Yoga-Helping Cancer Patients Both Physically & Mentally

The routine and traditional therapy sessions for cancer patients can be one of the most difficult things imaginable. Chemotherapy and radiation can have a number of lasting side effects that have a direct impact on the quality of life for patients. Luckily, patients have been investing time in complementary treatment processes to help alleviate some of these side effects. Among the most popular options in complementary therapy is yoga, which can have a great effect on both the physical and mental state of cancer patients.

Yoga has gained a ton of popularity with these patients because it is an option that can be participated in different times and sessions. Some patients may take part in daily classes in the morning and at night. Others may opt for a longer session, usually around an hour long, once or twice a week.

Yoga’s physical benefits have made it a growing exercise option within the last few decades. For cancer patients, the benefits can be the same. Yoga allows these patients to improve their flexibility and help keep them in shape. These patients can not only improve the body, but also help alleviate some of the common physical side effects of normal treatment as well. Yoga is known to cut down on nausea and dizziness in the wake of chemotherapy and radiation, which is crucial. For patients who may have arthritis or pain, yoga is often a reliever of pain and can help improve the body’s range of motion.

From a mental standpoint, the benefits of yoga are unmatched when it comes to patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. Yoga can provide that time for peace of mind that is so often lost within the treatment process of a disease. With specialization being important in hospitals these days, patients are often seeing multiple physicians and nurses, leading to a hustle and bustle within the hospital. Yoga allows a break from constant visits from the doctor, tests, and simply an opportunity to free the mind. A great example of the impact that yoga can have is on mesothelioma cancer patients. This is a cancer in the lungs with a severe life expectancy that occurs from asbestos exposure. With such a severe life expectation, many of these patients use yoga as a time to cut off from the stress and fear that is common. The ability to free the mind, allow peace and tranquility is something that may be taken for granted in everyday life, but for these patients it can be an extraordinary experience.

Yoga will likely continue to grow in the medical community because of its versatility as a complementary treatment option. Not only can it improve the physical well being of these patients through exercise, but it can also alleviate physical side effects and improve the mental state of being for patients in difficult times.

Article by Krista Peterson

Intro to Hot Yoga with Charlene-Week Three, Friday, May 13

This fantastic class is coming to an end this Friday! The response has been overwhelming and we've collected 12 bags of food for the food bank.

Please join Charlene this Friday at 6 for an hour of a set sequence of postures that optimize deep stretching, a detoxifying sweat, and a healthy glow. Hot yoga balances strength and flexibility through breathing exercises, standing, and seated postures!

We'll bring this class back in the Fall!

This week @ The Studio-May 7

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

Happy Mother's Day to all of the hardworking moms that make life a little easier for us. We hope you enjoy your beautiful day.

This week at the studio Angi is running the fitness classes on Monday and Tuesday.

Monday night yoga from 6:30-7:15 is a co-ed class until the session ends on June 14th. The cycling season has started and we'd like to integrate partners and others into this class for the next 5 weeks, which will (a) give you another yoga practice and (b) create more space in some of the other classes.

This week in yoga, we will be embracing some of the Yin principles as we wind each practice down. Life is about balance and we tend to be orientated more towards yang (burning hotter, brighter, higher, more masculine) than yin-this means our autonomic nervous system is always in sympathetic rather than parasympathetic mode. We will be talking more about what this means in class.

Zumba and Bootcamp...Darlene will be back to run this on Thursday.

Have a happy, healthy and safe week

Blessings & Light...Charlene, Cheryl, Angi and Darlene

Alomnd Power Bars

Gluten Free Almond Power Bars
2 cups almonds (raw)
½ cup flax meal (flax seeds ground)
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup creamy roasted almond butter
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ cup coconut oil
4 drops stevia
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup dark chocolate chips 73% cacao (optional)
Place almonds, flax meal, shredded coconut, almond butter and salt in a food processor
Pulse briefly, about 10 seconds
In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil over very low heat
Remove coconut oil from stove, stir stevia, agave and vanilla into oil
Add coconut oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste
Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish
Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously
Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens
Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve
Makes 20 bars

These no bake, high-protein, high-fiber bars are based upon Melissa Diane Smith's recipe for Amaretto Protein Bars in her book Going Against the Grain (from the site www.elanaspantry.com) and don't forget our local and always creative Stephania Moffatt posts some great recipes at her site: http://ingredientsforlife.ca/.

Intro to Hot Yoga with Charlene: Week Two

Date: Friday, May 6
Time: 6-7 pm.
Location: The Studio @ Davidson's Courtyard
Cost: Non-perishable food item for the food bank


Enjoy this class consisting of 20 poses in the heated studio-cleanse; stretch, strengthen and revive in this awesome class.

An amazing end to your busy week and a great kick off to your weekend.

Jumping Forward

When jumping forward to forward fold from downward facing dog, bend your knees and load them up, then gently hop up, using your ab strength, and look between your hands.

Jump your feet directly in between your hands, softly, with bend knees, feet paralell.o

To jump back from forward fold into chattaranga, place both hands flat on the mat, bend your knees, and swiftly jump back into a plank position, but with bent elbows.

Then slowly lower down through chattaranga. From crow (bakasana), use your ab strength to shoot your legs back, landing in a plank position, with bend elbows. Then slowly lower down through chatturanga.

Membership Packages and Feedback

We believe in continual improvement and creating a studio environment where all of our wonderful students feel like they are part of a community.

As we begin to plan (yes, we are proactive) for the upcoming sessions, we are seeking your feedback on the questionnaire regarding membership packages, classes you would like to see offered, services etc.

Thank you for the time to complete this-you can email us at macdean@sympatico.ca with your responses.


Kindest regards


The Studio
1. Are you interested in the following membership contracts
PAD=pre-authorized payment
Term: 12 months Cost: 480.00 or 450 upfront save 30.00
PAD: 40.00/month
Term 12 mons Fanily Cost: 560 PAD 46.66
Term: 6 months Cost: 270 PAD 45.00
Family: Cost: 375 PAD 62.50
Term: 3 Months: Cost 150 PAD n/a
Family: ost: 275.00 PAD n/a
Term 1 month: Cost 60.00 PAD na
Family: Cost: 110 PAD n/a


2. Would you like to see the following classes offered more frequently?
____Kundalini yoga ____Kettle bell interval 2x week
____Ashtanga yoga ____Cardio-Kickboxing 2x week
____Intro to Hot yoga ____Community running class
____Other ____Family exercise (Zumbatomics/yoga)
____Noon fitness/yoga classes

3. What improvements would you like to see added to the facilities?

4. What can we do to enhance your visit with us?

5. Do you feel there is balance between the yoga and fitness classes?

6. Are there workshops you’d like to see added?

7. What classes do you currently take?

____Kettle bell ____Boot camp ____TBC
____Yoga ____kickboxing ____Zumba


Thank you for your time to complete this! We appreciate your feedback and opinion

Saturday, May 7th, Zumba, TBC and Yoga For Families

As we will be participating in the yogathon at St.James Church, Saturday's Zumba, TBC and Yoga for families is cancelled for May 7th.

The 0745 Yoga class is still as scheduled.

The Studio

Certified Yoga Teacher Position Available

Here we grow again....

The Studio is looking for a certified teacher to start A.S.AP (sub) and contract in September to join our team of certified yoga teachers. Our studio is growing and it is an exciting time for us as we bring Yoga to many new students. The friendliness of the people and our location offer the best of both worlds. New teachers are also welcome to apply!!

We are looking for a strong "off the mat" teacher with an energetic approach to their class, who is passionate about teaching and practicing the yoga. Excellent customer service is a must. Our studio has a fun vibe and have been running for a 3 years now with a strong base of enthusiastic eager to learn students

Compensation will be based upon experience. Must be enthusiastic, dynamic, energetic, and be certified at the 200 or 500 Hour level and eligible for RYT status.

Please contact (613) 283-6163 or submit your c.v to: macdean@sympatico.ca

This week @ the Studio-May 1

After the rain and cold weather, we have been blessed with a true spring! Simple things such as the tulips, blossoms and appearance of the song birds can lift the spirits.

An asana I love for spring is frog pose-this pose releases toxins, increases circulation, illuminates your skin and is an energy booster. Place the toes on the ground, heels together off the ground, fingers on the ground between the knees and lift the head up. Inhale, raise the buttocks high. Lower the forehead toward the knees and keep the heels off the ground. Exhale, come back to the original squatting position, face forward. Continue this with deep breaths 26 times.

Intro to Hot Yoga with Charlene

Wow! what an overwhelming response to the Friday night Intro to Hot Yoga 3 week series! We filled quite a few bags of food for the food bank and it was awesome to feel all the energy at the end of the class. Everyone was buzzing! There are 2 more sessions left - ending May 13th. If you really want to enjoy a truly invigorating class (we all love awkward pose !!), come and visit us Friday from 6-7 p.m. All you need to bring is water, towel, non-perishable food item and a smile.

Yoga: We are stepping away from the drama often imposed upon us by our external environments. Our practices will provide you with the tools and release mechanisms to deal with the dramas that become integrated into our lives. Cultivate love, stillness, peace and happiness on your mat with us this week. For the golfers, cyclists and runners, Cheryl's men's yoga class will provide you with the tools to excel in your activity of choice.

Zumba: We're slowly introducing the new series (slowly but surely).

TBC and Boot camp...targeting those areas that we seem to show alot of in the summer months-legs, abs and shoulders. Seriously, if you haven't been to a TBC class, you are missing out on the best in targeted and effective training.

Kettle Bell: As your skills have been advancing, we will be providing you with more challenges this week to deepen you kettle bell practice.

Yogathon...Please join yoga teachers from Ottawa and surrounding areas next Saturday at St. James Anglican church for the first yogathon. Tickets are available at St.James church-more information is on the poster at the studio door-organizer is Sylvia and their facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216564848358133

Blessings, light and love....

All of us at the studio