LifeSoup by Cherie Dawn Haas

by Cherie Dawn Haas

Waiting for a biopsy is no fun, but I can tell you that having a dedicated yoga practice helped me stay cool throughout an ordeal my dog, Hazel, recently went through.

It began when a small bump under her black fur in late summer. I thought it was a tick at first, but one of my sons confirmed that it wasn’t. Knowing that dogs (and even people) can get weird growths that come and go, I waited to have it checked out.

Within a few weeks, the bump had grown into a red balloon that was the size of my thumb-tip. Long story short, our vet told us that surgery was in Hazel’s future. 

At this point, I had two choices on how to think about this. I knew the possibilities included cancer and “just a weird growth.” I could freak out, lose sleep, and dig into a box of Pop Tarts; or I could relax, trust, and be patient until I had more information after the surgery and biopsy.

Yoga Lesson: Compassion

Hazel wore a cone for two weeks after the surgery. It took half that time for her (and us) to get used to it. At first, I held her food bowl so she could eat, but then I learned that she could reach the food on her own. 

I can’t tell you how many times the plastic cone scraped my legs as she followed me around the house, but it’s nothing compared to what she was going through. I apologized whenever she bumped into me. I’m sorry. I love you.

Yoga Lesson: Controlling the Mind

This is where I remember Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra: Yoga is control of the mind-stuff. (Specifically, “The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.” ~ The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda) 

When our minds start to take us to places of worry about the unknown, fear, and what-ifs, we can say to ourselves, “Don’t go there.” I’ve learned that when we start to think about something that’s not helpful, we can “change our minds” by simply thinking about something else in that moment.

It’s a constant practice that gets easier. Eventually, we can replace our worry with calm thoughts because it becomes more natural to think about the positive. 

Some positive thought replacements that I use are:

• Focusing on my breath. I’m still breathing. Presumably, you are, too.
• My posture. Am I slouching or sitting upright? Am I tense anywhere in my body that I can relax?
• Gratitude. Almost every time I step outside, I think to myself, Oh my God, it is beautiful. The sky, the trees, birds…

Yoga is More Than Exercise

By now, if you’re unfamiliar with the bigger picture of yoga, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with Downward Facing Dog or Tree Pose. The answer is nothing, and everything, and there are entire books (that I encourage you to read) dedicated to the topic.

Briefly, when we practice our yoga movements, also known as asanas, we can focus on controlling the mind-stuff. Am I deeper into this stretch than other people in the class? It doesn’t matter. 

If you want to know more and go deeper into your yoga practice, visit a studio near you, look up videos on YouTube, and/or begin reading more about it. (Check out this list of some of my favorite books on yoga.)

How is Hazel, you ask? She’s healing. Our vet confirmed that it was a benign tumor. She doesn’t need additional treatments, and she probably has many more years to share with our family.

Looking back, I could’ve spent the last month adding worry to my life. Instead, I was able to appreciate that I’ve had four great years with Hazel either way. I contemplated why she in particular came into our lives and what her place is in our family of people, dogs, and chickens. I found an extra level of gratitude for her mellow personality and floppy ears.

I hope my experience inspires you to try to find peace when you’re tested. God knows that enough of us have plenty to worry about, and some things are sure to dominate our minds no matter how hard we try. 

If you have a go-to method for handling stress, please share it in the comments below so that it can also help others.

Peace, love, and fire,
Cherie Dawn

P.S.
If you’re a dog lover, you might enjoy my new book of poetry, prose, and short stories, which includes pieces inspired by our canine friends. “Personified” is available through your local book seller and Amazon.