Returning to Practice with Confidence after Surgery

Yoga has been a steady thread throughout Fiona’s life for over two decades - a grounding, supportive and challenging practice she could always return to. But last year, her relationship with yoga took on an entirely new meaning.

Twelve years after breast cancer treatment, Fiona found herself preparing for another major operation: a double mastectomy.

Having already experienced recovery once, she knew the physical and emotional challenges that lay ahead, but this operation brought a different set of emotions and a new journey of healing.

Her final yoga class before her surgery was an emotional one. As she lay in Savasana, tears came - not just from what she had already been through, but from the uncertainty ahead.

Questions lingered in her mind: “wondering whether I would ever be able to lie on my front again or stretch comfortably into Child’s Pose.”

Amidst the unknown, Fiona made a powerful decision.

Before her surgery, she booked a series of six 1:1 yoga sessions with me. Not only did this give her something positive to look forward to post-op, but it also created a pathway back, a gentle, supported return to her practice when she was ready, ensuring she could ease back into yoga safely under expert guidance.

Around eight weeks post-surgery, that journey began.

The first session wasn’t about pushing limits - it was about meeting Fiona exactly where she was. With careful planning, deep listening, and a clear understanding of her surgery and goals, each session was intentionally designed to support her recovery step by step.

They started with the foundations:

• Breathwork to calm the nervous system

• Grounding practices to reconnect with the body

• Gentle movement supported by a safe, nurturing environment

From there, the progression unfolded naturally.

Core stability work helped Fiona rebuild strength from within. Balance and controlled strength followed, restoring confidence in her body’s capabilities. By week five, as mobility improved and trust deepened, they carefully introduced chest opening and gentle backbends – movements Fiona had genuinely worried she might never be able to do again.

By the final sessions, Fiona was flowing again.

Her practice had evolved into full-body integration - not just physically, but emotionally too. What once felt uncertain had become possible again, and she left not only stronger, but equipped with a sustainable home practice she could carry forward.

Fiona’s journey didn’t end there. After completing her 1:1 sessions, she gently transitioned back into weekly group classes, moving at her own pace, listening deeply to her body, and continuing to rebuild strength and confidence week by week.

Now, in a beautiful full-circle moment, Fiona invested in her very first yoga retreat with me, and came to Mallorca this June - something that once may have felt out of reach, became a reality.

Fiona’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t linear. Choosing the right support and giving yourself time can make all the difference.

Her words say it best:

"I cannot recommend Nicole highly enough - not only for post-surgery rehabilitation, but for anyone seeking a truly personalised experience to deepen their yoga practice. She is one of a kind."

This is the heart of personalised yoga - meeting each person where they are, honouring their story, and guiding them back to strength, confidence, and connection in their own body.

If you’re navigating recovery, rebuilding trust in your body, or simply seeking a more tailored approach to your practice, know that you don’t have to do it alone.

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Contact Nicole for 1:1 support (in-person and online) - hello@breathewitheaseyoga.co.uk