Major medical centers in the country, such as M.D. Anderson, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and UCLA offer Yoga.
Yoga therapy is increasingly sought out by cancer patients and survivors of all cultural backgrounds for symptom relief.
Yoga Therapy Program for Self Care in Cancer Survivorship (Individual or small group)
Yoga, originating in India, a mind-body medicine modality is being practiced for millennia. Yoga has proposed physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.
Yoga therapy is an adjunctive modality that cancer patients and survivors of all cultural backgrounds have sought out in ever increasing numbers. Major medical centers in the country, such as M.D. Anderson, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and UCLA/Jonsson offer Yoga.
Yoga has been the focus of several cancer studies. For example, a randomized trial of yoga for cancer patients indicates improvement in sleep disturbance in a trial with lymphoma patients. A different investigation reports improvements in mood, quality of life, and stress in breast cancer survivors (Cohen et al., 2004; Culos-Reed et al., 2006).
More recently, yoga appeared to be a feasible intervention with beneficial effects on several physical and psychosocial symptoms (Buffart et al., 2012).
However, Ying Guo, MD, of M.D. Anderson’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department of Palliative Care & Rehabilitation Medicine warns about situations where certain yoga poses are contraindicated. Unless a cancer patient is relatively fit, she should begin a yoga program very slow and under the watchful eye of her healthcare team. As a cancer patient there is concerns for bone integrity, cardio/pulmonary status, and hematology. Radiation and chemotherapy could have an impact on the poses you can do and poses you should avoid as well.
Karri, a licensed nurse and registered yoga teacher, is keenly aware of these contraindications. She will work with you, one on one, or in a small group and tailor your yoga practice to your specific needs.
Yoga Therapy for Cancer Survivors
When?
One-on-One: By Appointment
Small group: By Appointment
Where?
17212 Van Wagoner Road | Suite A | Spring Lake, MI 49456
Cost?
One-on-One: $50 for members | $80 for non-members
Small Group (maximum 4 persons): $20 for members | $40 for non-members
Instructor:
Karri Absenger, LPN, RYT
Find Your Class! Click Here for Our Calendar of Events
References:
Buffart, L. M., van Uffelen, J. G., Riphagen, I. I., Brug, J., van Mechelen, W., Brown, W. J., & Chinapaw, M. J. (2012). Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Cancer, 12(1), 559. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-12-559
Cohen, L., Warneke, C., Fouladi, R. T., Rodriguez, M. A., & Chaoul-Reich, A. (2004). Psychological adjustment and sleep quality in a randomized trial of the effects of a Tibetan yoga intervention in patients with lymphoma. Cancer, 100(10), 2253–2260. doi:10.1002/cncr.20236
Culos-Reed, S., Carlson, L. E., Daroux, L. M., & Hately-Aldous, S. (2006). A pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors: Physical and psychological benefits. Psycho-Oncology, 15(10), 891–897. doi:10.1002/pon.1021
Guo, Y. (2013, July 18). Safety guidelines for yoga, massage and other exercises in cancer survivors. [PowerPoint presentation]. M.D. Anderson 9th Annual Oncology Training Conference for Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, and Mind-Body Practitioners, Houston, TX.
