Feed, Play, Love - Yoga

I often prepared for a class doing a practice like this one. I remember once my youngest son watched me from the window. He then came into the room and with a worried look on his face said " mum, I don't mind you teaching Yoga, but just tell me you don't do that in front of anyone !!! Now...here I am putting it up on a blog!!!

When you think of the word Yoga, what does it mean to you?

Some see Yoga as a means of turning the body inside out. Others think of it as a way of being calm and relaxed. To me, Yoga means to much more. This blog is an opportunity for me to introduce some personal gems from this timeless, multi faceted diamond like practice.

The word Yoga means yoke, something that holds, or brings together, so the practice of Yoga sets out to integrate and unite body, mind, and heart. I know the lack of Yoga, when I feel up" in bits", shattered or need to scream. However, ever a short practice draws my busy mind home to my living, ever changing body. The gentle slow movements encourage me to meet myself as I am in this moment and be nourished with compassion. It opens my bodymind to explore, and experiment with the boundaries, and limitations I set for myself. I remember what it is to play.

Over the years, I’ve chosen carefully Yoga training courses that focus more on nourishment, self respect, and enjoyment than physical strength and stamina. Contemporary Yoga introduced me to the freedom and joy of music and dance, another facet of the diamond. I love to prepare myself for the Asanas by moving freely to the beat of the drum (heart), and connect to the impulses and needs of my bodymind. A very important part of my own self care and nourishment is found in a weekly session of free movement with a dance community (Dublin Dance Co-Op).

In the above video Anna Halprin shares her love, and knowledge of dance with us. Still teaching at 85yrs, with a passion that has supported her through life's ups and downs, including a journey with Cancer.  Anna is truly an inspiration to us all.

Acupuncture - it's role in my Cancer treatment.

Mr Nicholas Power Lic.Ac.Dip.Ac H.Dip Psych.MHGI.

 I found Acupunture to be a great support to me over the last year. Nick Power gave me a treatment after each cycle of Chemotherapy, in the comfort of my own home. He has written this post explaining the role of Acupuncture in the treatment of Cancer.

Yoga- for when you feel like screaming!

I'm finding Radiotherapy a lot less difficult than Chemotherapy, however my mind is racing ahead of my body! I want to be busy, doing all the things I used to do, yet I know that my body is tired and needs rest.

Life is precious, and I want to be out there living it, resting can seem like a waste of time, instead of an investment! This internal conflict makes me want to scream!

So...it's back to the mat, I'm using this 10 min. practice to safely release,and settle the anger and frustration I feel. No need to carry the weight of unresolved feelings into this wonderful new day.

Caring for nails - during Chemo

 

Helpful tip

Before I started Chemo I was made aware of the fact that my nails would grow very slowly. That they could darken, become brittle and crack. White lines could appear across them, and sometimes nails loosen and fall out. I took great care of my nails over that time, by oiling them each evening with Neem oil. I wore plastic gloves doing housework. However, with each cycle of Chemo my nails became more sensitive and painful. Now that it's over, two of my fingernails are coming away from the skin...difficult to manage, and very unsightly!!!

 At my last Chemo session, a nurse told me that if I had worn dark coloured nail varnish from the beginning it could have made a big differance. That sunlight

 effects the nails on Chemo. It's too late to save my nails, but I hope this tip will be of help to others. 

Yoga - for stiff joints.

                                                                 

Ouch!

One of the effects of Chemotherapy has been a gradual stiffening up of the joints. It's only now that I'm really beginning to feel it. Join me in a gentle floor Yoga session, to help loosen up the body, and bring about greater flexibility and ease. Try using Ujjayi breathing (see previous videos) to deepen the practice. This session will help to create energy and vitality for the day ahead. Do allow yourself 10-15 mins. of Savasana (relaxation) to complete the session. Enjoy.

Love

                                   Love means to look at yourself
                                   The way one looks at distant things
                                   For you are only one thing among many,
                                   And whoever sees that way heals his heart,
                                  Without knowing it, from various ills-
                                  A bird and a tree say to him: Friend.

                                                                               Czeslaw Milosz

 
                                 

Being Present

A Yoga Master used to walk over to his students and hit them, for no reason. After a while, the students would spend most of their time tense, afraid, expecting to get hit, and ready to ward off the next blow even before it came. After they got themselves all worked up, spending their time in class running around feeling fearful, tense, and dreading the next blow, the Yogi would tell them they were ready to learn the lesson.

 “You can either spend all your time tense, anticipating and dreading the pain, trying to control and deal with it before it arrived, or you can stay peaceful and serene, knowing a certain amount of pain will always be present in life. Then wait until it happens and trust your self to deal with the pain as it comes up”.

The Yoga Mat – it's place in my Cancer care

The following is an article I wrote for Journeying beyond Breast Cancer a great resource and excellent blog by Marie Ennis O'Connor

 

A brief smile with eye contact is made. The wrist band is held up and read back to me. I answer “yes” to give permission to whatever procedure follows. It might be to take blood, put up an IV line, or prepare for theatre. In this moment my life’s story has been reduced to these 3 short lines on the band, which hopefully will keep me safe as I venture into scary territory and place my trust in these health professionals.

A Yoga Session to deal with some side effects from Chemo

                                 The Lotus

 

The Lotus flower is the emblem of Yoga. It symbloizes our spititual evolution. The roots thrive in muddy dirty water - our lower nature, the stem rises up to the surface - our intuitive search, and the flower blossoms in sunlight- self realization. A short practice follows to deal with side effects from Chemotherapy.

Introduction to the session - dealing with some side effects from Chemo.

Everyone  reacts to Chemotherapy differently, that's true. However, there are common side effects that most people experience. A day before my first treatment, an oncology nurse sat me down and went through these side effects. I was alone, and I later wished that someone had been with me. I suppose it hadn't dawned on me that they had to inform me of the worst possibilities. It was a lot to take in, and I felt unsure as to what was actually said, and what I had heard. Since then, I've found that it is helpful to bring someone with me, and then see what they heard, which is very often very different than what I heard, and maybe also different than was actually said!