“I manifested a blessed and exciting life. The universe is flooding my life with opportunities I could never dream of.”

These words perfectly capture the spirit of Manisha Sangani, a 60-year-old businesswoman whose story stands as one of the most inspiring COPD recovery stories we’ve witnessed.

From being told she might soon depend on an oxygen tank and wheelchair, to now thriving with energy and strength — her journey reflects the incredible power of faith, persistence, and the body’s innate intelligence to heal when given the right environment.

Back in 2015, Manisha was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), and Rheumatoid Arthritis — conditions that not only affected her breathing and movement but also shook her confidence and emotional well-being.

Most would have accepted a life of limitation. But not Manisha. She chose to rewrite her story — one grounded in belief, guided by lifestyle medicine, and supported by Team Luke.

Her transformation — from 40 mg steroids to 2.5 mg, from 47% lung capacity to 77%, and from fatigue and brain fog to strength training at VO₂ max — wasn’t the result of miracles, but of mastering the fundamentals of healing.

And Manisha’s journey is a living, breathing example of that truth —a rheumatoid arthritis remission story and a COPD recovery journey that reminds us: It’s never too late, and you’re never too old to heal and thrive again.

When Life Took a Turn: Manisha’s COPD and Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

In 2015, life came to a sudden halt for Manisha Sangani.

What began as persistent breathlessness and fatigue soon turned into a series of diagnoses that could shake even the strongest spirit — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), lung capacity restriction, and subacute hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

She recalls, “My life changed in 2015 when I was diagnosed with ILD. By 2016, I had rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. Life as I knew it had changed.”

• The doctor’s verdict? She was told she would likely need an oxygen tank for daily living and might soon be confined to a wheelchair.
• The advice was clear — to move away from Mumbai, the city she loved, to slow down the hardening of her lungs.

She shares, “Besides the physical look, the brain fog got me upset. From being a dynamic businesswoman, I found myself slipping up, and the frustration and sympathy around me only angered me more.”

Her turning point came in an unexpected place — during her studies at Harvard.

“I discovered my health hiccup while studying at Harvard. I was aghast that all my dreams and hard work of two years would be useless,” she recalls.

But Manisha wasn’t ready to let her diagnosis dictate the rest of her life. Despite the warnings and uncertainty, she made a quiet yet powerful decision: she would heal.

• She believed that while lost lung tissue couldn’t be reversed, the body could still be guided toward remission — that she could work on managing COPD, not by escaping her environment, but by transforming her inner one.

The following years were not easy. The weight of chronic illness brought not only physical pain and fatigue but also bouts of depression and helplessness. Tasks once simple felt impossible. Yet, beneath it all, there was a spark — a deep intuition that she could rise again.

The Turning Point: Discovering Team Luke

“Between 2015 and 2019, I was on a deeply introspective path. I met many healers, explored different therapies, and slowly started opening my heart to change. But even then, I could feel there was something more within me — a deeper layer of healing that I hadn’t yet reached.” – Manisha

As Manisha beautifully puts it,

“I believe it all starts with the soul, mind, and body. At 60, I no longer needed to be anxious, a role model, or perfect for my family or business team. From 2015 to 2019, I was blessed with healers who opened my heart to embrace changes. In 2019, when my sister insisted I join a program with Luke Coutinho, I reluctantly agreed. That was my pivotal point. My Head Nutritionist and Lifestyle Expert, Piyali Ganguly from Team Luke, helped me start shedding weight and build a better and positive mind frame.”

That ‘reluctant yes’ became the turning point in Manisha’s healing journey — one that led her toward transformation on every level. When she joined Team Luke, she didn’t just find a wellness program; she found a partnership that nurtured her mind, body, and soul together.

Under the compassionate guidance of Piyali Ganguly, her Head Nutritionist and Lifestyle Expert, Manisha began to reconnect with her body’s rhythm and rebuild her faith in its ability to heal. Every conversation, every small lifestyle tweak, and every word of encouragement became a stepping stone toward recovery.

Team Luke’s holistic, evidence-based approach — rooted in nutrition, movement, quality sleep, emotional well-being, and spiritual balance — helped Manisha see that healing wasn’t about fighting the disease but about restoring harmony within.

The Holistic Approach to COPD Management: Healing the Root, Not Just the Symptoms

When Manisha joined Team Luke, the goal was never just to manage her illnesses — it was to transform her entire internal environment.

“The program was structured with easy access to my nutritionist. Piyali’s motivation, affirmations, and gentle coaxing brought me out of my victim mode. Her soothing voice helped me talk about my suppressed emotions and a traumatic incident from my childhood that was brushed off.

Every day check-ins, food logs, pictures, easy-to-follow meal plans, concoctions, workouts, resources like lifestyle flows, masterclasses, yoga sessions, journaling, gratitude, and so on worked. Simple protocols helped change my body’s environment from acidic to alkaline and reduced inflammation,” adds Manisha.

Here’s how Team Luke approached her recovery:

• Activated the body’s defense mechanisms — including anti-angiogenesis, DNA repair, stem cell regeneration & retraining her immunity — through mindful lifestyle practices
• Introduced an autoimmune and anti-inflammatory protocol tailored to manage COPD and rheumatoid arthritis
• Worked on gut health restoration to reduce inflammation and retrain her immunity
• Focused on a metabolic health eating regimen
• Optimized Vitamin D3 and B12 levels to enhance lung and immune function
• Incorporated daily yoga and pranayama for lung expansion, oxygenation, and calm
• Reprogrammed her subconscious through visualization, affirmations, and gratitude
• Encouraged emotional expression and journaling, helping her release long-suppressed emotions
• Supported her through every low phase with empathy and accountability

The holistic system built around her was simple yet deeply effective. Over time, these practices worked together to lower inflammation, balance hormones, and retrain her immune system.

The Transformation: From 40 mg Steroids to Strength Training

When healing starts from within, the body begins to respond in ways that even science calls miraculous.

• From 78 kgs to 60 kgs.
• From 40 mg of steroids to just 2.5 mg.
• From 47% lung capacity to an impressive 77%.

This was not a quick fix — it was a complete transformation that came from consistency, belief, and surrender to the process.

• As inflammation reduced and her immune system recalibrated, her energy levels began to rise.
• The fatigue, brain fog, and lethargy that once held her captive slowly melted away.
• Instead of being limited by breathlessness, she now thrives on strength training and VO₂ max workouts — something she once thought was impossible.

But perhaps the biggest shift was internal.

“Over the years, I’ve lost 18 kilos, minimized steroids, and built emotional strength. I fast weekly, work out, and live mindfully. One of my biggest highs was trekking in Uttarakhand last December — climbing rocks, visiting waterfalls, something I never thought I could do again,” shares Manisha.

That trip to Uttarakhand — where she trekked to waterfalls and even to Patal Bhubhaneshwar — became a powerful reminder of how far she had come. It wasn’t just about physical strength. It was about freedom — the freedom to move, to explore, to live without fear.

• Today, at 60, Manisha goes to the gym, dances, and plays with her grandchildren.
• She attends social gatherings mindfully and recently danced her heart out at her 60th birthday celebration.
• Her flare-ups are now infrequent and mild, a reflection of the internal balance she’s built over the years.

Emotionally and mentally, she’s unrecognizable from the woman she once was.

“Emotionally, I’ve completely changed. I live by affirmations now and manifest my life with intention,” she says.

She now practices a 24-hour fast every week, is deeply involved with an NGO, and passionately works toward empowering women. Her days are infused with gratitude, self-belief, and purpose.

“I’m deeply grateful to Luke, Piyali, and the entire team. If my story inspires even one person not to give up, it will all be worth it.”

Her journey stands as living proof that lifestyle change is not about restriction or perfection — it’s about possibility, persistence, and personal evolution.

The Power of Hand-Holding: When Guidance Meets Grit

Behind every transformation is not just a protocol, but people who care deeply — who hand-hold, uplift, and walk beside you when the journey gets tough. At Team Luke, this connection between the coach and the client is what often turns recovery into a story of rebirth.

For Manisha, that guiding force was Piyali, her Head Nutritionist and Lifestyle Expert — a mentor, motivator, and compassionate listener who helped her rediscover her strength one step at a time.

“Being a businesswoman, she had to attend several social events. So we mindfully worked on how to manage these meals. The true magic, however, started with the mind, when she started getting the confidence that things can change and she can achieve a normal and healthy life,” shares Piyali.

As the months went by, Piyali witnessed an inspiring evolution — from self-doubt to self-love, from surviving to truly thriving.

“She is a completely changed individual today. She used to be vulnerable to any comments and battled self-doubt. We focused on building self-love and self-confidence. The best thing is that she has maintained a daily log for many years now that helps her introspect on her day, praise her efforts, and also work on any shortcomings. She has influenced many more people across her circles — family and friends — to get better, feel better, and live better. I am proud of her journey,” Piyali adds.

But this story isn’t just about a coach’s dedication — it’s also about a client’s trust and resilience. Manisha describes their bond as a relationship built on mutual respect, energy, and growth.

“Piyali and I have a symbiotic relationship. Every time I am low, I reach out to her. After 2019, which was 9 months at a stretch, I took a session with her every year for 4 months. I also get rewarded when someone I influence joins. I continue my pursuit to battle against steroid mooning, or as I lovingly call them, my wiggly hugging parts. Thank you, Luke and Piyali. Also, a big thanks to the unwavering support from my family and friends who patiently supported me as I continued my allopathic medication and supplemented it with nature and spirituality.”

This heartfelt exchange between Manisha and Piyali reflects the true essence of Team Luke — compassionate coaching, constant hand-holding, and the belief that healing is always possible when science and the right support work together.

Watch Manisha’s inspiring story:

 

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A Journey of Hope and Possibility

After nine years of dedication and patience, Manisha stands as a messenger of hope and possibility for many walking a similar path. From being told she might need an oxygen tank to now living with strength and confidence, her story is a reminder that healing is possible when the right fundamentals are in place.

We do not have a miracle cure for COPD, RA, or ILD, but what we do believe in is the body’s intelligence to heal itself when the fundamentals of healing and recovery are aligned.

Because true healing isn’t about magic.

It’s about consistency, lifestyle, and belief.

We help you find a way.

👉 Inspired by Manisha? Explore our wellness program for personalized COPD & RA recovery support

Disclaimer: While this may inspire you, please remember that each case is unique. What worked for her doesn’t necessarily have to work for you. Her protocol was designed by keeping her past and current lifestyle, case, and situation in mind. If you have a medical condition or are on medications, please keep your doctor in the loop before trying anything new. Make an informed decision, always.

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Inspired by Manisha’s journey? Your healing story can begin, too.

We’re here to support YOU every step of the way.

Set up a one-on-one consultation with our integrative team or enroll in our specialized Wellness Programs for personalized solutions.

Reach out to us at 1800 102 0253 or write to us at consults@lukecoutinho.com.

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