What My Yoga Practice Gave Me (After I Lost It)

A personal reflection on how yoga evolved after a cancer diagnosis—and why real strength comes from more than just the poses.

I came across that photo in my camera reel the other day, and wow. It brought back all the feels.

It was taken in January of 2020, at the height of my asana practice. At that point, I was almost three years into a daily Ashtanga yoga routine that had made my body strong, balanced, and bendy. I was devoted. Disciplined. Physically thriving.

What I didn’t know at the time was that this would be the last “cool” yoga photo I might ever take.

I had no idea the world was about to pause.
No idea that in six months, I’d be diagnosed with breast cancer.
No idea that my body—this strong, capable body—was about to be completely rearranged.

Cancer stripped me of my asana practice in the most brutal way. And honestly? I grieved it. With real tears. With zero patience. It felt like I’d lost a part of my identity.

But the practice didn’t leave me. It just changed.

These days, my asana practice is softer.
I still adore vinyasa yoga, but I lean on every prop and every modification available.
I’m slower than most people in the room.
I’ve done fewer than 20 chaturangas in the last five years.

And you know what? That’s okay.
Because I’m different now.

My Yoga Practice Got Bigger Than the Mat

When my physical practice fell away, it revealed something deeper—something more essential.

My strength, my voice, my clarity—none of it came from fancy poses.
It came from yoga.
Not just asana, but the whole system:

Meditation
Chanting
Pranayama
The Yamas and Niyamas

All those things I had studied and practiced during my own yoga education? Those were the lifelines.
They gave me a container to fall apart in—and eventually, to grow back into myself with more compassion and courage than I’d ever had before.

Why I Believe in Advanced Yoga Training

This is why I believe so deeply in continuing education for yoga teachers—not just to learn new tools or techniques, but to live more fully into this practice.

Because at some point, your body may shift.
Your priorities may change.
Or life might crack you wide open.

And when it does, you’ll want something deeper to stand on.

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’ve been feeling that pull to go beyond the physical…
If you’re craving connection to the heart of this tradition…
Or if you’re simply ready to rekindle your own path as a student—

Our 300-hour Advanced Teacher Training at Midwest Yoga Academy might be the next step.

It’s more than a training.
It’s a return to what matters most.

Want more info? Join our Facebook community to hear more about our program and get a personal invite to our meet and greet this summer. The next cycle starts this fall.