I didn’t choose PCOS, it chose me

At 17, it arrived with all the subtlety of a freight train.

Living in India at the time, I was quickly swept into a world of gynaecologists, prescriptions, and unsolicited advice. “Just have children,” an OBGYN suggested, as though that would somehow cure me.

Throughout my twenties, the irregular cycles came with a side of searing breast pain, so intense, it could stop me mid-sentence. Mastalgia, they called it.

I cycled through pills, specialists, and a revolving door of well-meaning aunties. “Try fenugreek seeds!” they’d say, while I felt my body being pulled in a dozen hormonal directions.

Most treatments focused on managing symptoms, but did not address the root cause.

PCOS began to feel like a life sentence- something I’d always have to endure. Until yoga entered my life, and slowly, it began to rewrite my story. What started as curiosity quickly became personal. I dove into research, trying to understand how yoga could support hormonal balance.

As my asana practice deepened, so did my body awareness and understanding of the science behind it. I learned how certain asanas directly influence the endocrine system, particularly the pituitary gland, our hormone command center.

Sarvangasana, Halasana, Ustrasana, and Dhanurasana became more than just poses; they were integral to my healing.

I combined the practice with mindful lifestyle shifts, but yoga remained the foundation. Gradually, my symptoms eased. Today, I’m so attuned to my body that I can actually feel myself ovulate. (No kidding, I sense that subtle shift, check my period tracker, and there it is, marked in red: ovulation day.)

My cycles now run like clockwork, and I feel at home in my own body. It’s been eight years since I’ve been symptom-free. And I owe that freedom to yoga, not as a quick fix, but as a deep, daily commitment to my well-being.