Yoga for Cancer Survivors

Yoga can be a valuable complementary therapy

As a cancer survivor, you may have heard from your doctor or nurse that yoga can help you through the recovery and after.   I teach a class called "adaptive yoga".  It is an hatha style which is individual, gentle and you, as the student, create your own practice as I guide the sequence. 
There are other yoga classes, of course, many styles in fact:  rigorous or heated forms may or may not be safe for cancer survivors.  Check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise program ask which style would be most appropriate for you.

Rick's Life is good t-shirt

I believe, the yoga style that I teach, is helpful for reducing stress and managing side effects. 

To give you a quick example of 'managing side effects' with cancer related symptoms is neuropathy.

According to the article, "Are You Next?" by Gabrielle Kaplan-Meyer in the May-June 2005 edition of "Yoga Journal," inversions may help to ease joint pain and stiff ligaments, help to soothe the central nervous system and reverse the numbness associated with neuropathy.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/308804-yoga-poses-for-neuropathy/#ixzz29VNisZMJ

The slower, deeper, more regular yogic breath that I teach can help you feel calm, de-stress and actually provide more energy by providing your body with oxygen.  I encourage all students to listen, feel and follow their heart, your own guided awareness.  (YOGA). 

As far as I know, there is no scientific evidence that yoga improves the survival rate of people with cancer, however there is evidence that with regular practice of gentle movements with deep breathing can improve the quality of sleep, strength and flexibility as well as reduce fatigue.

Here is a sample of a recent class that I lead at York Hospital's Wellness Center. 

 



seated...check in by scanning your physical body for aches, tender spots, or areas that need attention.

seated...breath-work

seated...shoulder stretch, arm stretch, neck and spine, too

 

slow and gentle flow including some poses such as:  cat/cow pose, warrior sequences, standing mountain pose with sun breaths, sun salutations and balance. 

 

 

Remember if you do begin a practice, consult your doctor(s) and find a yoga instructor that you can trust.  Modifications for any pose is available and it's better to take the steps to prevent injury and recovery with ease.  Caution is the rule and less is best. 

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 Janine is a Yoga Instructor and Life Coach practicing from her home studio. She invites students to her studio for personal sessions, as well as traveling to your home. She is teaching in a couple studios right now in the Wells/Ogunquit area, as well as at The Cancer Care Center of York County and York Hospital.
If you are looking for gentle yoga to increase flexibility, strength, increase energy and decrease stress, this is the style of yoga that you want for your practice. As a life coach, she leads educational coaching series along with personal one on one life coaching using the Co-Active Coaching techniques and Ayurveda Science. You can reach her at 207-251-9577
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