KUALA LUMPUR – Having thalassemia could take a huge toll on a patient.
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder affecting the production of red blood cells which causes the patient to experience fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, among other symptoms.
Divya Barathi, 18, has been practising yoga since she was 10 years old.
Since she practises it daily, yoga has shown tremendous improvement in her body and helps her manage her thalassemia illness.
“I have low blood pressure due to thalassemia.
“When I do yoga, it improves my blood circulation. Now, I can do daily exercises without any struggle and it improves my focus on my study,” she told The Vibes when met at the International Yoga Day celebration hosted by the India High Commission on Tuesday at Batu Caves.
Yoga is a common practice for her whole family as they do it together as part of family activity.
“I have stopped my (thalassemia) treatments. My doctor said I should continue doing yoga,” added Divya, saying she practises yoga every day.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Vibes, medical yoga practitioner Segar Guru could attest to Divya’s experience, saying that yoga helps to increase the blood flow and production of haemoglobin in the thalassemia patient.
Yoga is a form of exercise that improves flexibility, and stamina and benefits the circulatory system when performed with proper breathing technique.
It also helps to relieve stress.
Through his 15 years of experience in medical yoga, Segar said practising yoga daily – accompanied by the right diet and breathing techniques – has scientifically been proven to help thalassemia patients to improve their condition.
“Each time we receive a new patient, we will monitor their condition first to identify if they need additional medical attention.
“We will monitor for the first few times and adjust the yoga according to the body's acceptance,” he said.
Segar also mentioned that many are not aware that they have thalassemia as they would usually come into his clinic and tell him of having symptoms that are closely similar to the illness.
When doing so, he would advise his patients to seek medical professional opinion first before he teaches them the yoga technique.
“After that, I will start training them based on what they can do. Sometimes I used a hand digital dynamometer to check their strength before and after yoga sessions.
“Other times, I would use the spirometer to check their breathing.”
Segar is also the founder of the Malaysia Yoga Wellness Association and Technology and Health Scientific Research Association Malaysia (Tashram).
His practice is located at Jinjang Health Clinic, which is part of a special project for alternate medicine under the purview of the Malaysia Holistic and Herbal Organisation of the Health Ministry.
His other patients include individuals with diabetes, eyesight problems, and frozen shoulders. – The Vibes, June 24, 2022
