Roll Out Your Mats To Stay Fit: Message From Survivors Of Fatal Diseases On International Day Of Yoga

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Cancers even when treated successfully - leave the survivors with physiological issues and psychological scars that take years to heal.

On the eve of International Day of Yoga themed on, Yoga for one Earth, one Health this year, Free Press talked with cancer survivors in the city who said that yoga helped them to recover from the post-treatment trauma. Excerpts:

Healing scars left by breast cancer

A 70-year-old Suman Lata Kastawar underwent unilateral mastectomy (removal of one breast to treat cancer) in 2014. Six chemo sessions left her very weak. Then, she also had problems related to lymph nodes and was suffering from cervical spondylosis. She could not even lift her hand. Then someone advised her to start doing yoga.

She started performing Anulom-Vilom, Kapalbhati, Bhramari Asana and Pranayama daily for one hour. “I feel very healthy and energetic. Yoga has helped me recover from physical and mental problems I was facing post treatment,” she says. She visits Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital once every year, where she undergoes mammography, ultrasound, X-Ray and blood tests.

One calcium pill a day is the only medicine she takes. “All my test reports have been normal,” she says, adding, “people of all ages should do yoga if they want to lead a healthy life.”

Felt depressed, unhappy post oral cancer treatment

Businessman Pankaj Kumar Kataria, 52, was operated upon for oral cancer in 2017. The post-treatment period was very traumatic for him. He felt unhappy and depressed, with non-specific pain. He also saw many oral cancer survivors passing away. “One of my acquaintances had been telling me for many years that I should start doing yoga. But I could never find time for it,” he says. After cancer treatment, he, however, decided to go for yoga. He mainly performs Bhramari asana, Udar asana and Pranayama from 7 am to 8 am everyday. “I have no complaints at all now,” he says, adding that everyone should and can take out an hour from his daily routine to keep healthy and fit.

Cervical pain kept her awake at night

A 60-year-old homemaker Neelam Shrivastava could not sleep at night due to muscle cramps and cervical problems. “While everybody slept, I was wide awake and in pain,” she said. She also had hypertension and thyroid problems. She started doing yoga regularly about 5-6 years back. She does different asanas including Bhujangasan, Pawanmuktasana, Markatasana and Setu Bandhasana.

She spends about five hours everyday doing yoga, meditation and other exercises. She says that her neurological problems have disappeared and thyroid and BP issues are under control. “Everyone should prioritise their body over anything else. Health is real wealth and yoga is the best way to acquire this wealth,” she added.