Although heart disease still has the largest number of fatalities in the modern world, cancer is probably one of the most feared diseases. Treatments have improved dramatically over recent years, and the numbers of people surviving cancer for longer are increasing, but the treatments take their toll and unpleasant side effects and stress are common.
Yoga can help people with cancer in a number of ways.

Whilst cancer can leave people feeling too weak to attempt any vigorous exercise, yoga can be adapted to meet almost anyone’s needs.

Here are some of the ways in which yoga can help:

• Restorative poses can help relax and energise the body and require almost no physical effort.

• Therapeutic yoga helps you really listen to the body and teaches the movements at various levels so everyone can benefit.

• Relaxation, breathing exercises and meditation can help with pain.

• The yoga philosophy can be really useful for people with cancer; encouraging as it does, the individual to listen to the messages from your body (physical and emotional) and adjust how you manage your practice to suit.

Whilst there are no scientific studies on whether yoga can improve the survival rate for people with cancer, there are a growing number of studies which show it does have some benefits for those who practise regularly.
Benefits can include less anxiety, depression, confusion, anger, fatigue diarrhoea and emotional irritability. Some find their pain lessens.

The key to yoga for anyone with cancer is to go gently, and to teach a routine which can easily be continued at home for maximum benefit.

Therapeutic classes focus on helping you tune in to your body. You learn a number of movements taught at various levels - so no matter where you’re at in terms of your ability, you will be able to execute the movement and benefit from it. We’ll teach you how to use simple props to help you with the movements and you’ll learn how to breathe in a way which can revitalise and calm the mind.

Learn more about the yoga for cancer programme below.

Please note: This therapeutic programme will not begin until the second half of 2015. If you are interested please contact us.

What you’ll experience:

How programmes work:

Ideally, join a "kick-start" programme first.

You'll learn enough in these 10 sessions to be able to continue on your own at home if you want to.

You don’t have to attend specific dates - but you do have to attend 10 sessions over a 16 week period. This is to help you really get used to the new exercises, to set your personal health goals, establish your own personal routine and begin to encourage new habits which will stick.

After your 10 sessions you can continue either as a drop in, or choose one of the discounted regular user options.