21: Ancient Wisdom: Modern Science with Michelle Hammond - Episode 2121: Ancient Wisdom: Modern Science with Michelle Hammond - Episode 21
UK Health Radio Podcast
Michelle Hammond talks with yoga teacher and author Vicky Fox about how gentle, adaptable yoga can support people affected by cancer. The conversation focuses on meeting the body as it is, reclaiming a sense of control and using small, realistic practices to aid repair and recovery.
41:01•29 Oct 2026
Finding Your Way Back After Cancer: Yoga, Repair and Gentle Control
Episode Overview
- Yoga does not require you to feel well; classes can be adapted for low energy, pain and treatment side effects.
- Mindful movement and breath help bring attention to the present moment and ease anxiety and fear.
- Using props such as chairs, bricks, straps and blankets makes poses accessible for different bodies and abilities.
- Honouring ahimsa means listening to your own limits, resting when needed and dropping comparison with others.
- Short, simple practices spread through the day can be more realistic and helpful than long sessions during recovery.
“I felt that yoga could really give people a chance to be back in the driver's seat and take back some control at a time when it really did feel out of control.”
Curious about how others manage their recovery when serious illness changes everything? This conversation between yoga teacher and author Vicky Fox and host Michelle Hammond zooms in on what happens when cancer reshapes the body, identity and daily life – and how yoga can gently help you find your way back to yourself. You’ll hear how Vicky’s journey started in a surprisingly relatable way: wanting "arms like Madonna" and swapping the gym for ashtanga yoga.
Over time, her practice shifted from pure physical exercise to a lifeline for her mental health, and eventually into specialised work with people affected by cancer. Since 2013 she’s focused on adapting yoga for treatment side effects, recovery and life beyond a diagnosis, always stressing that "you don’t need to be well to come to class". Vicky breaks down yoga as mindful movement and present-moment awareness rather than fancy poses.
She talks about using chairs, bricks, belts and blankets so that everyone, including those dealing with fatigue, pain, scarring or joint stiffness, can participate. Her golden rule is ahimsa – non-harming – which means students are actively encouraged to rest when needed: if someone chooses relaxation instead of standing poses, she sees that as "good yoga" rather than quitting. The episode also touches on community and safety.
Group classes, both online and in person, become spaces where people share tips, compare side effects and realise they’re not alone. Vicky explains her work with the National Centre for Integrative Oncology, her yoga-for-cancer trainings for other teachers, and her two books, *Yoga for Cancer* and *Time to Repair*, which break practices into short, manageable chunks for real-life energy levels.
If you’re wondering whether yoga could meet you exactly where you are – even on your toughest days – this conversation might be the gentle nudge to give it a try.
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