New Beginnings and The Power of the Breath - starting again with each inhale and exhale.

The practice of Yoga is more and more in the public eye. We see images of lithe young (mostly white) women in poses that seem to defy both gravity and the physical structure. So, one can be forgiven for assuming that yoga is just that- contorting one’s body into an impossible form that somehow is supposed to lead to inner peace. It’s no wonder that many people feel that yoga just isn’t for them. It looks too hard. It seems too weird. As someone who was first exposed to yoga at the age of 19 and who has continued to practice, in one form or another, until my current age of 60- please let me tell you that yoga is so much more than what is depicted in popular culture.

Yoga practice is designed to calm the movement of the mind. To gain agency over the wandering nature of the mind and begin to respond to our life rather than react reflexively. The main tool we use to do this is how we manage our breathing. Particularly for someone who is dealing with the shock of that initial cancer diagnosis, learning how to manage the breath can be transformational. Tari Prinster, the author of the Yoga4Cancer teaching methodology and herself a survivor of breast cancer states, “Cancer steals your breath, yoga gives it back.”

Yoga looks at each moment as an opportunity to begin again. Each inhale a chance to receive fresh oxygen and life energy. Each exhale an opportunity to let go. I have been teaching yoga for over 20 years and teaching Yoga4Cancer- Y4C- for 5 years now. One thing my Y4C students always mention is how much the breathing helps them. It helps them prepare for doctor visits where they’ll be getting test results. It helps keep them calm and present during chemo treatments or preparing for surgery. Focusing on the breath restrains the tendency to engage in “what if” thinking which only leads to increased fear and anxiety. Watching the breath rise and fall through the nostrils anchors the mind into the present moment. And in that moment, the mind is quiet. There can be peace.

You can do it now. Rest your attention on the sensation of breath rising and falling through the nostrils. Rise and fall. Rise and fall. Each breath is a new beginning.

Published on brightermagazine.com, Jan. Issue 2022

Finding Balance In Times of Uncertainty

All of life is about finding our balance. We take walking for granted, for example. But even walking is an act of balance. Each time we pick one foot up to place it in front of the other, we are, briefly, on one foot. During cancer treatments, balance can become difficult and it’s helpful to practice balancing postures so we can maintain a sense of stability and control over the body so we can continue moving.

Standing on two feet can feel hard enough sometimes! Why make it harder by choosing to stand on one foot? There are many reasons this is helpful:

• When we take one foot away from the floor, we strengthen our connection to the Earth through the one standing foot. This requires that we are harmonizing mind, body and breath.

• It takes focus and one-pointed attention to keep the body steady on one foot. This begins to train the nervous system to handle those times when life becomes uncertain or we experience racing thoughts.

• Weight bearing exercise- even your own body weight- strengthen bones. Bones can also be weakened through chemotherapy so this is an additional tool for that side effect as well.

• Good balance protects us from falling and breaking a bone.

• Good balance requires good posture, which helps us breathe.

• Overall, balancing improves the immune system in general.

Standing on one foot requires a focused mind and a calm breath. Standing in tree pose for 10 breaths may not feel easy, but the nervous system is calmed in this state of physical and mental harmony. This is why balancing is good for cancer patients. It is healing to know how to clear anxiety by standing on one foot! Anytime our bones are placed in alignment using our muscles, and we support that alignment with a calm steady breath, we are brought immediately into the present moment. We are right here, right now.

Published on brightermagazine.com, Feb. Issue 2022