Follow the path. I was told that is what I “should” be doing. From the age of 6, I was told what career would suit me. I was given an education, being told what I answer I should give in order to make the next step on the path. I went along with this and, to the outside world, experienced an incredibly privileged life.
From the age of 6, I was told what career would suit me.
Following “the” path led me to London. I lived a fast-paced life. I worked in telecoms when it was expanding dramatically. I thrived being in an extremely dynamic industry where there were new developments to learn about constantly. I had many friends whom I made every effort to see. I stayed at home on Sunday evenings but otherwise made the most of the wonders that London has to offer; restaurants, bars, theatres, galleries etc. It was a busy but, to my eyes, normal life.
I commented to my co-driver, how completely exhausted I was and how my fingers had started tingling.
Partying late while working hard is possible if you drink copious cups of coffee in the day and glasses of wine in the evening. In 2000, I disproved my theory. Driving back to England after a week’s fun filled partying with friends in Western France, I commented to my co-driver, how completely exhausted I was and how my fingers had started tingling. We both attributed it to late nights and being woken early as our room was above the kitchen. The fatigue increased as did the tingling which moved across to my tongue, lips, nose and feet. After a while the tingling stopped and was replaced with numbness. My body had rebelled and wanted to wake me up.
My body had rebelled and wanted to wake me up.
I saw many doctors over the next 3 months until my GP witnessed me having to use my hands to move my legs – I couldn’t feel them and couldn’t move them subconsciously anymore. I was admitted to hospital. Within 24 hours, a neurologist gave me a “diagnosis” or “label”, chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy, a relatively new illness. Electrical impulses were no longer able to be carried by my nerves from my brain to my feet and other extremities.
…the condition was chronic and so, would be with me for the rest of my life.
The doctors informed me that the condition was chronic and so, would be with me for the rest of my life. Hospital visits would become routine. Having to suffer the same treatment countless times was desperately unappealing. The medication I had been given via IV which had enabled me to walk, came with the added bonus of side effects. I was given additional drugs to help but each one brought another drug to counteract the side effect of the previous one. The upside was that after just 5 miserable days, I was able to walk down the corridor in the hospital.
My optimistic, curious, rebellious streak refused to accept that I would be in and out of hospital. I began to question the doctors’ views…
I am innately optimistic and enthusiastic. I had believed I would walk again. My optimistic, curious, rebellious streak refused to accept that I would be in and out of hospital. I began to question the doctors’ views: food and environment have no impact on health; I was just unlucky; that there was no explanation as to why I had become ill. I would find others to help me. I certainly didn’t want to see the neurological “expert” who confided that he was the best in Europe for my neuropathy and stated the way to keep track on my progress was to electrocute me again. I understand the theory behind this as forcing electricity down the nerves allows the observer to see how receptive the nerves are. What I didn’t know then is that I am extremely sensitive to energy. Being electrocuted was shockingly painful, pun intended. I made a vow that I would not see him again.
Over the next few years I invested a great deal of effort finding the magic bullet.
I saw holistic healers. I altered my diet. It did make a difference. I altered the way I live to be more in tune with the natural rhythms of the planet which included going to sleep and rising earlier. It made a difference. Over the next few years I invested a great deal of effort finding the magic bullet. External treatments I tried and found effective include acupuncture, shiatsu, shamanism, reiki and massage.
Internally, I detoxed my body in numerous ways including fasts, Epsom salt baths, herbs, essential oils and infra-red saunas. I detoxed my mind through meditation, sound healing becoming acutely aware of the quantum field and the effects of my thoughts and words. I practiced yoga, tai chi and Qi jong. I practise most of these to this day; they all boost longevity and wellness.
Being in the fresh air, doing what we loved was invigorating. We both felt stronger and healthier than we had in years.
In 2005 I left London to spend more time at sea with my now husband. Both qualified captains, we were asked to run someone’s yacht as a business venture over the summer season i.e. running a hospitality business on a boat. We seized the opportunity despite the cries to stay in our safe jobs. Being in the fresh air, doing what we loved was invigorating. We both felt stronger and healthier than we had in years. We prolonged our time at sea; I came ashore to France after almost 3 years and had our daughter.
I shared my experiences and knowledge wherever I could.
As often happens, a new path presented itself. I began to meet others who had experienced ill health. I shared my findings and experiences freely with them. As I young child, I experienced the same dream repeatedly; a scene where I was helping others to fly which I can still recall vividly. When the image reappeared many years later during a shamanic journey, I understood my purpose was to be of service to others. I shared my experiences and knowledge wherever I could.
I was involved in an annual holistic event in the South of France and thrived on being their MC, introducing fascinating speakers. When we moved to Bali, I benefited from the vast range of unusual therapies that were available. I learnt about healing others with energy and how, whilst doing so, I discovered I was given a gift to see images in the energy field of the person’s body that related to a trauma in that person’s earlier life. It allowed me to help them release the trapped emotion.
I ran workshops where I explained natural ways to prevent illness and boost energy to other new families arriving in the tropics. I took advantage of any speaking opportunity that came my way – whether talking to groups about energy, teaching high school children the psychology of happiness and teaching primary children the importance of detoxing our thoughts, understanding energy and living life fully for themselves.
The change I made that was the most influential for me was a mental one: I chose to rip up the script on living by convention
I have experienced a wide variety of healing modalities and made upgrades to the way I (and my family) live. I have a bubbly, insistent energy within me that urges me to share all that I have learnt with others so more people can be healthy and happy; be the optimal version of themselves. I still work to maintain my health. The change I made that was the most influential for me was a mental one: I chose to rip up the script on living by convention and change one small word in a sentence I had heard so often. By swapping the for your, my mantra to find health and happiness is now “follow your path.”
– Emma Nyman
