How One Inspiring Woman Is Fighting A Deadly Disease With Yoga (And Lots Of It)

Briana Donis is battling a life-threatening disease.

Aged 19, the teenager from Houston, Texas suffers from a rare condition called aplastic anemia, which occurs when the body stops producing new blood cells.

The health condition is dangerous and can leave sufferers feeling extremely fatigued, while also making them increasingly likely to contract infections or experience uncontrolled bleeding.

Back in December, Donis underwent a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, it failed.

Now, the 19-year-old is enduring chemotherapy to prepare her for a second bone marrow transplant. But the treatment has taken its toll on her immune system and has wiped out all of the white blood cells from her body.

As a result, she is now living in isolation at Texas Children’s Medical Center.

Despite her compromised immune system, Donis is making the most of her confined hospital room by striking yoga poses. And lots of them.

The flexible teenager shares a daily snap of her journey on Instagram, and we have to say, she's an inspiration...

To donate to Briana's GoFundMe page for her bone marrow operation, click here.

Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Morning

Child's Pose(01 of05)

Benefits: Calms and relaxes the body, slows the mind and opens the hips.Begin in child’s pose with big toes touching, knees out wide and fingertips reaching forward. Allow the hips to sink down toward the ground, with your forehead on the mat. Take some time to settle in here, perhaps swaying the hips side to side, rolling out the forehead. Take three deep cleansing breaths—big inhale with full expansion of the lungs and slow open mouth exhales—releasing everything out.Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See More Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Morning

Sun Bird Pose(02 of05)

Benefits: Activates and strengthens the core, arms, legs and glutes.From table top position, extend the right fingertips forward at shoulder height while extending the left toes back. Keep the hips square, core engaged, with one long line of energy from fingertips to toes. Find three rounds of breath here. For an added challenge: round the spine and draw the elbow in towards the knee then breathe. Inhale lengthen, exhale curl three times. Release into table top and repeat on the opposite side.Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Rabbit Pose(03 of05)

Benefits: Elongates the spine and opens up and stretches the shoulder blades and upper back.From table top draw the knees together. Tuck the chin towards the chest and bring the crown of the head down to the ground, with forehead touching the knees (or as close as comfortable). Bring the hands behind you and grab the ankles. Exhale out. On the inhale, lift the hips high while pulling on the ankles, creating an opening across the shoulder blades and stretch along the spine, with little to no weight on the crown. Release and slowly roll back up.Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See More Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Morning

Plank(04 of05)

Benefits: Activates the core muscles and builds strength throughout the body.Plant the palms, step the feet back into a high plank with shoulders stacked over wrists. Draw the crown forward and the heels back. Tailbone slightly tucks, activating the core muscles. Relax between the shoulder blades. Find three rounds of breath here—full inhalation and slow exhalations. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Down Dog Pose(05 of05)

Benefits: Strengthens the shoulders and stretches the hamstrings.Lift the hips high and come to downward facing dog. Peddle out the feet, take deep knee bends, find any movements before settling into your dog. Find an inverted V, with a long flat spine, neck relaxed between the shoulders. Draw the heels down while pressing the shoulders away from the ears. Remain here for three breaths. Click Here to See More Yoga Poses You Should Do Every MorningPhoto Credit: Shutterstock

[H/T BuzzFeed]

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