Yoga: A Powerful Partner in the Cancer Conquest
A cancer scare can make people feel as though everything is falling apart. It is terrifying! When we simply don’t have enough time for wellness in our hectic, fast-paced lives, Cancer just brings our life to a standstill. Instead of panicking let us just take it as a wake-up call to slow down, take care of ourselves, and establish a balance to live a better life.
Make yoga your lifestyle, in the cancer battle, yoga is your trusty tool. Countless stories prove it – people beating cancer with the power of yoga.
Explore the inspiring yoga journey of cancer survivor Sandhya.
In the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, Sandhya, a middle-aged mother residing in the United States, faced an unexpected battle in 2013 – a Leukaemia diagnosis. Despite her active lifestyle and healthy habits as a teetotaller and nonsmoker, she received the daunting news. Swiftly admitted to the hospital, Sandhya underwent eight cycles of intense chemotherapy, leaving her fatigued and susceptible to infections. After eight arduous months, remission offered a glimmer of hope, but a year later, the cancer resurfaced. Sandhya embarked on a Bone Marrow Transplant journey, preceded by 11 rounds of radiation and 4 cycles of chemotherapy. The toll on her body was significant, rendering her weak, resigned to a wheelchair, and unable to manage daily tasks independently.
In her recovery journey, facing breathing difficulties post-treatment, she found herself in the ICU on a ventilator, combating a lung infection for a month. After physiotherapy, speech therapy, and relearning to eat and drink independently, a friend introduced her to Prema Ji’s trained teacher, Praveen Rodrigo of Vyaniti Yoga in Canada. Following Prema Ji’s guidance, Praveen introduced simple yet effective breathing techniques like Abdominal breathing, Chest breathing, and Anulom-Vilom/Pranayama. Starting with two minutes a day, she gradually increased Anuloma Vilom to 15 minutes per hour, ultimately boosting her lung capacity from a mere 25% and restoring her lost energy.
Experiencing a breakthrough in her recovery journey, she recalls the best feeling during a follow-up visit that left her doctor astonished at the improvement. Breathing freely without pain during the lung check left both her and the doctor pleasantly surprised. The doctor’s statement, “I don’t care what you did. Just keep doing it,” marked the day she truly believed in yoga.
Increasing pranayama duration brought more good news, with a scan revealing no sign of cancer. With God’s grace and continued support from Premaji, she overcame lung issues and breathing problems. After eight months of Anulom Viloma, guided into Kapalbhati, she now recommends pranayama for its energy-boosting and cognitive benefits. Although still in recovery, Sandhya, brimming with confidence, believes in overcoming cancer fully, thanks to her commitment. With her strength growing, she’s gearing up to reclaim her old job soon.
Pranayama transforms the sick into the strong, the angry into calm, and the depressed into confident optimists with a resilient spirit.
Key Pranayamas that Sandhya practiced include:
- Abdominal Breathing
- Chest Breathing
- Deep breathing
- Kapalbhati
- Anulom / vilom
- Seetkari (reduces the heat of the body after chemotherapy)
- Bhramari (reduces the stress instantly)
Let this message spark inspiration for embracing yoga in the battle against cancer. Adopting a yogic lifestyle not only invites the celebration of life but ensures a joyous, stress-free journey. Confidently shut the door on cancer by prioritizing yoga. For guidance on using yoga as a tool in the fight against cancer, reach out to us at VyanitiYoga.com. Your path to a healthier, happier life begins with a step towards yoga.
