4 obstacles to yoga defeated

The therapeutic benefits of yoga often take a back-seat to the obstacles we’ve set up in our mind. I often hear from students that they were scared to start doing yoga but now that they’ve started they couldn’t be happier with their personal growth.

Here are answers to some of the most common concerns I hear:

I’m not flexible.
Many people wrongly believe that you have to be flexible to begin doing yoga. The truth is you’re actually the perfect candidate for yoga. Yoga treats inflexibility in a natural and calming way.

I’m embarrassed.
Our yoga studio is a non-competitive, non-judgmental environment. You can wear whatever you want to class and if you’re still worried don’t be. Most yoga is done with our eyes closed. You’ll enjoy focusing inward on how your body feels with less emphasis on how you look.

It’s forbidden by my religion.
Some people have the misconception that yoga is a religion. It’s not. Yoga is a practice of self care. It is the application of Western medical science influenced by Eastern philosophy. Yoga is not trying to recruit you or change your beliefs. All people from all religions are welcome to attend, remember, yoga is non-judgmental.

It’s too expensive.
I can only speak for my studio but at Wild Grace Arts we offer many payment options which you can view on our website: http://www.wildgracearts.com/. It’s true that yoga does cost money, but I feel, when you consider the benefits, the cost becomes less important. Yoga is an investment in your health. A small price to pay for preventing stress related illness. You may find that after you have come to a few classes it’s something you want to do on your own, in which case we offer a cd that you can play for a similar “in-class” relaxation experience (call 360.754.3983 if you are interested in purchasing).

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What happens in a yoga class for cancer survivors?

Chances are you have seen a yoga class, whether it be on television, in a photograph, or even walking past a studio. But at Wild Grace Arts a yoga class for anyone living with cancer, survivors and caregivers is just a little bit different.

First, we sit in a circle. I’ve found that this arrangement creates a unification throughout the class and encourages the feeling of belonging and community cohesion. While traditional yoga classes begin with silence and self-reflection we take the time to chat and check-in with each other. It’s this time when students can talk about how they are doing, what treatments they’re currently undergoing, what fears they may have, really anything on their mind. We also use this time to provide feedback. Maybe a fellow student has already been through the same treatment or feels exactly the same way. In this manner my yoga class is very much like a support group setting. Over the years I am continually reminded how therapeutic it is to be able to tell your story to a sensitive listener.

Of course, we practice yoga too! And again, don’t worry if you have never done yoga before. We are very skilled at adapting yoga poses to meet the needs of any health or fitness level. This class is gentle, designed to release stress and optimize immune system function.

We also work to improve our relationship with our bodies. It’s about expressing gratitude to the body that we have in the present moment. Self observation without judgment is an important part of our practice. In a yoga class for cancer survivors (remember, survivorship begins the day you are diagnosed) we don’t dwell on who you were before your diagnosis. Instead we move forward and think about who you are now.

If you are interested in joining the group I would invite you to come and check it out. The first class is free. We meet every Tuesday from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Wild Grace Arts located at 507 Cherry St. SE in downtown Olympia. An 8 class card costs $80.00. Family, supporting friends and caregivers are also invited to participate. Give yourself the gift of a therapeutic yoga class. You deserve it! I look forward to meeting you on the mat.

Editor's Note: Yoga Loft located at 219 Legion Way SE, Suite 202, is also part of the Providence Integrative Cancer Care Program. Taught by Maureen Oar, RYT, classes are every Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. You can register for either class by calling 360.412.8951.

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What is yoga and how can it help me?

You are probably familiar with the phrase “fight-or-flight response” but just as a refresher, imagine a caveman a billion years ago out walking in the forest. Suddenly he encounters a saber tooth tiger. Immediately he has to make the decision to stay and fight the tiger or flee as fast as he can. It is this decision to stay and fight or run away as fast as he can that engages the sympathetic nervous system.

What happens when the sympathetic nervous system is engaged?
The stress response is activated and all muscles are primed and ready to go. Heart rate and blood pressure increase and your body starts producing adrenaline. This stress response stops or slows down several processes in the human body, most notably those surrounding urinary and bowel movements, the need to eat and the desire for sexual arousal. If you think about it, it makes sense. That same caveman doesn’t need to be worrying about any of the above while he’s trying to overcome the menacing stare of the saber tooth. Most importantly this stress response diminishes the effectiveness of the bodies immune system. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol interfere with the mission of our white blood cells, the very cells that destroy cancer cells.

How does my body recover from this response?
In theory, once the caveman has either run from or defeated the tiger his body will activate his parasympathetic nervous system allowing his heart rate and blood pressure to decrease; restoring the body’s natural functioning. This period is often referred to as “rest-and-digest” and when the nervous system goes parasympathetic the immune system gets cracking and does its best work to protect your health destroying disease causing cells. A gentle yoga practice teaches you many skillful ways to shift your physiology and optimize your immune function. This ancient system of self care uses deep breathing techniques, mindful movement sequences, intelligent stretching, deep relaxation and meditation techniques to give you a wonderful antidote to the stress response.

What does a saber tooth tiger have to do with cancer treatment?
The domino effect of challenges that a cancer diagnosis requires creates more stress than your body would normally encounter. Chances are the caveman didn’t encounter a menacing tiger every day of the week, meaning his body was always given time to “rest-and-digest”. Unfortunately the fast paced lifestyle of today’s society seems to plant tigers around every corner, just waiting to pounce. Scientists know that when your body spends too much time in a stress response your immune system is suppressed and your body is left open to infections and a variety of stress related illnesses.

This is where yoga comes in. The practice of yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system causing a cascade of physiological changes in the body that supports holistic health. Nearly everyone can benefit from yoga, but as part of Providence’s Integrative Cancer Care Program we firmly believe that therapeutic yoga can complement conventional medical care.