Yoga has really been my savior through multiple surgeries, difficult times, pain, illness & hospital

Meet Iiris @thekindwarrior sharing her #yogasavedmylife story with us.  These are her words 💚

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"I’m a 22-year-old woman who lives in Finland with kindness & gratitude — and a chronic illness. I am a yogi, free spirit, future teacher, IBD warrior & temporary ostomate

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I'm forever grateful for my yoga practice. I had practised yoga at home for about eight months before being diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. My life took a completely new turn & suddenly filled with pain, fatigue, medicine & surgeries. It was very challenging both mentally & physically but yoga & meditation helped me through the shock

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Two years ago I had my first surgery because of colitis. It was so surreal - only seven months earlier I had been diagnosed with a disease I had never heard of before, I lost 20 kilos, I caught salmonella which gave me sepsis, & the doctors started talking about the risk of me dying. I ended up having a surgery to remove my colon & create an ileostomy

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It was a terrifying time for me & my family. But after I had decided to have the operation, I felt a deep sense of calm

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I've taken my mat to hospital & just sat on it breathing if too weak to do any physical practice. I'm so so grateful for yoga - it has taught me so much about myself, kept me sane through difficult times & helped me get my strength back after the surgeries

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Yoga helps me find peace in difficult times. Since I became chronically ill, I’ve had a good deal of time to focus on my journey of self-awareness, yoga and creativity. My yoga practice and ayurvedic diet help me stay mindful and my digestion run more smoothly. The diagnosis of UC was a major life change for me & somehow despite the struggles, it has made me happier and kinder .

Wherever I go, my yoga mat goes too, as you can see in one of those pictures. Panayama & meditation helps the digestion, ease the pain & escape from all the noise in hospital

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I now believe I'm capable of making a difference in the world, & feel encouraged to continue showing that there's always light in the darkest moments 🙏"