by Nina

Quietude by Kees van Dongen*

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine about a relative who needs to undergo various tests and treatments for cancer. She was saying that it was too bad her relative didn’t have any calming practices that she could call on in these challenging circumstances. For example, she’d had a very rough time staying in place for 45 minutes during an MRI. 

I said, “Yes, you or I would have done a yogic breath practice in that situation.”

“Exactly,” my friend replied. 

“Maybe next time you see her you can teach her a few things?” I suggested. 

Then I reminded my friend about something I’d written about on this blog about almost six years ago (!)  in my post Stress Test. My oral surgeon had been so impressed with how relaxed I was during surgery (he said I was the most relaxed patient he’d ever worked on!) that after I explained I had been doing breath practices, he demanded I provide him with instructions for what I’d been doing. So later on after I’d rested up a bit, I emailed him instructions for practicing breath awareness and extending the exhalation. 

Now, I said to my friend, I recently went back to see him again because I need more surgery (no, sorry, yoga does not prevent gum recession—my surgeon blames it on my having had braces, believe it or not). He remembered exactly who I was and said, “I tell all my patients about you! As a matter of fact, I offer them the breath practice instructions you gave me. First, I administer the anesthetic. Then I instruct them in the breath techniques—extending the exhalation and all that—and leave them to it for a while. And when I return, they’re all very relaxed!” 

My friend was very impressed with that story. Yes, this was proof that everyone and anyone can benefit from these practices, even people with no previous experience whatsoever.

So if you’re not already be doing these practices when you’re at the dentist getting a filling or having some kind of uncomfortable, painful, or scary medical test or procedure, give them a try (instructions for breath awareness are at A Balm for the Soul: Practicing Simple Breath Awareness and extending the exhalation are at Calming Breath Practices We Recommend). And try to teach the techniques to others who might benefit—you don’t even need to tell them it’s yoga.

If you have some other practices you do at times like these, please do share!

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