FAQ

For whom is yoga for cancer suitable?
Yoga for cancer is basically suitable for all people affected by cancer, regardless of gender, age or fitness level. Yoga classes for cancer patients are not about acrobatic feats or how aesthetically pleasing a yoga pose looks from the outside. Yoga teachers who teach individual or group classes for people with cancer know how to guide yoga postures – for example, with aids such as blankets, blocks or chairs – so that they can be performed painlessly by all participants.

In rare cases, there may be contraindications or phases of a cancer disease in which participation in a group course is not recommended or special caution is required (e.g. in the case of a very weakened immune system or bone metastases). For this reason, we recommend that all interested persons discuss participation in a yoga course with their attending physician beforehand.

At what stage of therapy can I start with yoga for cancer?

In principle, a yoga course for cancer patients can be started at any stage. Yoga has a supportive and symptom-relieving effect during all phases of therapy (e.g. chemotherapy, radiation, anti-hormone therapy, etc.). If the treatment plan includes an operation, cancer patients should consult their doctor as to when they are allowed to take part in yoga classes again or which exercises or movements they should still refrain from.

Do I need previous experience or knowledge to take part in a yoga for cancer course?
No, you do not need any previous yoga experience or knowledge to take part in a yoga course for cancer patients.

What is different in a yoga for cancer course than in conventional yoga courses?
Yoga for cancer courses usually consist of gentler exercises than conventional yoga courses. In addition to the physical exercises (asanas), breathing and relaxation exercises to calm the nervous system also play an important role in courses for cancer patients. As a rule, these courses also take place in smaller groups so that the course instructor can accompany and support the participants as individually as possible.

What do I need to bring to the yoga for cancer course?
Comfortable sportswear, preferably in layers (tracksuit bottoms, T-shirt and jumper/jacket). Yoga is usually practised without shoes, barefoot or in socks. Even though yoga classes for cancer patients are usually not as sweaty as a gym workout, some participants like to take a water bottle with them.
 Depending on the infrastructure at the course location, you may need to bring your own mat or blanket.

What should I keep in mind before and after the course?
Course participants should be careful not to eat a heavy meal immediately before the course. However, those who tend to have low blood pressure or circulation problems may benefit – especially in the morning – from not coming to the course with a completely empty stomach. 

If you experience any pain or other unexplained symptoms after the class that are more or different than an ordinary sore muscle, please always inform the yoga teacher.

Is the Yoga for Cancer course recognised by my health insurance?
Yoga courses for people with cancer are not recognised by the basic health insurance (“Grundversicherung”), but are billed in the same way as conventional yoga offers via the supplementary insurance (“Zusatzversicherung”) in the sense of preventive health care. The following overview from the Swiss Yoga Association shows the extent to which yoga courses are supported by which insurance companies. 
In some cantons, the regional cancer league office can be contacted for financial support for yoga in cancer courses.

Should I also practise yoga at home?
In order for yoga to unfold its positive effects, it should be practised as regularly as possible. The following applies: It is better to practise 5-10 minutes every day than two hours once a month. Many yoga teachers support their participants with assistance for practising at home, for example in the form of short videos or audio recordings.

What do I need to practise yoga at home?
In order to enjoy practising yoga at home, it is helpful to have a room that is as undisturbed as possible. If this is not possible, yoga can also be practised in nature or in everyday life (e.g. brushing teeth while standing on one leg, observing breathing while riding the bus, etc.). Our yoga teachers will be happy to recommend where to buy yoga mats and other accessories.

How should I breathe while doing yoga?
Unlike other sports, in yoga you (usually) breathe through your nose. Nasal breathing has many advantages over mouth breathing, such as warming, humidifying and purifying the air you breathe. Even though nasal breathing may be a little difficult at first, it is worth sticking with it and practising it regularly.



Is it enough to practise yoga during cancer or should I also practise other sports?

Although yoga encompasses many aspects that are beneficial and important for holistic health, there are nevertheless sporting components that are usually not sufficiently covered by yoga. These include in particular the endurance and strength components. 
We therefore encourage our course participants, as soon as their own strength allows it again, to pursue other sporting activities in addition to attending a yoga class.
 More and more medical studies indicate that after cancer, the risk of relapse can be significantly reduced by regular exercise in everyday life (e.g. gardening), but also by specific endurance training (e.g. cycling, jogging, swimming). Specific strength training (e.g. in the gym) is also very useful as a supplement to yoga, especially as osteoporosis prevention in middle to advanced age.

How does yoga for cancer look like?
In the gallery below, you can find a few pictures of how yoga for cancer could look like. Please remember that yoga for cancer is less about the outer expression / aesthetics of a pose and much more about the inner experience. Therefore, yoga for cancer doesn’t need to look fancy or complicated in order to be beneficial.