I am a proud Naazuk Kali. From the time I can remember, I have always complained of some pain, somewhere. I haven’t been into sports ever, PT periods scared me no end. Run a few petty metres, my calves would ache. Exercise a little, my body would break. And then, there’s the sun. Oh, my worst enemy. The Sun, my vomiting and migraines. Once menstruation started, matters got worse. Migraine 2 days before, like an indicator. Lower abdomen pain on the first day, chest pain on the second, heavy flow till the 5th day, I could go on and on.
My husband would jokingly call me ‘Vedu’. No Vedika or Vedaprana are not my second names. Vedu is the short for Vedana. Which in Malayalam means Pain.
I have always been a pain in the neck, literally. Forties brought in the much-feared menopause and another surprise, Diabetes-Type 2. And honestly, there has been no looking back since then. Headaches, back aches, mood swings, dizziness, hunger pangs…you name it and I had it.
The doctor recommended walking for 45 minutes, and I followed it religiously. But come rains, I was stuck at home. Come summers, my foe would rise early and disrupt my walk. Getting a Gym Bike was my idea, but oh, the knee pain…
To cut a long story short, physical activity was getting increasingly difficult for me. Either due to lack of time, lack of motivation, or my Vedanas.
My Yoga journey commenced in March 2025, just 3 months back, as a final resort for my piling physical and psychological ailments. I was advised by a few friends, and now, I can’t recommend it enough.
I practise online, I wouldn’t name the institution here. The class begins at 6:30 in the morning, so since the past few months, I have been waking up regularly before 6. And that’s really helping me because I complete some of my chores before Yoga, getting ample time for writing, or reading, after class and before work.
I have always been a late riser, and it might sound a little cliché but after all these years, I am enjoying the perks of Early to Bed and Early to Rise.
The first two weeks were difficult, I was in the Vedana mode, my back was hurting. But I’m grateful to my Yoga enthusiast friends and of course the very able instructor, for encouraging me to be patient and go ahead. Believe me you, the pain gradually subsided and today, I feel different, very different.
For once, my migraines have come down a lot. I feel lighter and have managed to shed 2 kgs. My blood sugar seems to have dipped a little too. And more than anything, I feel content. Happy that I’m helping my body, my mind, and letting myself heal. Bit by bit, everyday. That one hour, I dedicate to myself. It’s my own space, I breathe, I move, I challenge myself, and I go on. Honestly, I look forward to the sessions, for the simple reason that, Yoga does not pressure me into performing any task that I’m not comfortable with.
It’s true, right before any asana, my instructor informs us all about the benefits, and who should and who perhaps shouldn’t perform it. Yoga has an alternative to every difficult asana. There’s always this phrase, ‘As much as your body let’s you.’ Trust me, that, in itself, sounds so relaxing.
I confess, I am yet not that flexible. Three months down the line, I haven’t turned into an expert Yogi. It’s not like I can effortlessly go about twisting my knees or bending all the way down. But I am improving, taking it slow, consciously listening to my body.
My bloating problem has lessened quite a bit, when I feel heavy on the upper abdomen, I perform a few rounds of PavanMuktasana. It does wonders that antacid tablets or syrups can’t. Vajrasana, Balasana and Bhujangasana provide immense relief to my tired back and the day’s fatigue. Something, I never thought I would experience. Just two rounds of Yashtikasana give the whole body the stretch it needs and Surya Namaskars are my favourite. I feel so light and rejuvenated post a few rounds. Anulom-Vilom and Pranayaams in the evening help me often with mild headaches.
I focus more on Asanas for the abdomen, they, I guess help regulating the blood sugar. Being diabetic and in need for regular exercise, a well-ordered hour of Yoga has started working wonders. You know, I can’t stand for too long, and when I do, earlier the pain would last the entire day. So much so, that I needed to soak my feet in warm water. But these days, it pains for a while, but doesn’t last. My protruding tummy, with which I have been struggling since pregnancy, seems to have tucked in a little too. In spite of menopausing, I would regularly suffer from migraines and lower abdominal period cramps. These, have almost disappeared now.
To conclude, I would say, Yoga has made me more disciplined, more aware. Of the minute details in my body, and how I could control my Vedanas with Asanas. It’s taught me to pause, take a deep breath, relax and yet keep fit. I feel more confident, in fact, I feel poised, healthy, rather beautiful. Because now I am more energetic, sleeping well, caring for my body, soul and myself.
Happy International Yoga Day. Strongly recommended.
By Preethi Warrier
Preethi Warrier has completed her Masters in Electronics Engineering and is an Assistant Professor. She is one among the winners of the TOI Write India Campaign Season-1, for the famous author Anita Nair. She can be contacted at : warrier.preethi@yahoo.com
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