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I completed a grueling year of treatment for Stage 3 breast cancer in 2008.  I was overjoyed and grateful to be finished.  What I wasn’t prepared for was how difficult it would be to get my life back.

I was struggling with numerous side effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation including lymphedema, osteoporosis, a broken rib, fatigue, “chemobrain” and the common experience of depression and fear of recurrence.

I returned to my work as a psychotherapist, but wasn’t seeing cancer patients and survivors as clients because my own experience was still too fresh. But when I discovered kriya, I recognized the benefits for cancer patients and survivors.

Kriya for Immune Fitness is a practice you can do daily, as I did, to increase your energy and regain focus. Doing it every day for over a year, I found it ideal for the following:

• managing mild lymphedema (in my arms and torso)
• increasing mental and physical energy and conquering fatigue
• consciously releasing tension, anger, pain and toxins
• getting both sides of my body moving to decrease aches and pains and increase circulation
• integrating the life changing ordeal I had been through
• drastically reducing the depression and anxiety I felt

Ten years ago, in September 2010, I was eager to share a kriya yoga series I felt had been key to bringing back my energy.  I began offering a free weekly class in South Austin through a nonprofit. At the beginning I had very few students, sometimes none,  but I would still show up and practice the kriya on my own.

Over time, I developed a friendship with a member of the IV League, a support group for women living with Stage 4 breast cancer.  Together, we decided to offer my class immediately before their weekly support group at Casa de Luz, the macrobiotic center. For several years, the class was mainly folks from the IV League group – a closeknit and inspiring group of women.

One day, a woman from Capital of Texas Team Survivor joined us. She loved the practice, especially Lion’s Breath, and she asked if Team Survivor could co-sponsor the group, help advertise, and pay me a small stipend. I gratefully accepted and the energy around the class began to grow as more people learned about it.

Eventually the local YogaYoga studio allowed us to offer our free class in their beautiful space. When the pandemic hit in March, everything moved to an online format and we persisted, meeting virtually on Zoom each week. We average about 20 students per class and have hundreds who cycle in and out.

Sometimes people ask me why I like working with cancer survivors, assuming it would be sad or depressing.  For me, it’s the exact opposite. As one Joybooter remarked, “We get to embrace life in it’s  most VIVID, being truly aware of life and its beauty and fragility every time we get together.” I am inspired by the depth of feeling, connection and openness people bring to the class each week. I am motivated by the peace and stability of mind, pain relief, community and healing they experience.

I thank everyone that has participated or supported me and the JoyBooter community over the years.  Together, we lift each other’s spirits!

Please join me in celebrating our 10 year anniversary!  Share the Joyboots website and Joyboots Facebook group with friends or colleagues.  Since classes are being offered virtually, people can join from anywhere in the world and it’s always free.

Mamma Jamma is an amazing organization that has provided over $2 million in support for local programs and services for breast cancer fighters and survivors.  Thank you for donating to Mamma Jamma to support my class, Team Survivor and other organizations providing crucial assistance to cancer survivors. You can still donate through November 30th to help me reach my fundraising goal of $1000.

Many of you know that I have practiced and taught Kundalini Yoga for over 20 years.  In the interest of being open with JoyBooters, I wanted to let you know that there is a lot of upheaval in the kundalini yoga community right now.

In January, a former student of Yogi Bhajan (who brought kundalini yoga to the West and died in 2006), wrote a book called Premka, about her life living communally with Yogi Bhajan from the late 60s-early 90s.  She revealed that she was exploited and abused by him and she shares about her traumatic experiences.

When it was published, many other stories of abuse in the kundalini yoga community began to emerge.

I was shocked at the pervasiveness of the abuse and especially saddened and outraged to hear that many children who were sent to boarding school in India had been abused.  At that point, I ended my affiliation with 3HO, the kundalini yoga organization, and stopped sending in dues payments.  I also asked them to take responsibility, do a complete investigation and pay reparations to any children (now adults) who had been physically or emotionally injured.

The kundalini yoga organizations did solicit an investigation (which was released in July) and determined that the abuse alleged was very likely to have occurred. You can read more about it here:  https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/abuse-in-kundalini-yoga

Some in the community are denying the abuse and others are working on healing.

I believe every one of the survivors and am also appalled by the cover-ups that occurred.  As a therapist and a human, I can only imagine the pain that was created.

I have been in dialogue with many other teachers about how to move forward with what we know works and the willingness to shed what does not.

I still believe in the value of integrating yoga, meditation, and psychotherapy.  In many cases it has accelerated healing in people with severe depression, anxiety, PTSD from cancer or other trauma, or addiction, and helped people re-connect with themselves in ways that had previously been elusive.

I only teach what I have experienced personally and taught to hundreds of people over the years.  I intend to keep teaching, free from dogma and the shadow of Yogi Bhajan, choosing practices that are especially effective for cancer survivors.

One of my former yoga students was featured in a video produced by the University of Texas Mental Health Channel.  She eloquently shares her cancer story, shining light on what’s left behind after cancer, how her healing journey progressed and how it has impacted her mental health. 

Among the symptoms, side effects and emotions that get left behind there is also hope and gratitude. Hope for better tomorrows. Hope for healthier tomorrows. Hope for happier tomorrows. Hope of lasting memories with loved ones. Hope for more birthdays. Hope for a fulfilling life. Hope for reaching dreams, even if differently than we imagined.

However you’ve been affected by cancer and wherever you are in your healing journey, I hope you’ll take time to watch this short video, What Cancer Leaves Behind. 

And if you’re on your healing journey and curious to know how to use yoga as a tool, please join me in the free, online weekly yoga classes I teach every Wednesday at 12:00pm CT. Email me at kellyinselmanntherapy@gmail.com to get the link to join. I hope to see you there!