Following up
From surviving to thriving
Story by Janet Harvey
Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed studies the effects of physical activity on people recovering from cancer. Now, some of her findings are being implemented in the community and are making a difference in the lives of cancer survivors.
Dr. Culos-Reed has found that people who have received treatment for cancer derive substantial benefits from yoga. The participants report improved mood, as well as reduced stress and anxiety. They also demonstrate increased fitness according to a six-minute walk test commonly used as an indicator of aerobic capacity. “The benefits are psychological as well as physical, and they greatly impact people’s quality of life,” she notes.
What started out as a research project to look at the benefits of yoga grew into a community program out of need. “Many of the study participants told us they wanted to continue with yoga but weren’t comfortable going to a regular yoga class,” she explains. That community program is called “Yoga Thrive”, and is taught be trained yoga instructors.
Instructors receive training specifically on what cancer does to the body; what patients experience when they undergo treatment; and what research has shown that physical activity can do for cancer survivors. “We put together a manual covering the 10 most common forms of cancer, treatments, and side effects to help instructors understand any negative physical and psychosocial side effects the participants might be experiencing.”
The response has been excellent. Over 200 cancer survivors have gone through the program since September 2009, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “This program is a true example of how research can be translated to benefit people directly,” says Dr. Culos-Reed. “It’s a wonderful community program for cancer survivors across Alberta.”
Yoga Thrive is currently offered in locations across Alberta including Calgary, Canmore, Cochrane, Edmonton, Grand Prairie, Jasper, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and St. Albert. Centres in other provinces have also expressed interest in making the program available.
For more information on the Yoga Thrive program, go to http://www.kin.ucalgary.ca/healthandwellnesslab and click on “Yoga Thrive” or call 403-210-8482. Yoga Thrive is also available on DVD from http://www.fitter1.com.