Annette tells how her interest in Yoga and Breast Cancer came about

In my experience, women who have had treatment for breast cancer demonstrate the qualities that give them the ability to move on with flexibility and a loving heart, as well as displaying their courage, resilience and groundedness.

"My experience with yoga has definitely made me stronger physically, spiritually and psychologically." Sue

In fact,my favourite posture when teaching yoga to this special group of women is the Warrior posture. Women and men joined in to do it at the launch of my dvd.

So, how did I get involved with such women?

As a yoga teacher, I began noticing in the late 90s an increase in the number of women with breast cancer coming to my classes, which in turn led to my own research and study into how best to cater for this special group of women, including undertaking study in lymphatic massage for women affected by lymphoedema after treatment for breast cancer.

There is, in fact, a large amount of research now on the beneficial effects of an integrated yoga practice for women who are having or have had treatment for breast cancer, such as the decrease in anxiety and depression that can occur around diagnosis and treatment, and the reduction in recovery time. In fact, some hospitals in USA and India are now including it in their treatment.

In time, this led to my teaching a yoga session for my local Encore group at Frenchs Forest, which I continue to do now with my wonderful Encore co-ordinators Julia and Vicki.

In fact, it has changed my life. I have also been invited to give sessions to women attending breast cancer support groups in city and rural areas of Australia. I have spoken to indigenous and rural women about their special needs due to their isolation.

More recently, I have been asked to give talks on this topic to yoga teachers. I have also been writing a book on this topic and am currently doing my Masters degree in the effects of yoga on lymphoedema for women who have had treatment for breast cancer.

In meeting women facing breast cancer around Australia, I have heard remarkable stories – they are, for me, the reason I continue in this area of yoga teaching.

The DVD Yoga for Women After Breast Cancer, launched on June 3^rd, 2010

“If you get to say a few words at the breakfast, please say how much people you have met along the way appreciate how others care so much to listen to our stories and turn them into something positive.”Amanda, Young Women’s support group, The San

The making of this dvd came from the direct request from a very special student, about 4 years ago, and then was taken up by some others of my students.

It is those students who inspired me to bring about this project, Janet, Sue, Vicki and Stephanie, and who continue to be my inspiration for this dvd.

This is Janet, about 4 years ago. She then had finished her treatment for primary breast cancer in each breast. At the same time she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, about two years ago, her husband underwent a heart transplant, and each Thursday morning she has to take him to St Vincents. While needing care herself, she is his primary carer.

Recently I emailed Janet and asked her why she suggested the making of this dvd. This is her response:

"I have been thinking for a few days as to how to word my answer. After Sue introduced me to yoga I noticed that I was sleeping better and as I started to get the hang of what I was doing I noticed that the breathing at the start of the class helped me to concentrate, and during the class concentrating on the breath and movements helped to still my cluttered mind, so I forgot about what I had to deal with in the future and concentrated on the now. I loved the deep rest of the relaxation at the end.

As I progressed my feeling of well being and body control and confidence increased. In the class one day there was someone about to start radiotherapy following breast cancer. After the lesson I remembered how tired I had felt after radiotherapy and so I suggested to Annette to make a DVD so that people who were undergoing treatment could do the yoga with someone to follow, at times when they felt most able and which might not necessarily fit in with class times or that they could use at home on a daily basis in between classes."

So began the journey of this DVD. I began to ask my students and women I met in support groups, what they would like in a DVD. They told me they would like a lesson format with women who have had breast cancer. They wanted clear instructions and modifications to be shown. They asked for explanations about the benefits of what they were doing.

We made a trial DVD , which was so popularly received that Encore, through YWCANSW, agreed to support it with some funding and to distribute it upon completion.

"Yoga and massage helped quite a lot taking away the stiffness and soreness of the scars. Yoga also helped me to cope by teaching me how to meditate and relax. Also the friendship of my classmates was a great support. Meditation has helped me to relax and focus by practising awareness and presence" Vicki

Many individuals and organizations then donated willingly and generously in time, effort and goods, so that the making of this dvd could occur. This in fact is another aspect of yoga, called Seva Yoga, the practice of giving unconditionally. They are acknowledged at the end of the DVD.

Our aim was always to provide an affordable dvd that women could access and be able to use in a way appropriate to them with suitable modifications, including women who may be new to Yoga. To see an article written by Annette on Yoga and Breast Cancer go to Newsletters and Articles.

What is in the DVD?

The DVD consists of an introduction, two yoga sessions and a candle meditation.

The two yoga lessons are preceded by a disclaimer and caution that must be agreed to each time the lesson is watched. The lesson then consists of breathing, appropriate postures in various positions - with modifications - and finishes with a relaxation.

The postures offer the full range of mobility to the arm and upper body. There are also postures to restore strength, stability and balance.

The yoga is done with a slow breath to relax the sympathetic nervous system and to enhance the flow of lymph through the body. There is a sequence at the beginning of each lesson specifically for the lymphatic system based on the principles of Encore’s exercises.

The short candle meditation can be done by itself, as can any of the sections within the lessons such as the breathing or relaxation.

All the practices come from researched yoga practices for women who have had treatment for breast cancer to work on the mind, the emotions and the body.

The second lesson is a little more difficult than the first one.

Here you see Viv and Lisa, the two Encore co-ordinators who star in the DVD doing Warrior posture. Showing their strength, courage and groundedness, but also the flexibility about opening up to whatever they have to deal with in life. I think their obvious joyful expressions are how we should feel when we do yoga.

“Liking the Warrior position was two-fold to me – firstly, as with any yoga pose I had this overwhelming feeling of peace and being "at one with myself", then I had a feeling of empowerment where nothing was going to defeat me.  I imagine this is what the Warrior pose was meant to do originally! ” Sue

For me, this DVD is the embodiment of yoga, as it came from one idea by a lady whose life has become even more difficult, then so many people from such varying backgrounds donated so generously and the Encore program, as part of YWCA NSW, which exists to help people, supported and agreed to distribute the DVD.

My hope is that as many women as possible can benefit from this dvd “Yoga for Women after Breast Cancer.”

To purchase a DVD , please contact the Encore program:

encore@ywca.com.au

phone 02 92856283