John Sillanpa's remarkable story of recovery from an unexpected heart operation - Asahi provides gentle stimulating exercise for faster and more complete rehabilitation
John Sillanpa, a Finnish-American from Duluth Minnesota, tells about the important role Asahi has had in his recovery story after open heart surgery:
John writes:
It was just supposed to be a routine annual cardiology visit. But an ECHO procedure and the cardiologist confirmed that in two weeks I would need open heart surgery to replace my leaking mitral valve.
John at Asahi Instructor Deborah Plechner's Asahi class at the YMCA.
I had already been practicing ASAHI and Gentle Yoga for some years, as well as meditating, weight training and hiking on my own or in groups, so I was in good shape for my age, going into surgery. The surgery went well, but later my wife Toby noticed that my memory wasn’t as good as it was before surgery.
Deborah Plechner, my ASAHI instructor at the Lake Superior YMCA in Duluth, related that I had told her that in the quiet times in the hospital bed, I had practiced ASAHI from Series 1, 2, & 3 lying down.
YMCA class at Woodland Community Center
My memory isn’t good enough to tell you which exercises I had done, but Deborah recalls me saying that I had done exercises from ASAHI 1-3 every day in bed, watching Margaret's videos. It points to my motivation to recover as soon as possible, and I remember telling the surgeon that I wanted to get back to doing everything I had done before surgery, including ASAHI, and attending classes at the University for Seniors.
John at the Brighton Beach Sunrise practice in September 2026
During rehab from surgery, I had many episodes of dizziness. Though I was advised to avoid some activities during my rehab period, like ASAHI, yoga, weight training (and sauna!), ASAHI helped get my balance back, exercise my body, and augmented the rehab regime, as the rehab team gradually let me resume normal activities. Fifteen months after surgery, I feel well, I have resumed all activities, including ASAHI and walking three miles a day. Tomorrow I will be at the weekly Sunrise ASAHI with Deborah and other hardy souls on the shore of Lake Superior!
John Sillanpa
(The Asahi Nordic Institute wants to thank John and his wife Toby for generously opening their home to visiting Asahi trainers in September!In the photo: Toby, Asahi teacher trainer Carol, John)
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Margaret Vainio 
