60-Minute Gentle Yoga Class Using a Chair

This information is designed for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk. Please consult with your physician or health care provider before starting any exercise program.
Yoga for cancer patients -
This gentle 60-minute chair yoga class allows us to slow down and relax yet stretch and build up strength at the same time. Some poses will require you to be seated and some will involve standing with the option to use a chair for extra balance if desired.
Cancer affects many systems in our body - physically and emotionally. Yoga is a form of exercise that involves a multi-system approach to health and wellness. It provides a way to improve the health of many systems within our body; we call this a biopsychosocial approach to wellness. Yoga can positively impact the muscular system (our muscles and surrounding tissues), the nervous system (the nerves), the GI system (digestion) and the immune system to name a few. A regular yoga practice can also improve sleep and reduce stress levels by impacting the hormones and chemical messengers circulating through our blood stream and from our brain. After physician clearance, yoga can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of many people who may be going through treatment for cancer. The videos provided encourage a person to practice within the boundaries of what works at present time for his or her physical needs. For example, if a person has some balance limitations, a chair or wall can be used for extra balance. If there are concerns about lifting the arms overhead, one can lift the arms to shoulder height instead. There are numerous ways to adjust a yoga practice to still gain the physical and mental benefits of yoga. Yoga involves movement and breath practices to work towards improved health and wellness.