• Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Instagram
  • LOG IN
  • LOG OUT
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Diane Bruni
  • About
    • Living Through Cancer
    • Breathing Space Yoga
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Body Loop
  • MRI 2020
  • Retreat
  • Schedule
  • Store / Online Courses
    • View the Courses
      • Developmental Movement
      • Yoga Fix
      • Realigning Yoga
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Menu Menu

Woman Upside Down

February 14, 2014/in Articles /by Webtech

On Friday, April 13th, 2012, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

I survived the treatments for breast cancer.

The chemotherapy, the mastectomy, and the radiation treatments just about killed me. They call me a survivor. Did I survive breast cancer? I have no idea. No one ever knows if cancer is growing within them – that’s the scary part. The fear of cancer can be immobilizing. How we chose to deal with that fear is a personal choice, but some people don’t believe they have a choice at all. This makes me sad.

I have chosen to confront my fears about cancer and death. I do not want to cover up what happened to me with reconstructive surgery or by wearing a prosthesis. I do not want to forget the insights I had while under the influence of chemotherapy drugs.

Today there is growing interest in ayahuasca, an herb that grows in the Amazon and has strong hallucinogenic properties. It’s prepared as a tea infusion and is taken as part of a ceremony with a shaman. During the ceremony many people say they journey into experiences of death and release. Undergoing chemotherapy is like that. I felt like I was dying. In reality, I was. Trillions of cells are killed in the course of a few hours. It felt like death was just around the corner.

When we feel fear, a chemical cascade of drugs are released into our nervous systems. Unless we have the ability to override the fear program that is hardwired into our brains, we will  desperately try to run away from the fear to avoid dealing with the terrible feeling we perceive in our bodies.  Having done yoga for 35 years, I have trained myself to feel every little part of my body. There was no running away for me.

upside_down_2

I was fully immersed in the experience of dying while undergoing treatments. A couple of months after my last radiation treatment a friend came over to take some photos. My hair was just beginning to grow back, my scar and radiation burns had healed over. During the photo shoot I pulled my top down and exposed my scar. My friend took some shots. I had no idea at the time what would become of those images.

My scar is a living testament to what I, and countless other woman, must endure in order to survive. In that moment, I felt both sad and jubilant. I hope that my willingness to share my story will help others feel they can be open about their own stories.

upside_down

Yoga teaches us that our bodies are only temporary vessels that we inhabit for a short time. We become attached to having our bodies function and look a certain a way even though every day, when we look in the mirror, we can literally see ourselves getting old. Having a breast removed is a reminder of our impermanence, a reminder to live life today as if there were no tomorrow.

Why would I want to cover up with reconstructive surgery or a prosthesis  with one of the most important lessons of my life? So in my everyday life I do not wear a prosthesis and I have no intention of having a fake breast installed.  I am learning to love my new body, to take good care of the scar. I give myself daily massages with a lymph brush. I roll around on a big exercise ball to massage my body and keep the fluids flowing. I visualize new pathways emerging in my body that carry fluid and replace old vessels that scared over where my lymph nodes were removed.

The body’s magical healing capacity has been summoned into action.

upside_down_3

I plan on teaching workshops for women who have had mastectomies.  There are many highly effective self care techniques that prevent lymphedema, a common condition that can arise in the wake of surgery and be debilitating .

Having cancer gave me tremendous courage to confront my life and change what was no longer serving me. Life changing events such as serious illness or the loss of a loved one can catapult a person into radical aliveness.

I was co-founder and co-owner of the most poplar yoga studio in the country, Downward Dog Yoga Centre.  Thankfully, my business partner bought my shares and set me free. The name of my new studio is 80 Gladstone Yoga and Movement Space. www.80gladstone.com It is a reflection of 35 years of a life dedicated to the practice of yoga and to the work on assisting others along their journey towards wellness.

I’m fascinated by the intense strength and courage I had while I was undergoing treatments. I wonder why some people can have their greatest revelations during times of distress and fear. Why are some people able to harness the energy of terror as a means of transformation?

Photo: Steph Bonas

Photo: Steph Bonas

There is an inherent power that comes when you confront your worst fear. Confronting death can be the most empowering experience of a lifetime.

In an attempt to help people access their strength during intense life events I am co teaching a workshop called “Life Altering Illness” along with Jane Clapp and Ruth Tamari. In the workshop we will explore the relationship between serious illness and the transformative potential that lies dormant, just below the surface, waiting to be ignited .

Join us on Friday, April 18th for a FREE workshop called Life Altering Illness.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://dianebruni.com/wp-content/uploads/cancer_story_5.jpg 666 1000 Webtech https://dianebruni.com/wp-content/uploads/diane_bruni_logo.png Webtech2014-02-14 19:21:512018-04-27 00:58:34Woman Upside Down

Latest Blog Entries

  • I’m Not Dead YetDecember 9, 2019 - 6:21 pm
  • Special Edition with Diane BruniJune 7, 2019 - 3:49 pm
  • Celebrating 100 Episodes with Diane BruniJune 7, 2019 - 3:45 pm
  • Diane BruniDiane Bruni on Functional Movement & Movement as MedicineAugust 15, 2018 - 11:46 am
  • Shaking Medicine and YogaDecember 8, 2016 - 12:13 am
  • Yoga and Movement Retreat in MexicoSeptember 25, 2016 - 3:23 pm

Like Diane On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Latest News

  • I’m Not Dead YetDecember 9, 2019 - 6:21 pm
  • Special Edition with Diane BruniJune 7, 2019 - 3:49 pm
  • Celebrating 100 Episodes with Diane BruniJune 7, 2019 - 3:45 pm
  • Diane BruniDiane Bruni on Functional Movement & Movement as MedicineAugust 15, 2018 - 11:46 am
  • Shaking Medicine and YogaDecember 8, 2016 - 12:13 am

View Online Courses

  • Yoga Fix – Hip FixJune 5, 2017 - 4:34 pm
  • Developmental MovementJune 5, 2017 - 2:04 pm
© Copyright - Diane Bruni - 2019. Site by LUCIE
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Instagram
  • LOG IN
  • LOG OUT
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Hyper-mobility Hypermobile Downward Dog A Response to WAWADIA
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Our Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only