The Healing Power of Stand Up Paddling and Yoga
Today I received an email and photo from Amy Field, telling me how Yoga and SUP played a huge role in her healing from breast cancer. I wanted to post this story to inspire others and encourage anyone going through the same experience. Right when I saw the photo I knew it looked familiar. It was actually taken in Chatham, Massachusetts right where I have taught SUP Yoga clinics on Cape Cod. Thanks Amy for allowing me to share and all the best to you!
Gillian – I SO want to attend your certification class this August. Blending 2 of my passions…could it get any better? Unfortunately, for the past 2 years, I have been battling a relatively rare form of cancer called ‘Triple Negative breast cancer’ and can not make the flight.
It’s been a heck of a “ride” – went un-diagnosed/misdiagnosed because I was “too young and too healthy”, as well as too young to “qualify” for a mammogram. At the time, I was also a nutrition consultant – teaching people the benefits of juicing and eating raw etc. Needless to say, I had to fight like heck only to find the cancer had already spread to my lymphnodes etc. and that I had a rare gene mutation pre-disposing me for cancer. Cancer does not discriminate! I finally landed with a rock star Oncologist at Dana Farber and an amazing team of doctors that I am blessed to have. It’s a long story, and I won’t bore you with anymore details, but yoga and paddle boarding played a major role on my journey and in my healing…and continue to!! Attached is a picture that got snapped of me the second time back on my board after 10 surgeries and almost 6 months of chemo…No one can say that yoga and SUP aren’t healing!
I believe there is a gift in everything, sometimes you just have to look a little harder to find it! If my photo/story gives even one person some hope or inspiration, or puts fire in their belly to advocate for their own health…then there’s a HUGE gift, right there! Thank you for responding to my email, you made my day! I hope we can connect when you are on the east coast. I love and admire what you do.
I believe there is a gift in everything, sometimes you just have to look a little harder to find it! If my photo/story gives even one person some hope or inspiration, or puts fire in their belly to advocate for their own health…then there’s a HUGE gift, right there! Thank you for responding to my email, you made my day! I hope we can connect when you are on the east coast. I love and admire what you do.
