Eps 27. Using Dance to Overcome Chronic Illness (RA)

Today, we introduce Josette Tkacik, a professional dancerwith an illustrious career that includes stints at Juilliard, the Joffrey New York, Alvin Ailey, and the Metropolitan Ballet of St. Louis.In 2011, Josette faced a sudden and severe diagnosis ofadvanced rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating autoimmune condition that defied conventional medical treatment. Despite being told there was no cure and only palliative options available, Josette embarked on her own healing journey.Through sheer determination and unconventional methods, she achieved what many deemed impossible – she self-healed her RA without Western medicine.Josette's remarkable recovery led to her being hailed as amedical miracle in 2016 when no evidence of disease could be found in her bloodwork. But her journey didn't stop there. She transitioned into becoming the world's most successful Zumba instructor, spreading joy and vitality through movement.Her accolades extend beyond the dance floor, as she'srecognized as a Santa Barbara Hero, recipient of congressional awards, and ranked as a top three author on DailyOM. Join us as we delve into Josette's inspiring story of overcoming adversity and forging her own path to wellnessand success. Contact InfoWebsite: https://www.josettetkacik.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/Josettetkacik/Find Josette on DailyOm Show Notes:3:00 - Journey before and after diagnosis – focus on dance and not on overall health3:55 - Waking with excruciating pain while caring for a 12month old child; multiple ER visits6:10 - formal diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, list of medical interventions8:00 - Inspiration from mom who had stage 4 breast cancer, who turned down radiation/chemo and is now 87 without a trace9:32 – place of darkness turned out to a be a beautifulplace to start healing11:45 – Individuality of diet for each person and detox from environmental and emotional toxins15:00 – avoiding Herxheimer reactions and balancing healing process with biohacks17:20 – deciding on the road to stay on and understandingthe dips 20:28 – Healing through Zumba, both physical and emotional healing23:50 – Pain even in movement, but improvement noticeable over time.25:47 – regaining control and taking the power back into our own hands after diagnosis26:50 – There is little funding for studies on lifestyle anddiet changes compared to pharmaceutical research30:20 – Zumba is for everyone, every age range.  97 year old has not missed a class since pre-pandemic33:03 – Even with limited mobility, we can go inside andcreate the sanctuary inside us.34:30 – conjuring up the raw emotion of joy - a big part of recovery----Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@functionallyenlightened⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to be notified when new interviews with amazing functional practitioners and chronic illness warriors are published.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.functionallyenlightened.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for information on how we can help you DETOX YOUR LIFE or to subscribe to our newsletter.