Yoga for BC Survivors

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garnet131
garnet131 Member Posts: 64
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I haven't posted much in a while for a variety of reasons but do read most everything. Want to tell everyone about my experience with a "Yoga for BC Survivors" class at a local hospital. I was definitely struggling with my LE for a few months after the flare I had back in October. When my oldest daughter went for a mammogram, she picked up a flyer on this class. Since I'm a 17-year survivor and it appeared the class was for women who recently ended treatment, I called the hospital and they referred me to the instructor. She was open to my attending; I'm now in the second six-week session and it has made such a difference in my arm and my life!

The combination of breathing and stretching had an immediate positive impact on my arm and put an end to those months of heaviness and feeling off kilter. 

This is not "regular" yoga and is designed especially for bc survivors. The instructor was trained in Colorado and is sponsoring a training session here this summer.  I guess it is a movement beginning around the country. Have any of you had this opportunity?

Plus, the class is free, as the lovely instructor is volunteering her time after a grant fell through. There will be one more session before summer.

Should also say that my only previous yoga experience was a class I tried 5 or 6 years ago and absolutely hated and quit after probably 3 sessions. That was a "Gentle Yoga" for people with back or knee problems, and it was too much for my poor knees at that time. Not sure if it's the glucosamine or what, but knees haven't been a problem for the past few years.

I will join in at the exercise topic soon (bedtime now), but wanted to tell you about the survivor bc yoga and find out where else it is offered.

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  • Suzanne3131
    Suzanne3131 Member Posts: 3,953
    edited March 2012

    Hi Garnet131!

     I am a survivor and also recently returning to teaching yoga...I do not have LE but definitely feel the remnants of surgery on my right side.  I have felt the positive effects of stretching and breathing through this, and I am very interested in this practice!  Yoga is so good!  Thank you for your post....I had not made the connection!  I would love to learn these specific stretches that help you.  Good for you!  I am so happy that you have found a way to feel better!!

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

    Garnet, I would love to hear more about this!

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  • 11BC
    11BC Member Posts: 93
    edited March 2012

    Thanks for starting this conversation. I'd encourage all to consider taking yoga classes that are tailored for women who have/have had breast cancer. I did yoga before my cancer surgery and BMX. Afterwards, I slowly returned to it, but then stopped when I developed lymphedema in my right (cancer side) arm.

    I just recently started going to a yoga class for women w/ cancer. Here's the link:
    http://www.omyoga.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=179&Itemid=202

    The teacher has had breast cancer. She speaks with each participant individually to determine that person's wants/needs.

    Here is the class description:

    "These gentle classes at OM yoga Center in New York City offer inspiration and bonding for women with breast cancer and other cancers. Classes include breathing exercises, slow arm stretches, healing yoga sequences, restorative yoga and balancing work that is appropriate for women during and after treatment."

    I did an Internet search for "yoga, breast cancer" and found YogaBear, which "arranges free yoga class passes for cancer patients and survivors at yoga studios nationwide:"

    http://www.yogabear.org/

    My advice: Be cautious. Possibly check w/ your doctor and/or physical therapist. Do talk w/ the yoga instructor. I also talked w/ others in the class to get their feedback. All said they felt they benefited from the regular (specialized) yoga practice.

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  • 11BC
    11BC Member Posts: 93
    edited March 2012

    garnet131: I also have lymphedema (in my right arm/BC side) and was concerned doing yoga would make it worse. But the "yoga for cancer" teacher told me many of her students find their lymphedema improves when they do (specialized/tailored for BC) yoga. She focuses on doing yoga poses that increase lymph flow. I wore my all-in-one compression sleeve/glove when doing the yoga. I even did poses where I put some pressure on my arms/hands. Yet my arm/hand did not swell during or after the classes. Overall, I feel much better!

    Here are more yoga for women w/ cancer classes:

    In New York:
    http://www.sacredsoundsyoga.com/class_descriptions.html

    In Denver:
    http://www.thehealingchest.org/The_Healing_Chest/Home.html

    Check out The Healing Chest's Web site. It's very informative!

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited March 2012

    I started a Gentle Yoga class 2 weeks after I finished chemo almost 4 years ago and have taken it weekly since.  The instructor is wonderful and great about providing alternate moves for those of us in the class with special issues.  I avoid downward dog, cobra, etc. (which gives me a really ugly Sun Salutation, but who cares??!) - but I can do a fabulous Warrior II. Laughing Much of what the instructor does in class reminds me of the Lebed moves, especially the gentle stretching and breathing techniques.  I agree that my LE is much better when I'm attending - we're between sessions right now and I miss it!  Of course I always wear my sleeve and gauntlet when doing yoga.  

    I think it's important to get into a special b/c or gentle yoga class if possible, or at least work with a yoga instructor who will work with you on alternate moves.  I attended a conference last year, and every morning they offered a Sunrise Yoga class that was described as being for beginners.  It was not - the instructor did some very advanced moves, and gave me an affronted look when I did my alternate moves instead.   I'd even made a point of getting to class early to explain my needs to her and to let her know that I only did gentle yoga moves and would not be doing downward dog, etc. Obviously she thought I was lazy or malingering or something.   She was young and strong with legs that went all the way up, and I think just didn't get the needs of older and special needs people.  I didn't go back the next day, and found out later that very few of the older folks who'd attended the first day went back either.  

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    From the brochure:  "This restorative yoga includes chest openers, arm movements, shoulder stretches, and backbends. These poses will stimulate and circulate lymph and blood flow and manage lymphedema. Twists are always included to help squeeze impurities from the organs. Classes...finish with a deep relaxation. It is here that all the benefits of the yoga practice will be absorbed into the body."

    Many (probably most) of the moves are modifications of standard yoga poses.  I'll list those that I remember by name:

    • Warrior (2 modifications)
    • Wall Dog
    • Bridge
    • Child's Pose
    • Happy Baby
    • Cat/Cow
    • Tree
    • Threading the Needle
    • Seated Twist
    • Bound Angle

    Well, I have to admit I did not remember all of those off the top of my head--I went to a yoga website to remind myself. 

    As I said, many of the moves are modified for this class. Also, the instructor tells us that any of them can be done with a chair if they are too difficult on the floor, but no one has taken her up on that so far.  She is SO understanding and always checking with everyone to make sure they're comfortable and not overdoing it. Most of the ladies are newer survivors--some still have ports in and in treatment with chemo/radiation.  At 17 years, I was the only long-term survivor until the last two classes when a 27-year survivor joined us. 

    I am the only one with active, under treatment LE.  I say it that way because there were 2 women in the last session who asked me about my sleeve and told me about their issues. One said she had LE (and I could see it in her arm) and that she has a sleeve but "forgot it" both times that she attended.  I walked to the parking structure with another woman who said sometimes her arm swells and she elevates it and takes it easy until it goes down--has not had any diagnosis or treatment.

    Talking to both of them alarmed me so much that I made up an index card size card to hand out with info on the SUSO website and  this discussion board.  But then neither of them have been back since then to get the info.  Frown

    However, the instructor and everyone who's been present in class since then have been glad to get the info.  Guess I am now an official LE advocate, as everyone with LE has to be!  I even put a butterfly on the card.

    Garnet

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    Suzanne, I send you a PM re forwarding my instructor's brochure.

    11BC - Thanks for all the links. I'm glad to know there are similar classes elsewhere and will definitely be checking out your links as time allows this weekend.

    Nats/Mary -  Your instructor sounds like mine, so in tune with the special needs of those in her class.  I haven't checked out Lebed yet (temperamental pc doesn't do videos) but plan to get a dvd soon.  Your experience at "Sunrise Yoga" sounds like me at the class I tried several years ago.

    And I agree--DEFINITELY WEAR SLEEVE AND GLOVE!!!

    If anyone would like a pdf copy of info on the class I'm in, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will send it.  (Or let me know if there's a way I can attach/send it here).

    Thanks,

    Garnet

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2012

    Garnet, good for you for making the effort to steer those women to good help. Hope they show up again and you can talk to them (but it's possible the class created "bigger" problems for them and they decided it wasn't a good choice -- sad!Frown)

    I wonder where we go to get our official LE Advocate card, hat and t-shirt?Laughing

    Brava, and hugs,
    Binney

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    Thanks, Binney.  Turns out that the newest lady is friends with and was referred by the undiagnosed/treated woman I mentioned and said she will likely be back one of these weeks so I'll have the card ready and gently advise her to find an LE therapist.

    I think I'm going to make the next batch of cards business card size so I can more easily carry them and have handy when people ask me about sleeve/LE (as happened at a craft fair a while back). In case anyone is interested, below is what I put on the card (centered with butterfly at upper left corner):

    Lymphedema Information

    is available at:

      www.stepup-speakout.org

    Connect with others at the

    Lymphedema Discussion Board

    at breastcancer.org

     

     

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited March 2012

    Garnet, what a wonderful idea!  

    Carol 

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    11bc - I checked out your links today and recognized Denise, the instructor on the videos posted by Kate L. at the Yogabear website. My instructor "met" Kate online, and when Kate heard about her beginning the classes in our area, she sent my instructor copies of the DVD "Thriving Yoga - Healing Yoga for Cancer" to hand out to everyone in the first session.  (The DVD is available at Amazon.)

    I've used the DVD a few times so far and found it very helpful and relaxing, as I can never remember exactly what we do in class. Since the DVD is 1/2 hour and our class is 1 hour and 15 minutes, it doesn't quite compare to class, especially since my instructor hands out lavender scented eye pillows as we relax at the end. Ahh...BLISS--I usually float home on Thursdays!

    I also found "The Healing Chest" website interesting and am going to request the book "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" in my next library book order. I surely never realized how stressed I was until I experienced the de-stressing of this yoga class.

    Garnet

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    Thanks, Carol. I plan to make up a batch for my therapist and also for the fitting company.  I've already told them about SUSO but I'm sure giving them the cards to hand out will be more helpful.

    From July to October when I found SUSO, I was floundering with my LE and I want to get the word out!  I hope more of our "swell sisters" can do the same.

    Garnet

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited March 2012

    I used to do yoga before my bc but haven't tried it yet. Guess I'm too lazy.  I really should because I used to love it.  Me & my friends used to do the slow stretching ones. It would be really nice to know how to modify poses that are not good for our LE arms. 

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  • 1openheart
    1openheart Member Posts: 765
    edited March 2012

    I'm back to a pretty regular yoga practice.  I don't have LE, but I do have cording in my trunk.   I do have to modify some poses and make it my own practice each time I get on my mat.  I am very comfortable doing that even in a class environment.   I can do down dog and plank without difficulty, but I still can not do chataranga.....easing down to the floor from plank....without  going to my knees first.  I just don't have much upper body strength yet.  

    I get so much from my practice.....good for the mind, body and spirit! 

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    Norma, here is the Amazon link to the dvd I mentioned above:

    http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Yoga-for-Cancer/dp/B006M49Q8K/ref=sr_1_6?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1332109655&sr=1-6

    Unfortunately, today it says that it's not available at the moment--I swear that wasn't there yesterday!

    Garnet

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Garnet, I'll keep an eye out for it! NJ

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  • Ladyredlocks
    Ladyredlocks Member Posts: 56
    edited March 2012

    You can find the Yoga For Cancer series (for each: Breast Cancer Survivors, Cancer Survivors and Heart Disease) on You Tube ... they break the DVDs up into one vid per pose ... I have saved all the poses that work for me into a playlist that I do every other day...  There is some overlap of poses from one DVD to another.

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  • garnet131
    garnet131 Member Posts: 64
    edited March 2012

    Thanks for that info.  My pc isn't You Tube friendly, but I'm sure others will make use of it. 

    Tonight was end of my second 6-week session.  Still greatly enjoying the class.  I don't know if it's relief for my LE as much as general stress relief, but it has surely made a positive difference in my life.  One more session starts up in 2 weeks. Found out that the instructor has a "Healing Yoga" class over the summer at different hospital not too far from me in another direction and thinking about doing that one. 

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