay and TriYoga. My British friend, Charmian, and I enrolled in classes and traveled to studios in Spring Mills, Shiloh Road and Allen Street in State College, and finally to the beautiful wooden floors and tall sparkling windows of the TriYoga studio in Boalsburg.
At first I attended an in-person class once a week. But I began to feel frustrated. I wasn’t making much progress. It felt like I was just scratching the surface of TriYoga. I knew there was more to discover, learn, and practice. Theresa spoke of a depth that seemed so elusive.
About five years ago I increased my practice to twice a week. I was still employed and it was challenging, but I began to feel more skilled, more comfortable in knowing what I could do and what was still out of reach for me. But I could tell in small, subtle ways that I was gaining knowledge. I started to be able to say, “I am a yoga practitioner.”
Then I retired, COVID hit, and Theresa began teaching online. The efficiency of the online classes during COVID was so attractive to me, partly because by this time I knew the terminology and techniques, and didn’t need as much individual attention and guidance.
I transformed my grown son’s old bedroom into a comfortable yoga studio with props, candles, cushions, and soft lighting. Since joining the “Flow” membership, I was able to afford to practice more often. Now I was taking a synchronous class three times a week. When I had to miss a class, I was able to use one of the many videos that Theresa recorded and made available.
In February 2025, I had my annual wellness appointment. Dr. Pandolph had ordered a bone density scan, and we discussed the result. He noted that since my last bone density test (6 years earlier), he saw no change at all in my hip bone density.
He remarked that this was very unusual for someone of my age (mid-70’s) and family history. He would have expected at least some deterioration over the past six years. I reminded him of what he had recommended to me 15 years ago. I told him that I took his advice to heart, and he wanted to know more. I told him about Theresa and TriYoga, and I promised to share my results with Theresa.
At the next yoga class, I shared my story, and Theresa suggested I write my story to benefit other practitioners. I love the fact that not only do I enjoy yoga, feel healthy and flexible as a result, but also have received an objective measure of the health benefits to my bones as a result of my TriYoga practice. And I don’t have osteoporosis!
Eileen found her calling as a Montessori elementary teacher in an exciting and innovative school in Florida. When she moved to Pennsylvania, she led a nonprofit for children and families. Eventually, she found her place at Penn State University writing online learning modules for afterschool teachers across the country. Retired now, she enjoys gardening, practicing TriYoga, and hanging out with her husband and friends at local wineries and playing trivia.