Yoga

NatsFan

Jizo - I'm so sorry - as Kosh says, it's just not fair that you have to go through this.  I'm glad you're not on an exercise restriction and they think that it may be possible to rebuild the muscle over time.

Thanks for the link - that's just the kind of thing I'm looking for.

Hugs to you! 

ktym

Laura, I'm sorry, that must be so frustrating and scary

Natsfan:  Kosh is probably our best information source, but from my humble non professional experience, I like Suzanne Deason.  She gives a lot of good information about how to modify poses and protect knees etc.  Rodney Yee has an AM/PM DVD that I used a lot when going through chemo. 

jizogarden

Thanks for all the kindness Kosh, Nats and kkmmd

I go see my cardiologist today for my first followup since my hospital stay...I look forward to getting the big picture from him.  I'm hoping that he will tell me that I can heal my heart cross fingers

Glad you like the link Nats  kmmd, Susanne Deason and Rodney Yee are both great...I agree I'll have to get his AM/PM DVD.

For now I am just doing my old practice and modifying any poses that put a lot of pressure on my arms.  So far so good....except for that little heart thing I am walking my best buddy Smudge and gardening.

I'll check in later once I've seen all my docs......I also have to see my gp and ps....I may put of my ps for a week. 

Wishing a good day to you all,

Strength and healing

Laura 

ktym

Lauar, could you keep us updated, I'll be thinking of and worried about you!

Debwa100

Thanks Nats Fan, I have a very good therapist and yes she did take measurements.  I am seeing her 2x/week for breast rehab (I'm also a physical therapist).  I am used to being kind of a heavy duty exerciser, so I am so eager to be "normal" again.  Honestly I don't feel any heaviness in my arms, even after doing downward dog, but i do know my limitations.  My biggest issue is carpal tunnel syndrome , which I have had for a couple years now (so when I have to take it easy on my wrists I modify).   My surgeon put off doing the carpal tunnel surgery when I was diagnosed with cancer, but it is now scheduled for Aug 5th (what a blast I'm having this summer).  I will not be allowed to weight bear through my wrists for 6 weeks, so I will utilize modifications like a chair or blocks or whatever.  I know that I will be at risk for lymphadema for probably ever, but I have to have a life.  Thanks, for all the good advice guys i love this site!!  

Lovegolf

The blocks are good at taking pressure off the wrist...

don23

Laura - how did your visit go with your cardiologist yesterday? I hope that he gave you some encouraging news. Please let us know how you are doing.

I went to my first gentle yoga class last night and I think I am going to like it. It was just an introductory meeting but we did a few poses and some breathing. The actual class doesn't start up until August 2nd and I am looking forward to it. This is my first time at doing yoga. The other ladies in the class also have never taken a yoga class so I guess this was a good place to start. Everyone is a beginner!

ktym

don23, so true, everyone is a beginner.  Congratulations on starting yoga.  I can't rave enough about what it did to help me through chemo, and help get my balance and strength back afterwards.  I can now just  close my eyes and imagine my yoga breathing and calm myself before tests etc

Maya2

So glad to have found this thread. I've done yoga since 1995 and used it to prepare for my surgery, both physically and emotionally. Afterwards it was a couple months before I could return. I regained most of my full range of motion. Although I think, even after all this time, that about 1 to 2 percent just isn't coming back. I realised rads may have done their thing on my muscles. I can do Down Dog. It was a thrill the day I could do it. I feel it is the pose that keeps my arms stretched. For home practice I like Rod Stryker's "Yoga for Longevity," also called "Yoga for Peak Performance." I enjoy the 1st half for a 30-minute workout and the 2nd half is a wonderful meditation where he talks about healing and a presence (you fill in what or who you want). I used it before and after BC. Good to meet all you yogis.

Lovegolf

thanks for suggestion.  I will get it.

YogaLady

Hi everyone - I saw your posts and wanted to invite you to learn more about a video I produced in honor of my mother. 

 My journey in creating this DVD came from a personal search for a yoga DVD for my mother, a 22 year survivor and ongoing battler of breast cancer.  As more and more women are living with cancer, there is also an emotional and physical toll that is exacted on their bodies and psyches.  My goal was to help alleviate some aches and pains, speed healing and recovery, and provide calmness of mind and spirit.  While I had read about studies extolling the virtues of yoga in healing breast cancer, I couldn't find any videos tailored to fighting breast cancer specifically.  And from this inspiration, "Yoga for Breast Cancer" was born!  To learn more about my mother, Priscilla, and her journey, please visit www.yogaforcancer.com.

My hope is that every woman who would like to have a yoga practice can do so, and thus we have donated hundreds of videos so far to organizations that offer them for loan or as giveaways or fundraisers.  Thank you for your time, and blessings on all your journeys, you sound like a loving sisterhood of women.

Namaste -

Kate

jizogarden

Hope this finds everyone doing well.....

Don it sounds like your off to a great start with your gentle yoga....I'm going to my first class next week....for now I'm doing my own practice with some modification....it feels good.  

Maya glad your able to get back to your practice even realizing the changes that have occurred in your body from all the treatments.

Kate...your video looks wonderful....I am going to order it and also pass the word along to others that may be interested  Thanks so much for sharing this with us.  Your mother is beautiful, as are you

I'm doing well.  I already feel less breathless when walking up hills, I think that must mean my heart is becoming stronger  I go see my cardiologist  then end of this week for a sonogram when he will have a look at my heat muscles...cross fingers

The weather was beautiful in NY last weekend.  I taught a nature journaling class on an organic farm....it was perfect...everyone had a wonderful time  Here's my webpage if you would like to see the farm. http://jizogarden.blogspot.com/ 

Strength and healing,

Laura 

Lovegolf

Laura

Glad to hear....your dog is so cute

don23

I went to my first "gentle yoga" class last night. So far I really like it. I was totally relaxed by the time I was done. I think it will be of benefit to me. The instructor has such a calm voice and positive demeanor.

Laura - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that you receive nothing but good news from your cardiologist.

jizogarden

Thank you don

Lovegolf..your dog is cute too  /' . '\

Off to get some fresh tomatoes from my friends garden

Laura 

jizogarden

Been sick as a dawg with lymes.  Came down with high fevers on Monday, huge body aches, dizziness and nausea.  The doc gave me doxycycin and I went to bed with chills and 103-104 degrees fevers and chills for two days.  Today I am finally feeling so much better...almost human

My gp also wanted a chest xray and saw a spot on my upper lobe  He says it's probably nothing but he wants a cat scan just to make sure it's nothing more than scar tissue.  I refuse to worry about this......refuse.

So needless to say there has been no yoga this week.....but I'm looking forward to getting on with it soon.

Best to all

Laura 

NannaBaby

Is it okay to do yoga with a PICC line in my arm?  I've been meditating and doing some yoga poses, but have been avoiding any arm straining poses like downward dog, plank and such.  Or can I go ahead and do those poses???

Thanks

Lovegolf

Laura

I had same thing happen...Had a chest X-ray at another medical location and they called me sai there was "a Spot" .  This was 5 months after MX.  My PS ordered full body PET and it was nothing.  Just a day of worrying a bit.  Hope is just the same for you>

Nanna I would be careful with PICC but there are poses, breathing and meditation you can do all around the way. 

don23

Laura - I am sorry to hear that you have yet another issue to deal with. Hopefully it is nothing and they are just being cautious. You've had your share of troubles these days haven't you. I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better from the lymes. How did your cardiologist visit go?

jizogarden

My cardiologist visit went really well....I was feeling much better and he was very happy....but now the lymes has set me back and my breath has become very short  =(  I am going in to see him this afternoon to see if the meds I'm on are ok while fighting through the effects of lymes on my heart....geeez....I've really had it with all of this........feeling quite sad for myself.  It seems like when I'm finally feeling like I'm getting my life back something else happens....

Sorry for the pity party......everyone here has had so much to deal with......

Strength and healing to all,

Laura 

koshka1

Hello....

Lovegolf you should be ok with the PICC line in your arm but as always be careful and gentle with that spot as I am sure you may already know.

Namaste

koshka1

woops...and meant that for Nanna.

BocaCiegaBabe

I started doing yoga in January, prior to my diagnosis, and have really benefitted from it.  Have always been sort of an exercise freak, but had never given yoga a try until now (I'm 67).  It sure came to me at a time when I was going to need it!

Radiation started Sept 1.  My radiation oncologist advised me not to lift more than 10 lbs with the arm on the side that is getting radiation.  I do weight classes too, and can figure out those adjustments easily, but I never thought to ask about yoga.  I too wonder about doing things such as plank or downward dog with that 10 lb weight restirction?  I hate the thought of giving it up for 6 weeks!  Ugh   Has anyone continued with yoga through radiation?

rcca

I'm planning on continuing to practice yoga throughout radiation, but I didn't ask my rad onc. My first treatment was 8-31. The yoga breathing really helped me get through all those needle sticks in chemo and the laying still for radiation. However, if I get uncomfortable I may attend a restorative yoga class for a while.

Anonymous

My yoga teacher led the class (BC patients and survivors) through her own rads, so while you may need to make adjustments in some poses like substituting something else for downward dog or plank, you should be able to do much of your yoga practice.  

koshka1

Hi,

I did ask my rads onc prior to teaching my yoga classes.  She said it was ok...but was more concerned in the fact that I would have pain in my chest due to the scar tissue and told me to take it easy in that regard.  While I taught I went very easy and did the postures very slowly.  My class new I was in treatment so understood when I did not go into full posture. 

After about a month or sooo...I finally started my rads...and continued to teach through rads and so on.  But, after my surgery and in between starting rads I did very gentle yoga.  I found that after about 2 months I was able to do most of my postures. (again..gentle.. no power yoga or ashtanga).

Basically....in yoga...we also learn to listen to our body..and to respect where we are at.  I always encourage students to only go as far as what feels right.....meaning...take it easy and dont strain yourself. Listen to your body today and stay present...tomorrow is another day and another try at the posture.  Go easy.

Hugs and I am glad to hear that we are all doing well and pursuiting some of what we love after going through this ordeal.

Namaste...

Kosh

BocaCiegaBabe

Saw the rad onc Monday and she said it would be fine, just listen to my body, and it'd tell me what it did and did not want.  Sounds like a Yogi, yes?  LOL  It's a great stress buster and I'm glad to have it, no reservations.

 Namaste

LtotheK

Hi gang,

I've been following this thread carefully, and have to say, I'm thoroughly confused about what I should be doing.  I realize the lymphedema research is really split right down the middle (you SHOULD wear a sleeve flying, no, you SHOULDN'T) to the point where my PT even sort of shrugs.

I've been scared off yoga entirely.  I don't understand how to get a good workout without down dog.  While I love restorative things, it's just not where I am. I need strength and challenge.

I don't have lymphedema (yet), but had 6 nodes removed.  Am generally an active gal, and would love to be doing things without constant fear that I'll end up crippled!

Thoughts welcomed....

Anonymous

The University of Pennsylvania published a study a year or so ago about how gradually increasing strength/weight training actually helped stave off lymphedema symptoms.  It wasn't about yoga, but about lifting weights.

If you don't have symptoms, you should be able to include downward dog in your yoga practice, but like anything else, the key is to gradually increase the intensity and duration of the workout and always, always listen to your body and ease off, switching to hands and knees or child's pose if you need to. 

LtotheK

Cool, PatMom! I'm jonesing over here.  I've been doing some light weight training throughout chemo, with a careful eye towards not overdoing it.  Back in the old days, I used think only those punishing workouts would do:  3x a week blowing a hole in myself.  Funny thing, I never improved.  Moderate and daily seems to be the name of the game.

I am going to give this another whirl.

Thanks!