Colleen Saidman Yee - Yoga For Life

Health Challenges

Colleen Saidman Yee's life has been marked by significant health challenges, including seizures and injuries that have profoundly impacted her journey. Her first seizure occurred on a crowded train in India, where she experienced a terrifying episode that left her in severe pain and with broken ribs 1. Despite these challenges, Colleen's resilience shone through as she navigated her way back to health. Her perfectionism, which began in childhood, led to a bleeding ulcer by third grade and later, a car accident at 15 resulted in brain damage, altering her academic performance and self-identity 2.

I was so frustrated. And externally, I guess you wouldn't have noticed it so much, but internally, I was a different person, and I was not familiar with that person.

--- Colleen Yee

These experiences shaped her path, pushing her towards self-discovery and healing.

   

Addiction Battle

Colleen's battle with addiction was a pivotal chapter in her life, marked by a descent into substance abuse that began in college. Her relationship with drugs escalated from quaaludes to heroin, leading to a physical dependency that she struggled to acknowledge 3. Despite the depths of her addiction, Colleen's journey to recovery was unconventional, as she resisted traditional rehab and instead found a lifeline in modeling, which offered her a new beginning 4.

I wasn't an addict. And he was like, well, you took heroin every day.

--- Colleen Yee

This period of her life was transformative, as it forced her to confront her vulnerabilities and ultimately led to a path of healing and self-acceptance.