A Croydon yoga teacher’s journey through life-threatening preventative cancer treatment to marriage has been told in a new book.

Former champion Ballroom and Latin dancer Sarah Brown, from Upper Norwood, was identified as carrying the cancer-causing BRCA gene several years ago.

The gene mutation, highlighted recently by actress Angeline Jolie, significantly increases the likelihood of breast and ovarian cancer.

Mrs Brown has charted her experience of risk-reducing surgery and the yoga-led recovery she made in her new book Healing with Yoga: The BRCA Gene and Me.

Mrs Brown said: “I wrote my book because of my recent experiences - and my friends/family/doctors were all impressed I healed so quickly and they said I should write down my practices.

"The message I want to convey in Healing with Yoga: The BRCA Gene and Me is that even if you go through hard times you can find ways to help you cope with these difficulties.

"Also, if this book helps others in my situation then that would be fantastic.”

Mrs Brown attended the BRIT Performing Arts and Technology School in Croydon before training to be a teacher.

On learning she carried the BRCA gene mutation and undergoing surgery, Sarah used yoga techniques to aid her healing process.

She added: “As soon as I discovered yoga I loved the feeling of my body gently opening up and how its meditative effects had a positive impact on my well-being. I was able to think more clearly, had less injuries and more energy – and I wanted to pass these benefits on to others.”

After recovering from surgery Mrs Brown began writing Healing with Yoga: The BRCA Gene and Me while commuting to her fiancé’s home in Leeds.

The publication is part memoir, part guide to yoga techniques.

Trained as a yoga teacher in Mexico, Mrs Brown more recently specialised in Power Yoga, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga.

Sarah is also a qualified Reiki healer.

For more details, visit Amazon and search for Sarah Brown, where the paperback and Kindle formats of the book are available.