At AVF Care, we believe that treatment is only one part of the journey and living well with the condition is equally important. With this vision, the 16th AVF Care Workshop was successfully conducted on 18^th April at the Meditorium, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.

We tell every patient: “Exercise is important.”

But we rarely answer the harder question: “How do I exercise when I can barely get through my day?”

For patients on thrice-weekly dialysis, recovering from surgery, or living with prolonged illness, most days are already consumed by treatment. Exercise becomes the first thing to be left behind. Over time, we have unintentionally made it worse by limiting the definition of “exercise” to gyms, weights, and treadmills. And when patients are unable to do that, they often end up doing nothing at all.

The consequences are fatigue, stiffness, poor sleep, and low mood which slowly build up and are often blamed on the disease itself. A silent cycle begins.

The truth is simple: exercise does not always look like exercise.

• Pranayama is exercise.
• Yoga done lying down is exercise.
• Correcting posture in a dialysis chair is exercise.
• Breathwork, mental wellness, and small lifestyle changes all of it is exercise.

You don’t need a gym. You need a few minutes and the right guidance.

This workshop was designed around that very idea.

A total of 58 attendees participated, including 28 patients (19 new and 9 follow-up), 10 caregivers, 3 technicians, and doctors. The session focused on making exercise practical, achievable, and safe for patients with dialysis, PAD, varicose veins, diabetes, and limited mobility.

Key learnings included:

• Dialysis-friendly exercises, even for weak or bed-bound patients
• Breathwork and pranayama as a form of physical training
• Posture correction and simple movements for better circulation
• Everyday lifestyle practices that support recovery and strength

The session featured a dedicated segment “Exercising When You Are Sick” led by Dr. Charu Arora, an integrative physician, clinical cardiology gold medallist, Clinical Fellow in Research & Statistics (AAYM), ISB alumna, internationally certified yoga teacher, and founder of Yoga heals. She focused on adapting movement for real-life patient limitations whether it is bed-bound yoga, breathing techniques, or small guided movements that can be practiced daily.

Alongside this, the core AVF Care components were covered, including CKD education, vascular access care, and self-examination of AV fistula using a stethoscope, demonstrated by Dr. Himanshu Verma.

We were also privileged to have the presence of Dr. Salil Jain, Senior Director & HOD, Nephrology and Renal Transplant, and Dr. Vinayak Agrawal, Senior Director & Head, Non-Invasive Cardiology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute. Both shared their clinical insights and motivated patients to take an active role in their health. Their presence added immense value and made the session even more impactful.

One of the most meaningful outcomes of the workshop was the patient response. Participants were happy, engaged, and genuinely grateful. Many shared that for the first time, exercise felt possible, not overwhelming.

• To clinicians, this reinforces a simple message: movement is medicine, even for the immobile.
  To patients, it is a reminder: your body still has capacity we just need to find it together.
• This was our 16th AVF Care Workshop, and it reflects our continued commitment to patient education, empowerment, and better quality of life. Many more such initiatives are planned ahead.

Here are a few special moments from the workshop, capturing the learning, connection, and energy that define AVF Care.