Reversing Autoimmune Conditions: A Personal Journey Through Yoga
At Kaivalyadhama, we witness profound transformations daily. Among our most inspiring teachers is Renu Jain, who conducts our “Manage Autoimmune Disorders with Yoga” workshops. Her journey from experiencing multiple autoimmune conditions to complete recovery through yoga practice offers hope and practical guidance to thousands.
Renu’s approach combines traditional yogic wisdom with contemporary understanding of stress and immunity. Having personally overcome Alopecia and navigated high autoimmune markers indicative of rheumatoid conditions, she brings both scientific knowledge and lived experience to her teaching. Her workshops have helped over 200 participants across the globe find relief, support, and, in many cases, even help overcome their conditions.
What follows is Renuji’s personal account of this transformative journey.
From Skeptic to Believer
Twenty-five years ago, I believed yoga was for people who couldn’t handle real physical activity. I was wrong about many things back then.
I was a passionate badminton player, spending regular hours on the courts at a local sports club. The game energized me, gave me purpose, and kept me physically fit. When people suggested yoga, I dismissed it. I was already getting exercise with my sport—what could slow movements and breathing exercises possibly add?
The First Wake-Up Call
In 2013, my body delivered a message I couldn’t ignore. Large patches of hair began falling out, leaving visible bald spots across my scalp. The diagnosis was Alopecia, an autoimmune condition where my immune system was attacking my hair follicles.
The doctors offered limited solutions. I was apprehensive using steroids and other treatment protocols were not available. I felt anxious watching my appearance and not ready for the potential uncomfortable questions from people.
A friend who had just completed yoga teacher training offered a perspective that challenged my assumptions: “Why don’t you start yoga? It will help you get your hair back.” She said this with such confidence that despite my skepticism, I found myself curious enough to listen. Desperation made me willing to try anything.
She began teaching me privately, coming to my house with genuine passion for what she was sharing. What surprised me wasn’t just the physical practices of yoga, but the deeper connection it offers to heal the body. For the first time, I began to understand that my body was part of a larger, interconnected system. The results started showing on me, the bald patches started filling up and my confidence in yoga grew.
The Learning Curve
By 2015, my curiosity had grown into genuine hunger for deeper understanding. I traveled to Kaivalyadhama for a 45-day certification course, my first time away from home. Those weeks opened my eyes to yoga’s systematic approach to healing. I learned about the connection between mind and body, how stress manifests physically, and how awareness can become a tool for transformation.
Even though I was a certified yoga teacher, I wasn’t practicing regularly. Like many, I had spurts of dedication followed by periods of neglect, where I was treating yoga as a supplementary exercise rather than an essential component of healing.
The Deeper Message
In 2018, my body sent another clear signal. Joint pain crept into my fingers, making simple tasks difficult. The diagnosis was that my body was producing antibodies for rheumatoid arthritis. The doctor explained it was perhaps hereditary, since my mother had the same condition.
This forced me to confront patterns I hadn’t recognized. I thought I was living healthily, but I was still missing something vital- the subtle impact of constant mental activity on my physical health.
I got the chance to assist senior teachers at Kaivalyadhama, which encouraged me to start a regular self-practice. I began applying what I was learning through the guidance of my Gurus. As I stayed consistent, my health started to improve and within six months, my symptoms reduced, and the antibody levels began to go down. It wasn’t a coincidence; it showed me how the body can heal when given the right support through a holistic approach.
The Scientific Understanding
My curiosity to understand the deeper wisdom behind the science of yoga kept growing, and in 2020, I decided to enroll in a Master’s program in Yoga at Kaivalyadhama. More than wanting to learn the techniques, I wanted to know the reason for what I had been experiencing. Through systematic study, I began comprehending how the mind impacts the body, how stress becomes trapped in our tissues, and how autoimmune conditions could develop.
The program provided a mirror for my own life. I could see how my patterns of overthinking had contributed to my conditions. But more importantly, I could see a path forward.
Teaching from Experience
By 2021, I was ready to share what I had learned. I began conducting autoimmune workshops, combining traditional yoga practices with modern understanding of stress and immunity. The results have been remarkable.
In over 17 workshops with more than 200 participants, I’ve witnessed consistent patterns. What I’ve discovered is that seekers generally find ways to heal. These are people who come by their own choice, having tried many conventional and non-conventional treatments. But they are still struggling and thus arrive with genuine openness to learn. Those who practice regularly report significant improvement – reduced pain, better sleep, increased energy, and in many cases have been able to overcome the symptoms significantly.
The key insight is that autoimmune conditions aren’t just physical problems but manifestations of systemic imbalance. Stress, trauma, and emotional patterns create conditions where the immune system becomes confused and attacks healthy tissue.
The Practical Approach
My workshops focus on three essential elements:
- Body Practice – Specific asanas and breathing techniques that calm your nervous system and reduce inflammation. These target the root mechanisms where autoimmune confusion begins.
- Mind Training – Learning to observe your thought patterns and discover how mental habits create physical symptoms. We work with acceptance, gratitude, and healthier stress responses.
- Life Integration – Examining how your daily choices around sleep, relationships, and environment either support or undermine your healing journey.
The key insight here is that autoimmune conditions are our body’s way of communicating about deeper imbalances. When we address the whole system, instead of just the physical aspect, healing becomes possible.
This approach recognizes that while we can’t change our genetic inheritance, we absolutely can change how we respond to life’s challenges. That shift in response often creates the conditions where natural healing unfolds.
What I’ve learned through my own journey and teaching others is that healing autoimmune conditions requires addressing both predisposing factors like genetics and past trauma, and precipitating factors such as current stress and lifestyle choices.
When a participant learns to step back from a toxic relationship instead of absorbing the stress, their inflammatory markers often improve within weeks. I’ve seen a woman with spine cancer become cancer-free after consistent practice supported by yoga and conventional treatments, and another participant with a rare arterial condition learned to manage family stress and experienced dramatic improvement. These are examples of the body’s natural healing capacity when properly supported through integrated awareness and practice.
Looking Forward
I’m now pursuing a PhD focusing on how yoga therapy supports the management of rheumatoid arthritis, working to establish scientific validation for what thousands of practitioners already know: yoga works.
My personal journey from skeptic to believer to teacher has shown me that our greatest challenges often become our greatest gifts. The autoimmune conditions that once seemed like my body’s betrayal became the pathway to deeper understanding and the ability to help others.
For anyone facing similar challenges, remember that your body has innate wisdom and capacity for healing. Sometimes it just needs the right conditions and the willingness to listen. The journey from illness to wellness isn’t always straightforward, but it’s always possible.
Ms. Renu Jain teaches “Manage Autoimmune Disorders with Yoga” workshops at Kaivalyadhama. Her next workshop is scheduled for November 8th. For more information, visit us here.
~ Written by Ms. Renu Jain