Cancer`s small obstacles

by Life Positive

Cancer survivor and yoga teacher Shirly Ecker agrees with her guru, Yogacharya BKS Iyengar’s assertion that regular practice of yoga gives one physical, physiological, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health.

“There are, of course, the small obstacles that cancer brings with it,” she adds nonchalantly. “I do not see cancer as a dead end but a new beginning. I would advice people to let cancer be a part of their life and not make it bigger than life. Do not fight cancer, save your energy for your healing otherwise the fight will destroy you,” says Ecker who was in Mumbai last month.

Since Ecker was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system, she has been treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but has continued doing yoga as she has always done. “Yoga was a part of my life
Yoga power:  Shirly Ecker shows how it is done before cancer. This has not changed. I do yoga daily just as I brush my teeth daily”, Ecker says.

She says yoga helped her to cope with the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. “I did not suffer as much as other patients from side-effects like nausea, numbness in the fingers, toes and headache. I have had six relapses so far and I have lost count of the number of chemotherapy adventures and surgeries that I have undergone. Last year, I had six surgeries. I focus on the beauty of life,” she says.

Ecker says her guru Yogacharya BKS Iyengar is her inspiration. “I have got a lot from his generosity which I try to pass on. I teach cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Tel Hashomer Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in Israel. The doctors are also planning to start a research study on how yoga helps cancer patients cope with therapy and reduce the side-effects,” she says.