Louise’s Journey with MVP
“After online yoga therapy with MVP, I felt more deeply connected to myself again.” — Louise
When Louise was diagnosed with breast cancer, her world shifted completely. This is the story of how she found stillness, acceptance, and healing through My Vinyasa Practice’s online yoga therapy.
The Diagnosis and Early Struggles
Louise, a wife, mother, and psychiatrist, is now a five-year breast cancer survivor. Between July 2020 and July 2023, she engaged in online yoga therapy with My Vinyasa Practice (MVP). Her journey began in the summer of 2018 when she discovered a lump in her breast on the night of her daughter’s first birthday.
“It was my daughter’s first birthday. That night, it was hot, and I couldn’t sleep. I felt a lump in my breast and panicked. I went online to check for other explanations, but nothing matched. I knew something wasn’t right.”
She also noticed a lump in her armpit. With her medical background, Louise understood that this could mean the cancer had spread. Fear quickly took hold.
“At that time, my baby daughter was still sleeping in our room. The only thing I could do was listen to her breathe and try to breathe myself.”
Facing the Diagnosis
The next morning, Louise contacted her gynecologist, who initially believed the lumps were hormonal due to weaning her daughter. However, Louise trusted her instincts. She had been feeling exhausted and sensed that something was seriously wrong. After a biopsy, her fears were confirmed—she had breast cancer.
“I remember lying there, crying, and saying, ‘This is not possible. I have a little girl. This cannot be happening.’ I was scared to call anyone because I thought if I said it out loud, it would become real.”
Louise began six months of chemotherapy. During treatment, her partner shaved her dreadlocks as her hair began to fall out.
“I was scared my daughter wouldn’t recognize me anymore.”
After chemo, Louise underwent surgery and radiotherapy, followed by a rehabilitation program. Throughout this time, love and support surrounded her.
“My daughter’s first word was ‘mama,’ and her second was ‘flower,’ because the house was full of flowers people sent.”
The Road to Recovery
In September 2019, Louise received incredible news—her PET-CT scan showed no evidence of disease. Yet, the emotional recovery was just beginning. Ongoing treatments, including antihormone medication and a central catheter, brought new challenges such as joint stiffness, bone loss, hot flashes, and fatigue.
The trauma left her struggling to regain balance and clarity. She often found herself questioning her mortality and worrying about her daughter’s future.
“When it happened, it was like a bomb had gone off in my life.”
Turning Toward Yoga Therapy
Determined to rebuild her life, Louise initially planned to return to work. However, the Covid pandemic delayed that plan, and her oncologist recommended she stay home due to a weakened immune system. This pause led her to reassess her priorities.
“I felt like time was precious, and the idea of going back to work was holding on to an illusion.”
Before her diagnosis, Louise practiced yoga for its physical benefits. After treatment, she began exploring more holistic practices that helped calm her mind and restore her sense of presence.
“On the mat, on that one square meter, it was safe for me to explore those feelings. I needed the movement of yoga to find some stillness in my head.”
Discovering My Vinyasa Practice
Seeking deeper guidance, Louise enrolled in My Vinyasa Practice’s Yoga Teacher Training. Chronic lymphedema in her arm made some postures difficult, so she reached out to MVP founder Michelle Young, who suggested online yoga therapy.
“I had read a lot about trauma sensitivity and trauma-informed yoga, but it was mostly theoretical. I needed someone who could guide me on an embodied level.”
Although she was unsure if online sessions would feel personal, they turned out to be deeply grounding.
“I could be vulnerable. I felt safe being guided by Michelle. I hadn’t felt that grounded in a long, long time.”
The Healing Process
Louise’s sessions with Michelle addressed every layer of her well-being—mental, emotional, physical, and environmental. They adapted poses to avoid pressure on her arm, incorporated Yoga Nidra to ease tension, and developed techniques to manage the side effects of hormone therapy.
“I was less afraid of what I was feeling after those sessions.”
Through yoga therapy, she also cultivated a deeper meditation practice and began connecting with an ancestral energy that brought comfort and peace.
“Feeling that presence helped me trust in passing it forward to my daughter.”
From 2021 onward, Louise moved from bi-weekly to monthly sessions, continuing until mid-2023. Though she hasn’t scheduled a session in nearly a year, she feels supported knowing she can always return.
“I know that Michelle is available whenever I would like to pick up again.”
Moving Forward with Awareness
Louise has experienced profound growth through her work with MVP’s online yoga therapy.
“Yoga therapy has brought me to a point where I can slow down and just sit with what is. It has created an awareness that life is fragile and not permanent. This awareness has helped me make more authentic choices for myself and my family.”
Even as challenges arise, she finds joy in the present. Recently, she explored her father’s roots in Southeastern Europe—a trip she might not have taken without her healing journey.
“Being able to show up with what is present, here and now, has had a lasting effect on me.”
Conclusion: From Surviving to Living
Louise’s experience with My Vinyasa Practice’s online yoga therapy transformed her from surviving to truly living. Through this practice, she became more connected to her body, her emotions, and the people she loves most.
“Now, I can fully live life and connect in an authentic way to the people I love.”
If you’d like to learn more about online yoga therapy with My Vinyasa Practice, schedule your free 15-minute consultation call today.