Yoga for Cancer
Home Practice DVD
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Do you or someone you love have cancer? No matter where you are on this life-changing journey, yoga can help to improve quality of life during and after treatment.
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Yoga for Cancer Patients & Survivors
Restorative Yoga & Mudras for Cancer
The healing benefits of restorative yoga are one of the many tools of self care that can be used at home for anyone who is undergoing treatment for cancer. There is no need to purchase expensive yoga props, there are many things around your home that you can use to support your body in the postures contained in this sequence are listed below. Several Mudras, or hand gestures, are also explained that create a direct link to the energetic system in the body to increase immunity and alleviate anxiety.
Props that you will need:
Props that you will need:
- 3 Yoga Bolsters (or bed pillows, couch cushions, rolled up blankets)
- 2 Blankets (choose military wool or Mexican style blankets that can be folded easily)
- 2 Yoga Blocks (or thick paperback books or telephone books)
- Eyebag (or scarf to cover the eyes)
- Yoga Mat or rug for padding under the body
Healing Yoga for Cancer Video Series
Welcome to the Healing Yoga for Cancer video series, eight sessions of yoga to help reduce common cancer treatment side effects. Please use the links below to view the handouts, audio and video recordings for each week.
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Week 1: Yoga for Healing
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Recordings made at the Cancer Support Community of the East Bay on September 25, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500 |
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Week 2: Yoga for Fatigue
Recordings made at the Cancer Support Community of the East Bay on October 2, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500
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Week 3: Yoga for Pain
Recordings made at Piedmont Yoga on October 11, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500
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Week 4: Yoga for Anxiety
Recordings made at the Cancer Support Community on October 16, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500
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Week 5: Yoga for Digestion
Audio recordings made at the Cancer Support Community of the East Bay on October 23, 2013 and video recording made at Piedmont Yoga on October 24, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500 |
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Week 6; Yoga for Insomnia
Recordings made at the Cancer Support Community of the East Bay on October 30, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500 |
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Week 7: Yoga for Mental Clarity
Recordings made at the Cancer Support Community of the East Bay on November 6, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500 |
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Week 8: Building a Home Practice
Recordings made at the Cancer Support Community of the East Bay on November 13, 2013 with Cheryl Fenner Brown, PYT, E-RYT 500 |
Healing Yoga for Cancer Survivorship: Blog Postings
Welcome to Healing Yoga for Cancer Survivorship, a gentle yoga program specifically designed to build breath and body awareness, increase energy, circulation and lymphatic drainage, reduce anxiety, fatigue, sleeplessness, constipation and pain for those going through cancer treatment. The sequence provides instruction on intention setting that is done at the beginning of the session; simple sound practices to focus your attention and bring you more closely into contact with your center; mudra or hand gestures to calm the mind and emotions; breathing techniques to increase prana, the vital force in your body that is helpful for healing; and a progression of yoga postures from a reclining position to sitting to kneeling to standing that will move all the joints in the body; we will finish with restorative yoga and meditation techniques that will refresh the body, mind and spirit.
Blog postings outlining the Healing Yoga for Cancer Survivorship (HYCS) series taught at the Cancer Support Community of the San Francisco Bay Area in April-June 2015.
Blog postings outlining the Healing Yoga for Cancer Survivorship (HYCS) series taught at the Cancer Support Community of the San Francisco Bay Area in April-June 2015.
Testimonials
"It's hard for me to explain how much difference you've made in my life since I joined your yoga class for people who have cancer in 2008. I have a brain tumor and my sweet husband Jamie was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Glioblastoma Multiforme, exactly one year later. Both of us attended your class at the Piedmont Yoga Center and it helped us so much. We met others struggling with cancer and observed the ups and downs of treatments.
Cheryl, you are a resource to us. There was something healthy and magical about the class. We always left with a smile and a good state of mind. Your voice calmed us down, and your assistants found a comfortable position for us, surrounded by pillows and bolsters, that was just right. You helped us take care of ourselves with your stories and the yoga movements.
My Jamie died in June 2010, and our son Michael started college in the fall. My goal was to live as long as I could but it was especially important for me to see Michael graduate from college. Well, Michael is right on track to graduate from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, this winter. I'm so proud of him.
You and I have been doing private sessions since 2011. We mostly focus on Yoga Nidra, the deep meditation. We meet on Monday mornings, and every week, I look forward to seeing you. Recently, I've been falling asleep during the meditation. You reassure me that the messages are still coming through to me. You are a healer to me, Cheryl, and I'll always remember your words. "If you get distracted during our meditation, listen to my voice. This will help you come back." I will never forget you. You've been my true healer. I will never forget you. You've been my true healer." Judith D.
"As I've gone through chemotherapy, Cheryl's yoga class has been wonderful - it's helped me to relax and let go of my anxiety, soothed my stiff muscles, given me yoga tips that I can use at home, and provided a caring attention that I find very healing. It has been a true refuge." -Jennifer W.
"After taking years of yoga, I was skeptical about a class for cancer patients, but this ended up being EXACTLY what I needed as I was going through chemotherapy while raising my newborn. I look forward to this class every week. It is a brief respite from the multiple stressors of my life. It is a time to get out of my head and into my body (in a nurturing, relaxing, compassionate way). The mudras and breathing exercises help create a spiritual opening for release of pent-up emotions. I feel incredibly well cared for and don't have to worry about injury or overexertion." -Michelle S.
"I was terrified to even leave the house since the radiation treatments had left me incontinent. I now am healing and have less emergencies." -Ron T.
"It's been invaluable - not only learning the healing and gentle forms of yoga, but also I look forward to it each week. It offers respite from the hectic world of cancer treatment. After finishing treatment, I continue to train myself to relax and do the poses. The small class (sometimes only me) means the teacher and assistant can dedicate so much attention and really they both compliment each other, like a soft hug around the room. Cheryl & Sharon are gentle and compassionate." -Stephanie G.
"The program gives you an oasis to relax - to engage in mindful rest - while at the same time giving you tools to slip into mindful rest where ever, when ever. The techniques used have greatly benefited me as I have gone through further treatment and recovery. Quantifying [the benefits] is hard -- being at peace while you have to undergo a 45 minute body scan. Finding a place within yourself to rest on a 10 hour flight home after treatment. I have very little stress or anxiety doing any of those things now that I have tools to take me to another place if needed." -Josh M.
"Your class was very important to getting me started on a positive road to recovery. When my second cancer was diagnosed I was totally overwhelmed and stressed. Your class was an important to me. It gave me tools to stay positive, relaxed, and introduced me to a yoga regime that has become important in my life. I now do yoga 4 times a week and am feeling stronger than I have in a very long time. Thank you." -Debbie M.
"Since I began attending the class, I needed deep rest. I had accumulated stress, and was having trouble relaxing. I was tired, too. Cheryl's class allowed me to get the rest I deserved in the present moment. I could leave all of my problems and worries outside and focus on following Cheryl's instructions for healing. Cheryl very gently and carefully teaches tools (healing tools) that can be used at home. I felt as though I was able to let go of emotional pain and negative thoughts. It was really amazing that letting go of these things was so effortless. This class gave me a place to let go and renew. I couldn't go often, but the healing stayed with me long after leaving the class. I even went through yoga withdrawal when I couldn't go. The assistants are very helpful at all times. They seem to have radar and keep an eye out for any discomfort that arises. It is very pampering to have such wonderful assistants who have the skill to assist you if you are feeling awkward or not quite right. I had no reference for mudras or yoga nidra when I first came to the class. I feel I have benefited from everything that was offered and have experienced deep healing. Once, after class, I looked in the mirror at myself after a yoga nidra session, and the whites of my eyes were no longer red and tired looking, but a true "white" as they are supposed to be when we are beaming with health. I hope that the class continues to be available for those who need it as there are less and less resources available for people who are recovering from cancer, chemotherapy or radiation. It is truly a gift of renewal and rest for the body and spirit.' -Kathleen W.
"I always feel relaxed and high-spirited after class ... like a joyous two-year old. I feel taken care of. This is the best part of having a brain tumor - Cheryl and the assistants are wonderful!" -Judith D.
