Did you know June 21 is International Yoga Day? The perfect time for a little confession from our designer, Wendy. Long ago, when she heard the word yoga, all she imagined was incense, wide orange trousers, and hypnotic chanting. Prejudice, you know the drill…

Goodbye stereotypes

Wendy: “Despite my own stereotypes, I gave in about five years ago. Not because yoga was suddenly a hype, with blonde surfer girls in tight outfits doing poses that make you dizzy. But because I’m no athlete—and yet I’m always full of good intentions to move more and feel fitter. Remember: staying active lowers the risk of cancer recurrence.

But where do you even start exercising after a heavy course of chemotherapy, when your body feels tired and worn out? Step by step, gently… That’s why yoga seemed like the ideal first step.

These days, I head to my favorite yoga studio in Ghent two or three times a week. Sometimes for a quiet stretching class, sometimes for a powerful session with challenging poses. The rest of the week, I roll out my mat at home for a 15-minute Yoga With Adriene session.”

(Yep, that’s me at 7:30 a.m., during a blissful yoga retreat in Italy…)

Where do I start?

Want to try it at home but not sure how? We’ve gathered our 6 favorite yoga poses for better sleep, complete with clear illustrations. You can practice them in the evening before bed. Do them all or just a few—experiment and feel what works for you. Discover the 6 poses here >>

Does it really work as well as all those studies on yoga after cancer say?

“Yes, I think so—and far more than I ever imagined. I’m no longer stiff as a board, my body is stronger, and I recover much faster from injuries or a flu. No more nagging back hernia or stiff shoulder from my lymph node surgery. My basic fitness has improved so much that I’ve even started personal training and pilates (hello abs, where are you?).

But more importantly: my mind is calmer, I handle stress better, and I can focus for longer. Is it the deep breathing? The five minutes of meditation at the end of each session? Or simply yoga teaching you to listen to your body and be kind to yourself? I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. What counts is: I feel good in my skin. No orange pants required, and no more stereotypes.”

Namaste,
Wendy

Looking for more tips on staying active after cancer?

Exercise after cancer lowers the risk of recurrence—and simply makes you feel better mentally. But don’t just dive in. Pace yourself! Listen to your body! How do you do that, with fatigue in your body and worries in your head? We asked Sarah Soenen, physiotherapist and oncology rehab specialist. Read her tips here >>