How self-care makes you a better teacher

Cancer is something that affects us on a personal as well as a professional level. We need to be conscious of this as people who work with cancer.

This week I have a funeral of a beloved elderly relative who recently died of lymphoma. I feel privileged to have spent time with them on what turned out to be their final day. Even when it is expected, peaceful and at an acceptable time in life, we still grieve. And often in that period of time of processing our own thoughts and feelings, life carries on and we may still have duties to fulfil. In the long term, maybe years later, grief can catch us off guard in unexpected moments.

At other times, the experience may not be of grief but holding the tension of a loved one going through treatment, being unsure of the outcome, perhaps trying to take care of their needs as well as your own. This is currently my situation too, of a dear friend who has recently had a mastectomy and is about to commence chemotherapy.

Sometimes, the situation is such that we may need to step back for a little while until we are on a more even keel. However, sadly, if I took time off every time someone close to me was going through cancer I wouldn't be able to run classes at all. Instead I rely on the strategies and support I have put in place over the years to carry me through.

Nobody is immune to being emotionally affected by cancer. There is no point at which you become knowledgeable, qualified and experienced enough to not be moved by people’s stories and situations and certainly not to be unaffected by diagnoses in those you love.

So my question to you is what strategies do you have to take care of yourself in challenging situations like these? Do you know or recognise the signs of when you need to stop and when it is ok to keep working? What needs to be in place for you to be able to teach cancer classes while cancer is also playing a part in your private life?

In the full Yoga for Cancer Teacher Training we spend time each week considering ways we can take care of our own needs whilst also meeting the needs of our clients. This involves having compassionate boundaries and developing good self-care practises and support networks so that we have the opportunity to be held when it is needed. If we don’t have these things in place, we run the risk of reaching overwhelm and burnout at which point we are not able to support others.

Lastly, if you are struggling right now, then do reach out for support. My private Yoga For Cancer Community Facebook group is a place where you are welcome and safe to share your experience and ask for support.