My story in the book. do I believe

Yogi Rob  by Yogi Rob Bispo
I was burned on July 25th 2003 by a hot water heater malfunction in the basement of my restaurant. I lost 97% of my skin, the largest organ on our body. As I lit the match I heard a ‘Swoosh!’  and was ignited;  I know  I had  one  chance to escape.  I took a big breath, closed my eyes  and  headed for  the  six-foot ladder, that led to the hole in the floor.  As I started to step on the ladder, a spirit grabbed me. The latter turned into a stairwell and up I came. I felt this was my mother, who died many years before this accident.

I ran out the back door engulfed in flames,  frantically looking for water of any kind, and then heard a loud voice inside my head  command “Stop Drop and Roll!” This refocused me and I put myself out, then ran to the bar a couple of business down. I burst in and told the bartender to call my Dad,  even gave her his number,  and said call 911.  She did and then told me to leave her bar.  I couldn’t understand why.  Later I realized my clothing was burnt away and black, and, charred skin was hanging off of me like ghoulish monstrous make-up.  I knew it freaked her out.

I ran back outside and my dad was pulling up the alley in his Volkswagen; I was relieved to see his face and thought it might be the last time I ever did. As he came running towards me, I noticed my skin melting off of my outstretched arm. “Don’t touch me…” I said as I passed out.

When I woke up after more than two and a half months in a coma, all I could move were my eyes. I was pissed to say the least.  At first I wanted to kill myself but soon realize none of my nurses would help me with that; I needed help with everything. I spent 4 months in Legacy burn unit then was transferred to good Sams for rehabilitation.

Three weeks later, although I was still wheelchair bound and wrapped like a mummy, I was told ” you’re good to go.” fortunately, my sister is my angel and took me in. I had a home nurse come in the morning everyday for a few months to help change bandages. 3 times a week a physical therapist came to get me moving. She was a genuinely nice person but I still hated having her show up. Physical Therapy was difficult and painful; I force myself to do it but didn’t like the workout.

My doctor told me I would have to stretch and keep stretching for the rest of my life if I wanted to have any quality of life.  My mother and my daughter had taught me the healing arts of yoga many years earlier.  I didn’t know much about yoga,  I just remembered it worked and it made me feel better.  So I started practicing yoga again to stretch the tight skin grafts that dripped and pinched my body.

After the accident, I spent the next 7 years practicing yoga for 6 to 8 hours a day;  and all of the healing arts.  And although I practice them all from time to time, yoga is my passion. Yo go to restore my confidence beyond all expectations.

And after you heal yourself you want to help others. As it is with a lot of yoga instructors, it has been a struggle for me. M
ost of us don’t make a whole  bunch of money, but we love our work. Things were becoming stagnant in my yoga career. Then I hooked up with Portland burn survivors (PBS) and  they sponsored  a webpage for  my  practice.  It has helped  me  get  farther into  the  yoga  teaching community. 

As a burn survivors, I live  with  chronic pain and I know  firsthand what  it feels  like to be physically  weak,  painfully  inflexible and visibly disfigured.

However , my parents taught me that  anything is  possible. I teach yoga because I know it  can  transform your body and restore health, confidence and self-esteem. I am committed  to  passing on the lessons all of  my  teachers so  generously shared with  me. Teaching yoga in Salem is how I share my gratitude for a second  chance at life.

It doesn’t matter if you are a burn survivor, in a wheelchair,  or trying  out  for  the Olympics. I started  out at Ground Zero and  I’m willing  to  help  anybody  rebuild their  confidence, self-esteem and strength. Yoga takes care of that void in my soul and  makes me  feel  whole. I have  so many friends now I am blessed.