By Nancy Benson, written as a part of Debby Gaines' Community-Based Writing class.

My knowledge of India was based on popular fiction and historical novels I had read, as well as movies I had seen. Shiraz Tata’s presentation at Womanspace in February gave me an excellent opportunity to experience Shiraz’s India through her eyes.

With digital photos we began our journey at the new and beautiful Mumbai International Airport, and from there to Shiraz’s birthplace, Jamshedpur, a place of beautiful, green landscapes. She described her life as a young girl at the Sacred Heart Convent School, an English school based on the British system. Administered by the Carmel Order of Nuns, Sacred Heart was an excellent girls’ school where Shiraz thrived as a student. Shiraz also spoke fondly of the Girl Guide program in which she participated every Saturday. The girls met to join in different programs and activities, very much like our Girl Scout program in the US.

Shiraz shared photos of her family: her 86 year-old father, who is living in the family home surrounded by treasured memories, and her sister and other family members who eagerly await Shiraz’s visit every summer.

In the discussion that evening we focused on India’s progress. Changes that Shiraz has seen are evident. The middle class is growing, technology and education are advancing, roles of women and dual careers are shifting, transportation and communication have become easier. And yet the values ingrained India’s history as a nation: respect for elders, family, duty and harmony are ever present.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shiraz’s program. I believe the more we, as global citizens, learn about other countries and cultures, the more we understand our world, its differences and similarities I look forward to additional presentations like Shiraz’s at Womanspace.

By Wanie Reeverts, written as a part of Debby Gaines' Community-Based Writing class.

An image of strength and longevity, the oak tree breathes a spirit of

 ruggedness and grit, standing firm against extreme weather thrown

 in its direction.  The roots mirror the branches stretching far below ground as

the branches above.    In a mixed forest of trees with bare limbs, the oak’s

summer foliage may still be clinging to its boughs as Christmas approaches.

Sometimes, life is like a fall storm, whipping branches and flinging the leaves

of our concentration and contentment to the four winds.  Standing firm like

the oak with its family of fir, elm and ash on our campus, we women grow beyond

the trunk of our past, giving birth to new shoots brushing the sky.   Often

the druids danced beneath oak trees for ritual and revered the virtues that come

with years of experience, dividing feminine energy into three phases: maiden,

mother, and crone.  Our foremothers and forefathers respected each phase and

relied upon their wisdom and guidance.  Naturally inclusive, sharing our roots

with others, we ask for encouragement, when we need it, ready to give the same

to those who come to us.

A member since 1979, a hesitant young mother, struggling with issues of

unresolved grief and shame, I began sharing my feelings with the staff and

members in art classes, workshops and retreats.  Feeling safe and understood,

I learned a valuable lesson about trustworthiness.  Invited into Womanspace

roots,  I knew I’d found a grove of like-minded oaks.  Days and years like columns

of trees, I credit the co-founders for instilling the courage to leave guilt and

shame behind, stoking the fires of my creativity through watercolor and poetry.

Exploring and sharing my roots in the community based writing class,

facilitated by Debby Gaines for the past two years, I’ve learned to “lighten up”

and “play,” letting my writing juices flow.   Reclaiming the crone within myself,

I’ve traded unforgiveness for blossoms of love, writing poetry that honors my

birth mother.

Encircled by women, we have fun in writing class, listening to each other’s

stories and hearing the sound of our voices.  A gigantic heart, Debby encourages

us to write at a deep level inspired by her prompts.    Treating each other with

respect, we fan the flame of new ideas, reminding ourselves that the only failure

is not trying.

Recently, a young writer took the risk and talked to me about her struggle with

doubt.  Willing to share wisdom I’ve gleaned at Womanspace, I shared my

journey—one of recovery, discovery and empowerment.

By sharing our roots of compassion and support like a family of trees,

we women create a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts;

inspire each other to blossom into our potential for wisdom, beauty and service

at Womanspace.

Wanie Reeverts

By Gina Wise, written as a part of Debby Gaines' Community-Based Writing class.

Who knew Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) would feel so good!  It's like abracadabra with a sturdy chair, a lit candle, and a very skilled guru to fix you up and get you on your way again.

I am writing this article to bring awareness to a surgical procedure known as axillary node dissection.  On November 18,2016, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I knew I needed surgery but had no idea what was going to happen to me.  Mastectomy?  Lumpectomy?  I was told I could choose between these two surgeries.  But what I didn’t know about was axillary node dissection.  What is it?  What are the reasons for it?  What are the lifelong complications that accompany this procedure?  I had a lot to learn.  Good thing I had a lot of help on the road to discovery, treatment, and recovery from breast cancer. This is only a small part of the story of my journey with breast cancer.  I am still on this journey. I am now undergoing radiation therapy.  But that is another part of my story.

On January 6, 2017, my axillary node dissection was done in conjunction with a lumpectomy of my left breast.  Axillary node dissection involves mapping out the most likely affected lymphatic nodes adjacent to my breast cancer and the lymphatic chain leading away from it.  It is the most likely part of my body that the cancer would spread to.  This is known as sentinel lymph node mapping and involves the use of nuclear medicine and blue dye, which involved a big needle to inject blue radioactive fluid in my ARIOLA!  I found this to be a scary and painful experience.  Once this part of my lymphatic system had been “lit up,” my surgeon used a gamma detection scan to determine the best site for my underarm incision and which axillary lymph nodes, now blue, to remove.  These nodes were sent out along with the cancer tumor, the margin surrounding the cancer, and a section of my breast skin to a pathology lab to test for cancer.  This sounds very simple, but I can assure you that it was not!  However, the results of this pathology outweigh the postoperative pain, impaired mobility, and now, a lifelong “mindfulness” of my left arm.

Axillary node dissection results in a permanent impairment of the lymphatic system and the immune system of the surgery arm.  The circulation in my left arm of good, clean lymphatic fluid “in,” and bad bacteria, virus, and waste-filled fluid “out,” is now impaired.  My immune system now has fewer nodes and therefore fewer lymphocytes, infection-fighting cells.  I am now at a greater risk of developing lymphedema and have a greater risk of infection from something as simple as a small cut, burn, insect bite, or sunburn.  On the day, my nurse navigator said “It's cancer,” she also gave me my “Breast Cancer Treatment Handbook,” written by Judy Kneece.  This book is as big as an old phone book and has been a valuable source of information.  It has pages and pages listing risks, precautions, and lifelong care of my surgical arm.  I've read it many times and have integrated this new “piece of myself” into my holistic lifestyle.  I am now a cancer survivor.  So, this is the story of my left arm and how Adaptive Yoga with Keri Knutson at Womanspace was my way station to discovery, treatment and recovery. 

After my axillary node dissection, my left chest and left arm were in a lot of pain.  My left arm was very stiff and hard to move. The incision and removal of the lymph nodes disrupted every other biological system in my arm and chest.  Including my nervous system.  After my surgery, my left arm was in constant pain and I was experiencing a strange numbness with sharp tingles in my arm.  My arm felt like it was “asleep” all the time, and just the activity of my day caused pain across my chest and down my arm.  One of the complications after my surgeries included a seroma, a buildup of fluid, in my armpit.  The treatment for the seroma included extra doctor visits, another ultrasound, and icing my armpit every night.  I iced my breast and armpit every night for 24 nights, right up to the day I started radiation.  My seroma is now gone. 

One week after my surgeries, I had healed enough to start my lifelong aftercare of my surgical arm.  My “Breast Cancer Treatment Handbook” included a series of daily exercises and stretches to regain strength and mobility in my arm.  This regimen is important in a two-folded way:  first, to counterbalance my lifelong risk of lymphedema by supporting my lymphatic system, and second, to help regain strength and full mobility of my arm.  This is where Keri Knutson and Adaptive Yoga at Womanspace entered my new life path.

Keri is a true guru!  Her knowledge of Integral Yoga and practice gave me the much-needed guidance to safely begin my daily series of exercises and stretches.  Keri's special brand of adaptive chair yoga and her intuitive knowledge of holistic healing helped to restore my mind, body, and spirit.  The use of a chair, yoga strap, and Keri's mindful eye gave me the correct physical support and posture to safely perform the seated yoga poses to help open my chest, shoulders, and arms.  Practicing a supported downward facing dog and cow face pose would come to be very important in my journey with breast cancer.  I gave myself time to heal and slowly added more daily exercise to my Adaptive Yoga practice.  Womanspace and my newfound friends and fellow Adaptive Yogis gave me hope and courage to heal and restore my body.  For me, Adaptive Yoga with Keri was a true way station.  For the next four weeks, I was able to regain my strength, health, and full mobility of my left arm.  I have since moved on to Keri's Restorative Yoga class.  Not only did my time and experience in Adaptive Yoga restore my health and mobility, but it also gave me the ability to move to the next important step in my journey with breast cancer, six weeks of radiation treatment.  During my radiation treatment, I need to lie on my back, hold both of my arms up behind my head in a modified cow face pose, hold my breath, and not move AT ALL while different x-rays of the chest are taken and then, again, for each different body angle for the radiation treatment.  My ability to remain absolutely still helps minimize the radiation scatter to my ribs, lungs, and heart.  I am able to do ALL I need to do to continue my journey with breast cancer.  I continue to live a holistic lifestyle with good food and exercise. I am mindful of my energy level and resting well.  I continue the practice of mindfulness with Elaine Hirschenberger in the Mindfulness Group, Meditation as a Wellness Practice with Dr. Shiraz Tata, Reiki One with Debby Gaines, and Restorative Yoga with Keri Knutson.  Thank you.

I am very grateful to Keri and all the women in the yoga classes at Womanspace.  My time in Adaptive Yoga was very healing, both mentally and physically.  My time being in fellowship and laughing with the other women helped heal my spirits.  This is the story of my left arm. Who knew that Adho Mukha Svanasana would feel so good!  No matter how you adapt it!

Gina Wise

02-13-2017