Asahi relieves chronic neck pain

Two years of teaching Asahi Nordic has relieved Margaret Hilton's chronic neck pain.

My husband and I are empty nesters living in Bethesda, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. Every August, we escape the heat and vacation in my hometown of Marquette, Michigan. I retired in 2018 after a 30-year career as an employment and training policy analyst. Since then, I’ve been active in the gun violence prevention (GVP) movement. I lead the GVP Ministry at my Episcopal Church and volunteer in the Maryland Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. I also volunteer at Nourishing Bethesda, a local food distribution charity, and I volunteer in political campaigns.

Margaret holds her classes outdoors all year round with only a few exceptions

I first learned about Asahi while we were in Marquette in August, 2021. My longtime friend Margaret Vainio was in town teaching Asahi, and I took some classes in between visiting my mother, who was in hospice care at a nursing home. I liked the gentle movements from my first class. That October, when I flew to Marquette to support my ailing mother, Margaret was still in town. During this visit, my mother died, and I took an Asahi class the very next morning. Feeling shock and grief, I deeply appreciated the kind expressions of sympathy from Margaret and the class members, and was reminded of the benefits of group exercise. A few months later, I signed up for C-level teacher training.

Asahi has reduced my long-standing neck stiffness and pain, which began after a car accident years ago. Whenever the pain flared up, my doctor prescribed physical therapy (PT) sessions with an excellent local therapist. In 2022, I injured my right shoulder and neck by lifting and carrying heavy bags while volunteering at Nourishing Bethesda. My doctor diagnosed a pinched nerve, requiring steroids, rest, and PT to recover. In 2023, I reinjured my right shoulder, requiring more PT. In July, while receiving weekly PT, I also began practicing Asahi more seriously, working through the C-level online videos and powerpoints. (Link to C-level online training)

During Marquette Asahi week that August, I completed training and was certified. While still in Marquette, I decided to teach and posted on Facebook that I would offer free, outdoor classes in Bethesda. Thanks to Bethesda’s mild mid-Atlantic location, I taught outdoors through the winter of 2023-2024. In August, 2024 I completed B-level certification during Marquette Asahi week, and continued teaching outdoors. The only exception was in the snowy January of 2025, when the class met twice in my dining room.

Over the past 22 months of regularly practicing and teaching Asahi, I have not returned to PT. Whenever my neck and/or right shoulder feel stiff, practicing Asahi relieves any pain and restores mobility. Over the past decade, this is the longest time I’ve gone without PT! (Link to a blog by an Asahi teacher who is also a physical therapist)

In addition to improving my physical health, teaching Asahi has improved my mental health and self-confidence. Growing up as the youngest of 4 siblings, I tend to withdraw and avoid the spotlight. Teaching has forced me to take center stage, developing speaking and presentation skills that are very helpful for leading my church GVP Ministry. Because Asahi has helped me so much, I’ve felt comfortable recruiting new students as others drop out. I enjoy getting to know the class and developing a sense of community. For example, I invited them to sign a get-well card for a student who was having surgery, and hosted a potluck lunch at my house.

Maggie Hilton, Diane Tschirgi and Krystyna Rickauer completed their B-level training at the Northern Michigan University PEIF Building during Marquette Asahi Week in 2024.

In sum, I’m very thankful that Margaret Vainio invited me to experience the benefits of Asahi!

Categories: : Asahi and Nature, Asahi Around the World, Asahi as Physical Rehab, Asahi keeps you young, Asahi Nordic for a lifetime, Asahi Nordic for All, Asahi teachers' close-ups, Interview, Asahi and Chronic Neck Pain