Yoga, Meditation and Healing Study- Feedback appreciated.

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misswim
misswim Member Posts: 931
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Before my BC nightmare started, I was working on my Masters in Counseling. I took two semesters off from school to have my surgery and chemo, and started back at my weekend residency this weekend.

I am doing a study on Yoga and Meditation as healing modalities for both patients facing catastrophic illness and their families/freinds/caregivers.

Yoga and meditation have been a giant part of my recovery and healing. Recently I lost a close family member to a swift and terminal form of cancer and I was concerned about the lack of support in the form of grief counseling and stress management not only for the patient but for my family members. I have decided the focus of my practice when I graduate will be to work with patients and families dealing with these types of illness, and integrating the holistic in to that practice.

I would love to hear about the use of yoga and/or meditation in the healing process as you have moved forward , or as you cope with your journey.  I would also,be very interested in opinions regarding what sort of support and holistic practices you feel were helpful for you and your family, or would havebeen of interest or helpful to you that were lacking.

Thank you so much for your input.

I thank you in advance for your input.

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited January 2012

    Hi, I'm big into yoga and meditation.  Do you have a form to fill out for your study?

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  • misswim
    misswim Member Posts: 931
    edited January 2012

    It is a self guided study so I am jusy in the first phase of putting my plan for the term together. That is great idea though, I am going to work on that. I'd love to hear your experiences.

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  • tedwilliams
    tedwilliams Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2012

    The cancer resource center in  area where I lived previously offers meditation and yoga for cancer patients and their caregivers. Recently they added bellydancing.  Many took part in these while in various stages of treatment.  I believe that the meditations tools I learned aided me during my various surgeries.  After moving to a new state I was disappointed these were not offered in my new area and have searched out other classes.  

    I believe the yoga keeps many of the SE of tamoxifen to a minium.

     Jana 

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited January 2012

    Yes, you could create a form on Google docs and then post the link.  It would be helpful in getting organized answers that you could then use for your study. 

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2012

    I have been doing yoga and meditation on and off for years before the beast came along.

    It sure helped me.I have the tapes and I know enough to do it myself.

    My hospital offers it but right now im a caregiver to my mentor who is a 27 yr cancer survivor...not doing good at all.i came home for the weekend to do my yoga,stretching and meditation.Also walked outside with myslef the sun and GOD.

    I would fill out your form for any kind of study that would help.I will be on the computer till tomorrow nite then i probably will not be back till friday.Great idea!!!!Good luck.

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  • flannelette
    flannelette Member Posts: 984
    edited January 2012

    "what sort of support" - here's one aspect I loved: I'm in Canada. When I first met my breast surgeon, we were all equals as part of a team. I was in the examining room waiting. In walked the surgeon, his resident, and the nurse navigator who all shook hands with ne and introduced themselves by their first names. COOL! My dr did not try to look like Mr. authority. In fact, he wore black jeans and a black shirt. COOL! I titally loved that we were a Team, and we conferredto make decisions (well,mostly) I was not just a piece of meat on a slab. I had power.

    The other thig is there is a book by ......? Moore who writes on care of the soul. He has a book on the hospital experience and milieu - the colours, the payout etc. what heals, what doesn't. in our brand new oncology centre that cost millions....we have a wall in every examination room that is painted LIVER colour. Un****ing believeable. It's the "accent" wall. It immediately reminds you of vomit, liver, bodily fluids, puke.....I can't believe someone actually got paid to make that pathetic decision. obviously someone who has never been sick.

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  • flannelette
    flannelette Member Posts: 984
    edited January 2012

    one more - I used following the breath to help me lie very still during the 40 minutes or so of the stereotatic biopsy. Also during rads. some people freak out at the huge machine. I saw it as an incredibly friendly ET looking at me, trying to help. Again, following the breath, but those sessions were all so fast it was practically not needed.....

    positive intention while loving every cell of your body....even the cancer - they are yours, too, but are hooligans who have gone astray

    just a few random thoughts

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited January 2012

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html?_r=1&ref=general&src=me&pagewanted=print

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited January 2012

    Interesting article. I have to say, though, that most of the injured people cited in the article practice a lot of yoga (more than an hour a day) or do extreme versions of poses for which they are not ready.  It's sort of like an article about baseball injuries that then reaches the conclusion that nobody should play baseball.  Most people can practice yoga and it's perfectly fine.  Ii try to practice 4-5 times a week and I love it.  No injuries at all.  

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  • OneBadBoob
    OneBadBoob Member Posts: 1,386
    edited January 2012

    Yup Voracious-- thanks for posting the link to that article. When I saw the name of this thread I thought of posting a link to that recent article when I had read all the posts.



    It's not only how often or for how long you practice Yoga, but having an appropriate teacher who is not in the "no pain--no gain" school.



    There are many types of Yoga and you don't have to twist yourself into a pretzel and kill your neck with the headstands to get the entire benefit from the practice of Yoga.



    I have found the breathing and meditation, getting in touch with your body through your breath, to be much more healing than the pretzel positions.

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited January 2012

    I used yoga extensively to heal throughout my BC treatment.

     I have been an on-off yoga student for about 5 years, and though I consider myself to be physically fit, I don't attempt to go "too far" with the poses. Most of my yoga instructors (I practice Flow yoga, and have studied Iyengar in the past) insist that you "listen to your own body" in terms of how faryou push yourself.  I try to push myself to improve, but not to injury status.

     Yoga helps me feel healthier, more "balanced" (in that I mean, well stretched, good kinesiology), and also helps me feel good mentally.  I walk out of my yoga classes feeling calm, cool and collected.

    I don't get to do yoga too much these days, but it has certainly helped me deal with stress, and if faced with a stressful situation, I will turn to yoga again. 

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2012

    I too have gotten to like meditation and deep breathing along with walking in the sun very soothing.I do yoga but certainly not to the pretzel point.I would rather dance.

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited January 2012

    flanelette, you cracked me up with the liver colored walls. In my infusion center, the walls are this sick chartreuse...baby poop green. It made me nauseous. I always wondered what genius chose it.



    I do bikram yoga. With all level 2 lymph nodes removed, I am sure I shouldnt ...but I have been learning to love it. I also have a tiny little altarish place in my bedroom that I light a candle at and meditate daily. I am Catholic, so I usually do the Rosary as it keeps my mind from wandering lots.



    My husband now plays soft music and lights a candle in the evening and closes his eyes. I am glad he is learning to seek peace too.

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2012

    They all work....In the end its what works best for you.....PEACE!!!!!

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited January 2012

    I get meditation lessons at my cancer wellness center, and I think they made a huge difference in my own healing, as well as surviving testing and procedures. I think I would have been lost without meditation...and I still go every week.

     Yoga, I am afraid of that because of possible lymphedema issues... I hear several poses are bad for us, and don't know enough to try it without feeling afraid. I just want to heal...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    Hi Misswim,  

    I've just seen that there is a research grant offered from the Mind & Life Institute.  Might be helpful for you or a colleague.

    "Currently, we wanted to bring your attention to a new grant opportunity, the Mind and Life Contemplative Studies Fellowship (MLCSF). This grant program, sponsored in part by the John Templeton Foundation, provides substantial funding for humanities and social science scholars interested in interdisciplinary research related to the study of contemplative practices. Please see the announcement by following the link below. We would also welcome your help in forwarding the announcement to appropriate colleagues and lists as you see fit. U.S. and international applicants are eligible. The current grant deadline has been extended to February 15, 2012."

    www.mindandlife.org/research-grants/contemplative-studies-fellowship/

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  • Runnr
    Runnr Member Posts: 211
    edited January 2012

    I practice yoga regularly.  It has helped immensely not only physically but mentally as well.  I practice a somewhat advanced level and challenge myself as much as I can.

    Physically I feel strong and mentally more relaxed.  I want to learn more about meditation Smile 

    I am currently doing Abraxane chemo and this is the best thing I can do for myself. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    I am still practicing bikram yoga regularly while doing chemotherapy (right now Taxol, before it was AC). You can p.m. me if you like for more details.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited January 2012

    I've been doing guided imagery 2-3 times a month. It's great. Also, my RO's office offers free "healing touch" sessions. It was great but it's so popular I can never get an appointment. (they prioritize new patients). I also tried oncology massage and considered acupuncture (but never got around to going.) Are you going to talk to practitioners? They may have different (or more) experiences. Thanks for doing this study and for your ongoing work! When I was going through Tx I really appreciated these practitioners.

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  • Banba
    Banba Member Posts: 93
    edited February 2012

    The hospital where I receive my radiaton also offer a yoga for rehabilitation study.

    More than 1500 women (and a few men)have now participated and there are evaluations that I can pass on if you'd like. This project has been going on since 2006 and takes place at Akademiska sjukhuset("The Academic/teaching hospital") in Uppsala, Sweden.

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