Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Yoga is one of the most popular types of exercise these days. There are many different forms of Yoga, from the athletic to the meditative. Dr. Kim tells us about a form of Yoga that's helping cancer patients recover.
The people in this room are cancer survivors. For them, this Yoga class is not just a way of relaxing, it's also an important part of their recovery from a deadly disease.
It's called restorative Yoga. It's not athletic. Instead it is a series of poses that emphasize breathing and relaxation.
Nancy Mau began taking restorative Yoga classes after undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
She says, "Actually, the recovery is sometimes the most difficult part, because then the treatment is over and it's like, 'Now what do I do?' It helped a lot with the fatigue. I had lots of fatigue. It's kind of like a little energy boost."
The Yoga is part of Stanford Medical Center's Cancer Supportive Care program. It combines conventional cancer therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy with complementary practices such as Yoga or massage.
Holly Gautier is the director of the program. She says restorative Yoga has some very real medical benefits.
"The restorative Yoga has a tremendous impact on decreasing blood pressure. It can help with symptom management as you go through treatment, decreasing nausea and also decreasing fatigue."
For people who have been through surgery, the Yoga helps restore range of motion, and restores a sense of confidence in their own body. Equally important it helps restore a sense of control over their own lives, something cancer took away.
"You are always living with cancer," explains Nancy Mau. "I don't know if cancer is going to return. I meant, it could come back at any time. So it's a continuing tool in my taking care of myself."
While the program was started for patients with cancer, the benefits apply to anyone dealing with a life-threatening illness. It's not only good medicine, it's also free.
