Namita Nayyar:
Stroke recovery can be emotionally challenging. How does yoga help with mental resilience?
Abigail Atkinson:
Yoga isn’t just exercise—it’s emotional training. After a stroke, feelings like grief, fear, frustration, and self-doubt are normal. Yoga gives them somewhere to go.
You feel sensations, notice thoughts, breathe through discomfort, and practice staying present without spiralling. That builds emotional regulation and mental resilience, which in turn builds confidence. Yoga teaches you how to do hard things in safe, manageable ways—and confidence is a skill you can train.
Namita Nayyar:
What daily habits are now non-negotiable for you?
Abigail Atkinson:
Walking is number one. Relearning how to walk changed my relationship with it completely. I now walk about five miles every day. As I turn 50 this May, I’m celebrating by walking 50 miles over five days.
Other non-negotiables include daily yoga (even if it’s only 20 minutes), rest through Yoga Nidra, and healthy eating. I avoid sugar, focus on fibre and protein, and support my brain and heart health with supplements like fish oil.
Namita Nayyar:
What does a “healthy heart and lifestyle” mean to you now?
Abigail Atkinson:
It took nearly dying for me to realise how much choice I really have. I can’t control everything, but I can choose how I care for myself.
A healthy heart and lifestyle means making daily choices that support your well-being, even when it’s easier not to. It means not giving up when things are hard, trusting your ability to grow, and taking responsibility for creating the conditions for your own health.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President of womenfitness.net, and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or in full anywhere without express permission.
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Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
