CINCINNATI—Yoga
classes specifically tailored to patients undergoing cancer treatment and
cancer survivors, known as Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness (YCat),
are now being offered free at the UC Health Barrett Cancer Center, the hub for
the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute.
The classes, taught
by YCat certified yoga therapist and UC Health contractor Tina Walter, are
being held at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday evening in the second-floor lobby of the
Barrett, 234 Goodman Ave.
Walter, who also leads
a class at the Cancer Support Community in Blue Ash, says she is happy to be
offering these services on the Corryville campus and that the form of yoga used
is truly tailored to cancer patients. The focus is on safety and comfort while improving
flexibility, range of motion, blood flow and overall mental well-being.
"We call this ‘chair
yoga’ although other poses are taught when appropriate,” she says. "The program
we use was developed by an oncology nurse from evidence-based research and is
physiology based in nature. We really mold classes to meet the needs of each
participant, and we gather input from our participants to address problems they
may be having—physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Walter continues that
her classes focus on breathing practices and guided relaxation.
"We also begin each
class with a ‘check-in,’ to see how everyone is feeling and just to build a
sense of community,” she says. "We want to empower patients and make them an
expert of their own body, which will help overall outcomes.”
Research
has shown that yoga has beneficial effects on patients with chronic conditions,
like cancer, and shows improved disease management and reduction of stress.
"This
class is also open to the loved ones of patients and survivors,” she says,
adding that caregiving can cause a number of stressors that could be harmful to
health. "We’re excited to offer these classes at a facility like the Barrett,
where I hope to communicate regularly with health care providers and show our
team’s dedication to caring for all aspects of patient care.”
UC
Health Integrative Medicine began offering services at the Barrett Cancer
Center in January 2014. Massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology,
acupressure—which targets the same pressure points as acupuncture only without
needles—and National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) auricular
acupuncture are provided at this location. For more information, visit uchealth.com/integrativemedicine.