Yoga Therapy For Those Living With Cancer

02/06/2026

A great article in The Guardian about the benefits of yoga for those living with cancer 🧘‍♀️

If you would like to find out about our local classes and how you can take part, please email [email protected] for a friendly, informal chat 🙂

First clinical trial of its kind, involving 410 cancer survivors in US, also finds reductions in distress and fatigue

16/05/2026

✨ From Monday 18th May, our classes will be taking place on a Monday afternoon instead of a Friday ✨

For more information, or to book yourself onto our classes, please email [email protected] 🙂

07/05/2026

What can I expect at a Yoga Therapy for Those With Cancer class?

You can expect a warm welcome, and to be met at whatever stage of your cancer journey you are at. The classes are suitable for everyone - you do not need to be a highly skilled yogi to feel the benefits of relaxation and balance that comes from these classes.

You will be provided with a mat, a blanket, a block and a chair if you would feel more comfortable with one. The classes are small and friendly and afterwards we make sure we leave time for a drink and some cake if you would like to stay and join in.

If you have any questions, or would like to enquire about booking onto a class, please email [email protected] 🙂

27/04/2026

When can Yoga Therapy for those Living with Cancer be practised?

🧘‍♀ On diagnosis: yogic breathing and relaxation will help you manage the fear and worry of diagnosis and support you in managing changes ahead.

🧘‍♂️ Before the start of treatment – being active improves recovery from surgery.

🧘 Breathing practices can be practiced during chemotherapy to support tension and stress.

🧘‍♀️ After surgery and treatment, these yoga practices help to build confidence to start to move again.

🧘‍♂️ It helps to manage thoughts and emotions that come with cancer

🧘 The classes provide consistent support and connection and can be shared with friends

So, wherever you are at right now, if you feel that introducing some gentle yoga into your routine might help, please do get in touch 🙂

26/04/2026

How I came to yoga...

Yoga has been part of my life since my 20’s, all because of going to a class with my Mum – strangely coincidentally at the social centre of the Christie Hospital in Manchester – and, for those who can remember, the yoga lessons on TV given by Richard Hittleman. When she became ill with cancer much later, I became drawn to finding out out how breathing and deep relaxation could help her and started teacher training through the British Wheel of Yoga and a wonderful tutor, Jenny Boam, with the hope of adding Cancer training later.

After a few years of teaching, increasing travel in my ‘day job’ meant pausing teaching for a while. As I neared retirement, I returned to training. Over the past decade, I've completed many yoga courses, and teaching yoga for cancer enables me to apply and share my knowledge. There was one ‘hiccup’ though – suddenly contracting sepsis took almost a couple of years of recovery, but during this time I used yoga practices to regain fitness and manage my own pain – and gave me confidence to teach again.

I would love to help you to find some calm and relaxation during your cancer treatment, if my classes sound like something you might be interested in then please do send me an email to find out more or to book onto our Friday class: [email protected]

25/04/2026

Yoga helps lymph movement

It’s very important for the lymph, a major part of the immune system, to be active and to circulate well. Stress tightens up the tissues often resulting in reduced lymph flow. The lymph system has no pump of its own, so relies on blood vessels and the breath (which acts as a pump) to move.

Because lymph node clusters are sited in the joints, these need to move regularly, and this is a key focus within yoga practice. Just gentle movements can help enormously. Diaphragmatic breathing also aids a healthy lymph system, along with stretching and massaging.

You can find our more about the benefits of practicing yoga whilst living with cancer on the Cancer Research UK website, here: http://bit.ly/4mzTezP

24/04/2026

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve with yoga

Currently a hot topic in the press, the Vagus Nerve is a long and powerful nerve that is a major part of the nervous system connecting the brain and gut (and so, thought to be responsible for that ‘gut feeling’ we all have). It plays a key role in your emotional and physical health. It’s often out of balance or weak during cancer treatments, contributing to fatigue, pain and anxiety but can be stimulated through chosen yoga practices involving both movement and specific breathing. Activation of the Vagus Nerve also helps to reduce inflammation and bring improvements in memory, with feelings of relaxation.

23/04/2026

What does the class include?

Each Yoga Therapy for Cancer class consists of equal parts: breathing practices (Pranayama) to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety; gentle movement for flexibility, strength, and healthy lymph flow, plus deep relaxation (Yoga Nidra) to support treatment, relieve stress, and boost energy. All in a warm and supportive atmosphere. Specific breathing practices can be learned as an ‘anchor’ for you to come back to whenever you need support with tension, fear, anxiety, or worry.

Practices are carried out either on a chair or on the mat (provided) or a combination – it’s entirely your choice. There are always alternatives to each practice, and you can do as much or as little as you would like to and previous experience is not needed. Many of the practices can be also done at home (home practice guides are available) and each lesson is tailored to the individual student's needs.

If this sounds like something that would be of benefit to you, please email me to book onto a future class: [email protected] ✨

22/04/2026

Why practice yoga when living with cancer?

Because the combination of breathing practices, movement and deep relaxation help you to manage the emotions that you are experiencing. It’s a confidence builder after going through treatment for cancer. It’s calming, uplifting and re-vitalising.

Yoga stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps balance the sympathetic system that is responsible for anger, fear, worry, and stress.

This yoga therapy class provides you time to yourself, practicing with others facing similar situations, leaving worries and fears to one side. The 75 minute session finishes with coffee and cake, giving time to connect and share your experiences with others who have also gone through cancer. From a physical perspective, you don’t have to be flexible or to have practiced yoga before to join our class.

Message me to find out more, or to book a place on our Friday class 🙂