My Journey to reverse Hypothyroidism with Yoga

Prologue: This is a story I have dreamt for a decade to tell.

In 2011, at the age of 32, during my very first Annual health check, I uncovered the underlying Hypothyroidism. I was shocked and did not understand “why”, but it did explain the sudden weight gain, hair loss and occasional foot pain I experienced then. Hypothyroidism runs in my family and genetically I am predisposed to the condition. That was my best rationale at the time for my “why” coupled with lifestyle issues which was a aftermath realization that sunk in as a function of time.

I knew I had to do something about it beyond popping hormone pills every morning else I am heading down south health wise. I did try a lot of “gimmicks” influenced by whatever was the latest in the nutrition and fitness media at the time. I say “gimmicks” because I was only falling prey to the tips and tricks floated in the media, without a thorough understanding of hypothyroidism and a holistic lifestyle change that was needed to manage and then reverse the condition. The thyroid dysfunction only got worse than improve, leaving me demotivated, disappointed and clueless.

In 2019, I dreamt of a hike in Everest region as a celebration of stepping into my forties. A hike up beyond 5000 meters demands a disciplined groundwork of the body and mind. I had started to visit the gym more regularly but I knew I needed to work on my mental audacity. The power of Yoga is underpinned by the evidence in building mental fortitude and over a tête-à-tête with two of my friends who stood as a testimony for how Yoga had transformed their lives, I resolved to register for Yoga Teachers Training program. I put in the time, but it wasn’t easy for me. However I kept the picture of Gokyo Ri and the Himalayan mountains’ calling to push me and successfully complete the certification. I then became an internationally certified Yoga Teacher!

The breathing techniques I learnt during the course aided in my hike and certain yogic practices helped in quick day-to-day recovery during the hike. The course had served its purpose and my effort and trust in Yoga, lived to its promise.

After returning from the hike, I wasn’t as diligent to the title of “Yoga Teacher” on the paper to practice Yoga everyday. It was the pandemic percipience that set stage to redesign my lifestyle inspired by Yogic wisdom. Lockdowns during a world raging pandemic served as a hermitage life to practice yoga every day. Here is summation of lifestyle changes:

4 Pillars of healthy living to be inspired from Yoga are:

Nutrition: I had learnt in Yoga, that food is not just about “what you eat” but also “when you eat” and “how you eat”.

• What Changes
  • Fresh vegetables ordered every-day for the day consumption. Reduced the use of refrigerator to absolute minimum.
  • Have been a eggetarian and went back to vegetarian.
  • Cut down largely on processed foods and set up a healthy spice rack to be used in everyday cooking inspired by Ayurveda.
  • Neem , Turmeric, Ashwagandha mixed with pre-boiled water with Coriander seeds every morning in empty stomach.
  • Off refined oils and refined sugar. Moved to cooking in healthy metal utensils using ghee/cold pressed coconut oil/groundnut oil. Replaced refined sugar with organic jaggery. Microwave remained unused for cooking.
  • I ate well, a balanced diet – the usual yet comprehensive spread of Indian staple food. Ensured to include fruits and sprouts in everyday meals. The key is to satiate all 6 tastes(Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent (spicy), Bitter, Astringent) and ensure the food is balanced to include it all. This kept cravings at bay. Example: Do not deprive yourself of sweets, ensure it is home made and avoid refined sugar replacing with organic jaggery or honey or fruits.
• When
  • Ate twice a day. A brunch at 10-30am and dinner finished at sunset.
• How
  • Freshly prepared home cooked food.
  • Ate with family on the dining table, with awareness and away from gadgets.
  • Ate with a sense of gratitude for food, as it is keeps us alive and kicking. Did not indulge in calorie counting but listened to the body.

Note: No specific portion control I followed but listened to my body. There are days the body demanded more and some days less based on activity.

Fitness investment: Asana practice 5 days a week giving break during menstrual cycle. Supplemented at times with other fun fitness activities like HIIT, hypertrophy and stair climbing.

The game changer was consistent practice of inversions that enhances Thyroid gland function viz Chakrasana(+ counter asana paschimottanasana), Sarvangasana, Halasana, Matyasana, Shirsasana( + counter asana Balasana)

A very important part of fitness is also breath control. Yoga inspired the imperative importance we need to put in conscious breathing, which over time will become a second nature. Consistent yogic breathing practices helped enhance day to day functional fitness, aided also to hit the fitness pinnacle(example: able to do 330 floors stair climbing in 1 hour, 5 minutes low plank hold etc) and filled me will a sense of calm and quiet. In short what I could do with my body and mind got better by regular Yogic breathing practice. There was a feel good factor too that age now started to become just a number.

Relationships outlook:  Wisdom to rise everyday with gratitude and go back to bed with gratitude. Gratitude works wonders. As an analogy, when we are hungry, we can’t think about anything but feeding ourselves. Only when stomach is full, we think about feeding the reserves of food at home to those who are hungry. In a way the food satiates body, gratitude satiates the soul. When we are filled with gratitude, all there is left is the “feeling to give and serve”. It is a very healing experience. This approach to relationships was a game changer on how I felt and how I made people feel around me.

Inner engineering/Meditation investment: Motivation sets us off on a journey but it is discipline that keeps us on the track taking us closer to destination every day and propels us to put in the effort needed to progress. Meditation can be equated to inner engineering. It is a time to switch on the internal cameras that will uncover the unknown about us. It is a time to cut the clutter, silence the mind and experience the magic of rebirth after every session. Yes indeed is it magical as you are wiser after every act of meditation.

I have been as diligent as a human during last 17 months and whenever I derailed, I was empathetic, compassionate to self, hit a reset and came back right on track. Today at the age of 42,  I stand holding my Annual health check report with the Thyroid dysfunction reversed. I don’t need to pop pills every morning but I surely need every bit of lifestyle changes and a continued commitment to life for the Yoga practice.

Lots of lessons I learnt along the way and my top 5 are:

1. Do not let your health issues hold you back. Use it to motivate yourself in progressing towards a healthy living.
2. Adopt a comprehensive approach for healthy living. Example: Fitness routine without discipline on nutrition will not fetch results.
3. Health is not a destination but a living journey. Investment and discipline needed every day with lots of patience and compassion towards self.
4. The best way to show you love and care for yourself is to make time for healthy living – Mindfulness in Nutrition, Fitness, Meditation and Relationship outlook.
5. Your body is your temple. It is your only vehicle you have to fulfill your dreams. Keep that vehicle in healthy condition, so it is always ready to travel with you seamlessly on all your journeys.