For Caretakers: HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES

The founder of Yoga Vahini, SARASWATHI VASUDEVAN, is interviewed by DR. VERONIQUE NICOLAI, Director, Heartfulness Yoga Academy, about the role yoga has to play in self-care for full-time caregivers. Her simple 10-minute breathing practice and checklist of questions for caregivers are a must for everyone.

- DR. VERONIQUE NICOLAI

Q: Welcome everyone to this podcast in the Yoga for Unity series. My guest today is Saraswathi Vasudevan, a yoga teacher and yoga therapist, who has been teaching yoga for 30 years and is running institutes in Chennai and Hyderabad. She's a student of T.K.V. Desikachar, son of the yoga legend, Shri T. Krishnamacharya. Today, Saraswathi addresses caregivers, the people we often forget. Saraswathi, first, thank you for being here with us today and taking the time.

Thank you for inviting me, Veronique.

Q: So, who is a caregiver? Could you define it for us?

I will focus today on family caregivers, the ones who are often invisible. They take care of people with chronic illnesses, requiring a lot of support, and often are not seen, acknowledged, or appreciated. They have great difficulty acknowledging that they also need to take care of themselves. Their mind and their whole being is fully consumed by taking care of the person who is ill.

There are many medical conditions for which people require continuous support at home, and even when there is medical support, often one family member is fully engaged in care. They are the people I want to reach. They need to become aware of the importance of the role they're playing, and the need to take care of themselves to better care for others. They need to know how to take care of themselves.

Q: I'm a caregiver, and very often I have the tendency, and even the willingness to forget myself - to give and to serve. You seem to be saying that this is not completely the right thing to do. Can you explain why?