The Alternative Press

Patients at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center are being prescribed free yoga classes by oncologists to complement radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  The goal is to empower cancer patients to manage pain, anxiety, and depression.  The hospital is partnering with Kula for Karma’s Kula Care to provide this hospital-based integrative approach to healing, which offers cancer patients important adjunct therapies, including a weekly gentle beginner yoga class incorporating breathing techniques, guided relaxation, meditation to calm and focus the mind, and postures to facilitate flexibility and balance.  Yoga helps provide integrated, “whole person” approaches to recovery and healing.

A growing body of research supports the use of yoga and meditation for treatment purposes.  Kula for Karma provides custom-tailored programs and services taught by specially trained and certified yoga instructors.  Under the guidance of Nancy Candea, Director of Advanced Teacher Training, these training programs explore how to prepare and deliver effective lesson plans using asana, pranayama, and meditation techniques on the mat, in a chair and in bed.  Trainees learn skills to manage the secondary effects of cancer treatment and surgery in their students, as well as how to remain personally balanced in the face of terrible illness and even death.  The trainings also help establish a new psychosomatic dialogue with the body that encourages a stronger identification with the spiritual aspects of the self.  All trainees join Kula for Karma’s volunteer network and are placed in hospital-based programs for integrative healing.

The next Advanced Yoga Teacher Training for Cancer Patients is offered at Naturally Yoga in Glen Rock, NJ and taught by Nancy Candea, CYT, CPT, eRYT.  It is a two-day course, Saturday Dec 8 and Sunday Dec 9 from noon to 8pm each day.  This training offers 16 Yoga Alliance certified continuing education credits to registered teachers, and the tuition is $300.