Cancer Care - Yoga Therapy
Cancer impacts us on all the levels of our human existence. Yoga Therapy is a body centered, holistic one-on-one therapy, which addresses a client’s unique physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges and needs.
Sometimes, after a cancer diagnosis, there is a profound depth of shock; one can feel as though they are running for their life (fight or flight) or completely shut down (freeze or faint). Anxiety, insomnia and fatigue are often constant companions.
Through a deep understanding of human suffering and how the body requires and responds to human connection, generous listening and certains form of practice (breath, movement and meditation), Yoga Therapy compassionately accompanies and supports people facing cancer. This approach provided by two experienced and trained therapists can help patients to breathe, find agency and stay present in their lives.
You can find answers to commonly asked questions about yoga therapy on our FAQs Page.
Yoga Therapist & Clinic Hours
Anne Pitman, Certified Yoga Therapist
Friday, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fees
Single or Couple Session
60 Minutes - $95
90 Minutes - $120
Yoga Therapy FAQs
A yoga class is wonderful for a feeling of community and friendship. What is offered, through breath and movement, hopefully is helpful to all (with some modifications).
Yoga Therapy allows you to address your unique story – and to be heard and understood. Yoga Therapy is a one-one-one session that allows the client to have accompaniment to listen to their body’s story. Different practices work for different people. Yoga Therapy allows individual differences in response to and provides individualized support.
Everyone is differently anxious, but there are some things we know about the nervous system that can help us understand and develop a practice to be helpful for those with anxiety. It is good to know that our nervous system is brilliantly set up to protect us.
When something surprising happens (like a cancer diagnosis), the nervous system will respond, often by going to “fight or flight” or “freeze and feint.” This is meant to be temporary.
However, if things continue to be hard or if the nervous system cannot find a way to feel safe, it can be hard to convince the body/mind to settle down. Listening greatly helps.
Working with breath and specific movements can help establish a conversation with the nervous system to help it notice the present moment and begin to re-pattern from shock and fear.
All yoga has the possibility of being therapeutic. Yoga Therapy is different in that it is one-on-on, and tailored to specific body-stories. There aren’t any prescriptions (i.e. no “do 2 downward dogs, and call me in the morning”). Instead, the practice is unique to each person, depending on their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
No experience is needed. Yoga Therapy is meant to fit you, not the other way around. Flexibility is not required.
Again, there are no prerequisites. As Yoga Therapy has nothing to do with religion, any belief system can be met and supported.
No, normalcy is not required (haha). Research shows that yoga can help with both fatigue and insomnia. Additionally, research into inflammation shows that a practice of yoga can bring down your blood inflammatory markers, especially helpful after treatment.
Definitely not. Please wear whatever is comfortable. Layers are useful, in case you become a little hot or cold.
Some people come once. Others come quite frequently. There is no one answer, but many possibilities, depending on what works for you. Some people like to practice alone at home, so guidance to home practice can be helpful. Others prefer community, and after a session will join in with a group yoga practice, feeling more attuned to their own body.