Vicky Fox is a yoga teacher and trainer who has been teaching yoga for cancer classes since 2013 and teaching yoga since 2008.
She is the author of Yoga For Cancer, A-Z of C” looking at how yoga can address the side effects of treatment for cancer. She has also written “Time to repair” looking at how yoga can help the body to nourish and repair after illness. Vicky teaches weekly yoga for cancer classes sees and hears every day how yoga benefits those impacted by cancer and can help student to feel empowered and in control at a time when they feel out of control. She also sees the huge benefits of group classes to create a community that helps people feel less isolated and alone. Vicky works with cancer charities in the UK and has contributed yoga programmes for Oncio the only integrative app in the UK that supports people living with cancer.
Since 2020 Vicky has been running trainings to help other teachers work with anyone living with cancer.
Why Yoga is important to me...
I injured my back messing around in my garden doing backbends when I wasn't properly warmed up. I have a condition called bertolloti syndrome which creates a scoliosis of my spine and an imbalance in the muscles on my back. One side is overly contracting and one side is being constantly stretched.
For weeks after I had limited range of motion and was in constant pain. Pain makes you very short tempered, cross and tired. I was unable to practice yoga and even sitting in the car I had to have my hands by my side to support me as my back couldn't. For about 3 months I lost the sensation in my right foot and right shin.
I promised to myself as I lay on the floor in tears that I would be kinder to myself and more compassionate. That I would listen to my body and become a better teacher if only I could begin to heal.
My daily yoga practiced changed after that - well it had to firstly because of my back - but once I started to get more mobility I realised that I needed to take time everyday to just observe. Observe what it felt like to be me. Areas that felt tight, areas that were harder to breath into, how my energy was and how my mind felt.
I try to bring that into my classes. Be Kind. Be compassionate. Learn to listen to your body. That the only way your body can talk to you is through the sensations that you feel. However those sensations may be subtle so you need to start to be in tune with what it feels like to be you so you can adapt your practice to respect that. Whether your practice is a Vinyasa flowing practice, a more restorative healing practice, you are a new to yoga or been practicing for years. An advanced practice is learning to do less not more.
