BADASS AND BENDY

In this memoir and guidebook, a breast cancer survivor shares her struggle and discusses the role that yoga played in her recovery.

In the fall of 2006, when Kahn was 45, she received the diagnosis that few people are prepared for: “you have cancer.” She was an Army wife, a fitness instructor, and the mother of a boy in sixth grade and a girl in 10th—and now, she was afraid that she would become only “Cancer Cathleen.” Facing surgery, chemotherapy, and the loneliness of her diagnosis, she managed to find new strength through her ongoing practice of yoga, which also helped her to connect with other people. Kahn’s debut is also a self-help manual for readers with cancer who also hope to use yoga to support their health. As a trained yoga instructor and wellness expert, she offers readers poses and meditations for specific cancer-treatment side effects, such as nausea, constipation, sleeplessness, the mental fog known as “chemo brain,” and other ailments. She also provides positive affirmations to help battle stress, anxiety, and depression. She presents all of these instructions in a highly accessible manner, complete with clear illustrations by Coyle, leaving room for readers to make notes on their impressions and progress. She talks about her own experiences with breast cancer in an appealingly forthright manner, and her recollections are both heartfelt and informative throughout. Some address experiences that no one warned her about, such as the pain of a dye injection, the itchiness of wigs, and numerous awkward comments and questions from others. Although Kahn notes that she has an increased appreciation of the world and her health due to her greater focus on mindfulness, she also stresses that yoga isn’t a magic bullet and that close family relationships are also important for one’s personal health.

Intimate, firsthand accounts and in-depth yoga instruction that will offer comfort to cancer patients.