Yoga for Cancer
My yoga for cancer classes are run in conjunction MacMillan Cancer Support and are available Island-wide.
CLICK HERE to view and book a class.
From diagnosis through to treatment and beyond, dealing with cancer is invasive. To begin with there’s the physical aspect, including medications, surgery and hospital appointments.
However, there are also secondary disruptions to daily routines. These include the impact on mental and emotional health, family, friends, work and social routines, as well as movement confidence.
In addition to this, once the bulk of medical intervention is over, there’s often no practical guidance or support on how to adapt to the ‘new you’. If your body has been affected by surgery, you’ll know this only too well.
Working with a specially trained yoga teacher in a safe, adapted environment can therefore give you vital tools and reassurance.
If this is what you’re after, this section is for you, containing information on ‘what to expect,’ plus my yoga for cancer FAQs.
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Also, if you’re after ‘finding your new self’ guidance on regaining control over a disrupted life, check out my Health Coaching page.
Health and Balance yoga for cancer – what to expect
Yoga for cancer is a highly specialist yet vital resource if you’re struggling. It’s also for anyone post cancer treatment* – whether you consider yourself ‘sporty’ or you’re simply looking to ‘find your new self.’
This is because cancer is hard. Treatment can leave you utterly floored and perhaps with restricted mobility.
My adapted yoga classes are therefore designed to give you a safe space to gently rebuild your relationship with your body – but also yourself. This means you can expect classes to be more intimate and nurturing than regular yoga sessions. Certain poses and practices such as inversions and deep breathing are also avoided and adapted poses are the norm.
Relaxation and yoga nidra form a powerful part of your yoga for cancer experience too.
Yoga for cancer FAQs
If you’re interested in attending one of my classes, then get in touch. Let’s have an initial conversation so that I can understand your cancer journey. After this, and so long as your clinical team agree you’re ready to attend (if you are still undergoing treatment), you’re encouraged to come along and give it a go!
The important thing to know is that you need to be ready to attend a class and if you are undergoing any treatment, your medical team are happy for you to join. Everyone’s cancer journey is unique, so you need to consider what is right for you at the stage that you are at.
If you’ve had surgery, my yoga for cancer classes are designed for anyone 2-4 weeks post-surgery and beyond. This is on the proviso that your medical team are happy for you to attend. People also attend classes when still going undergoing treatment – and again, provided your medical team are happy for you to attend, you are always welcome.
Your medical team will explain any specifics related to your surgery. You will need to provide this information to me on your health declaration when signing up for my classes, so I’ll be well informed. From here any poses you need to avoid will be adapted and props used to make poses safe and comfortable. You will only ever work within your body’s natural range of motion for where you are at any given point in time as part of your post-surgery recovery plan.
If you’re used to being sporty and cancer has affected this, my yoga classes are the perfect place to begin. They offer a safe, supportive environment to re-explore movement in an essential first step to regaining strength and flexibility.
Yoga for cancer isn’t like traditional yoga. We avoid strong flows and certain poses. Everything is low impact and about adaptability and body connectivity. The most important thing to remember is you’re always in control – you know your body best.
Yes, we can adapt floor poses so you can still take part and this may mean doing yoga using a chair to support you.
Again yes, though breath connectivity is a core part of our work, yoga for cancer doesn’t involve deep breathing. We always start with our natural breath first and finding that connection.
Come along, try it out and start to build your new path to finding the new you. Contact me to find out more.
Join a class
Tuesdays | 10:00-11:15 | Yoga for Cancer | SPACE Yoga Studio, Bucks Road
Wednesdays | 11:00-12:00 | Yoga for Cancer | NSC, Indoor Bowling Hall
Wednesday | 18:00-19:15 | Yoga for Cancer | The Dairy, Grenaby Mooar
Fridays| 18:00-19:15 | Yoga for Cancer | Ramsey Yoga & Pilates Studio