CASE HISTORY 7
Name: Luxmi
Date of Birth : 1959
SEX: Female
COMPLAINTS & DURATION
Married for 5 yrs, she could not bear a child. She was then 23yrs old.
History of painful menses, every month since young.
Depression
PREVIOUS TREATMENT:
Had consulted and had been treated by several specialists.
Several D&C (Dilatation and Curettage) done.
Had been advised by several specialists to remove the uterus because of monthly excruciating pain.
PROGNOSIS:
The prognosis in such cases is extremely poor, both for the problem of infertility/sterility and also for the accompanying depression consequent to the daily harassment the patient has to undergo from immediate surroundings or from a larger social circle.
Some specialist doctors had even gone to the extent of advising removal of uterus to alleviate the excruciating pain of menses. According to them, the patient did not have any chances to become a mother.
Patient was severely depressed, even having suicidal tendencies. Her in-laws wanted her husband to divorce her and remarry to have a child.
DISCUSSION
The salient feature is:
Infertility
Infertility refers to the inability of a person to contribute to conception. It may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. There are many biological causes, some which may be helped by medical intervention.
Psychological impact
The consequences of infertility are manifold and can include societal repercussions and personal suffering. There is usually a disregard for the emotional responses that couples experience.
Social impact
In many cultures, inability to conceive bears a stigma. In closed social groups, a degree of rejection may cause considerable anxiety and disappointment. Some respond by avoiding any social contact.
EFFECTS OF YOGA AND MEDITATION
Patient had not been able to bear a child even after 5 years of marriage. She was then 23 yrs old.
“In 1982, already married for 5 yrs, I could not bear a child. I was then 23yrs old and my husband 30yrs old.”*
She had severe problems for which she had consulted several specialists and followed several types of treatment, to no avail.
“I had already consulted many specialists and followed their advice and treatment, to no avail.”*
She had also been suffering from severe pain during menses for which she had followed treatment.
“Since young, I used to suffer very painful menses. I still remember I suffered from severe abdominal colic during menses. I was tossing and writhing on the floor, howling in pain, when the attacks came. It was a monthly torture that seemed never to end. I underwent several D&C’s, ‘curettage’ to try and alleviate the mental and physical agony”*
She had received contradictory advice about her condition. But as she was desperate to have a child, she refused to have a hysterectomy done in spite of her agonising monthly pains.
“One specialist doctor even told me that I should forget becoming a mother ever! He advised that I should have a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) to finish once for all with these agonising pains. Nevertheless, we kept hoping against hope for a possible cure. We ignored his advice as we never lost hope of having a baby. Another doctor, perhaps more out of compassion, told me not to lose hope. Who knows, one day, maybe you may become a mother, he said.”*
On the social side, she had serious problems with her in-laws and other relatives. She was severely depressed and almost on the verge of suicide. She had to avoid going out to social gatherings for fear of being ostracised. Still, she was hopeful of one day becoming a mother.
“To add to our misery, we were being pressurised from all sides. I was stigmatised as a sterile woman. It was hell for us. We were reluctant to even go out or to attend social gatherings. Everyone would ask us silly and embarrassing questions. Some relatives on my husband’s side even wanted him to divorce me and remarry for a baby. I would have committed suicide had my husband left me. But he was always very supportive and we were not losing hope of one day being happy parents.”*
As luck would have it, her husband got transferred close to the ashram. With all apprehension, they went to seek some solution there.
“My husband got a transfer. Not far from our new house was an ashram. Deep in our heart, wishing for some relief, we went to the ashram. We met Yoginiji and learnt that yoga and meditation was being taught by her. Then we mentioned our problem and wanted to know whether there was any hope for us.”*
“We were made to understand that the practice of yoga and meditation was more spiritual than anything. However, the discipline involved would go a long way to help improve general well-being, bring peace of mind, food habits would be changed, and lastly, yoga postures could remedy physical ills or unknown defects. We decided to have a try. For us, it was a new way to pray God. Maybe God would answer our prayer!”*
She was first taught simple yogic breathing techniques with mantra repetition and simple postures. In the past she had been under constant stress and pressure, enough to deplete her already meager supplies of prana. Yogic breathing and mantra repetition brought in additional prana. This was enough to start the healing process. She still remembers the special feeling she had after practicing yogic breathing the first time.
“Yoginiji taught simple postures to start with. She taught us yogic breathing and mantra repetition. We practiced daily. We realised we hardly knew how to breathe properly. It was a revelation. Within just one week of daily practice I was already another person. I felt rejuvenated! Full of hope, our spirits high, we carried on with renewed fervour whatever Yoginiji taught us”*
The yogic breathing she was taught and which she assiduously practiced helped the ‘prana’ to consolidate the initial effects of additional prana inflow. It had an immediate healing effect on her system. The next time she had her menses, they were perfectly painless.
“Two weeks later when I had my menses it was perfectly painless. I was amazed. I could not believe it was happening to me. After a decade of atrocious suffering I was pain free. It was a miracle!”
They were told by Yoginiji to be patient. Everything would come at the proper time. They were advised to lead a pure life until the body would be healed enough for her to conceive without any complications. In the meantime, daily yoga postures and yogic breathing kept on supplying a fresh supply of the prana, vital life force to continue the internal healing process. She was able to build up a stock of prana to counteract any further pathological process which might occur in her system. After some two months they were advised to try to have their baby. They were successful.
“When we started yoga, Yoginiji had advised to abstain from sex for some time. After 2 months we were overjoyed when Yoginiji told us that we can have a baby now. True to her words, the miracle happened. I was expecting our baby.”*
However there was every danger that she might not be able to keep the baby. So she was advised to continue with the yoga postures and yogic breathing which had become part of her life by then.
“We continued going to Yoginiji to practice yoga until the 7th month.”*
She was able to carry the child to term and finally became a mother. She would continue with her yoga practice. She would again become a mother one year later, this time without any problem.
“Within a year of starting yoga we were blessed with a beautiful sturdy baby boy. I did not have any problems and delivered normally. One year later we were again blessed with a lovely and charming baby girl. This time it was even better. I delivered my daughter at home! Today they are grown up, aged 28 yrs and 26 yrs, and in excellent health. They know how they came in this world and they are very happy. My son is a swimming coach and a professional life-saver. My daughter is a graduate and now doing her Masters in Fashion Management.”*
She has continued with yoga as she felt it had given her good health and the reason for living a dignified life.
“I am in good health up to today and not having any problems. I was so grateful to yoga for having given me back my health. I never left yoga and continued practicing regularly and religiously for some 17 years after my daughter’s birth.”
She even advised some of her friends who were in a similar plight. They were also able to have their baby after doing yoga and following the rules of yoga and yogic breathing in their daily life.
“Two of my friends, Purnima G and Sheela B, were in a similar plight as me. They were already in their early thirties and having to go through all the humiliation I had myself faced. When they learnt about my miracle they regained hope. Within months of doing yoga, they too were blessed with babies. Today their children are grown up, about 22yrs and 19 yrs old. But for yoga, these two lives would have probably ended in tragedy. Now both are happily settled abroad with their families.”*
She had the opportunity to appreciate the yoga course she had the privilege to follow. She is categorical that it does not compare in any way with the yoga courses being dispensed nowadays. She is all appreciation for the step by step method she was taught.
“Today when I hear from friends about their yoga practice I find that nothing compares to the way Yoginiji taught us yoga. It was completely different. She taught right from the basics, slowly going ahead step by step to allow the body to get gradually accustomed to the new movements before attempting more intricate postures. I feel that the true spirit of yoga has nowadays disappeared, replaced by sensationalism and mercantilism.”*
Yoga saved her life and gave new meaning to it. She is no longer looked down upon. In fact those who looked down upon her now seek her advice.
“I dread to imagine the hell I would have lived through had I not met Yoginiji. I am ever grateful to her for having given a new meaning to my life. Those who used to look down upon me, and taunt me now earnestly seek my help and advice. Indeed, yoga changed our life and made it worth living and very precious. I wish more people would have the chance I had! How many wasted lives would have been saved!”*
(* Excerpts from Annual Magazine 4, 2011, page 67-68)
CONCLUSION
The patient had always suffered from painful menses. After marriage, the inability to conceive and the stress caused by family members led her into constant depression. Whatever little energy she could muster would be wasted just to keep going. Nothing would be left for her to fight the disease condition in her system. It was a vicious cycle from which she could never have come out by herself. She was condemned to her fate, until yoga came her way.
Yoga postures and yogic breathing create a rich inflow of vital energy ‘prana’ in the whole system. Prana has its own healing power. Wherever there is any pathology the ‘prana’ will first stabilize the organ, start the healing process and eventually lead to complete cure. Just two weeks after starting yoga she would note the positive results. From then on she no longer had any pain during her menses.
The inflow of ‘prana’ which was increased by yogic breathing, asanas and mantra repetition, was instrumental in stabilizing the diseased organ systems. From then on there would be no further deterioration, the whole degenerative process in the uterus being halted.
The pathological changes in the patient’s reproductive system, more particularly in the uterus were already at an advanced stage. Still the inflow and accumulation of prana stopped further deterioration and initiated a process of healing. There was marked improvement.
As is usual in such cases she had been advised to have a hysterectomy. Instead, it was seen that her condition improved dramatically. She could conceive a child just two months after starting yoga. She could carry the baby to term and have a normal delivery. The baby born was a healthy boy.
She again became a mother one year later without any problem. She even recommended yoga to others who were in a similar plight. They too became mothers after following the yoga course. How many lives and families were saved thanks to yoga!
Yoga helped to re-stabilize the disturbed homeostasis in her system and worked miracles for her health and well-being, whether on the physical, mental, psychological or social planes.