Program Brings Strength, Inner Peace to Cancer Survivors

YogaBear Partners with Local Studios to provide Cancer Survivors with Free Yoga Sessions

CHANDLER, AZ – Compelled by her own experience with the restorative and healing powers of yoga, cancer survivor Sherrill Prideaux Smith, has become a driving force in growing the YogaBear program in Arizona, helping cancer victims in the state strengthen their bodies and find inner peace through free yoga sessions.

YogaBear, a volunteer-based nonprofit organization, provides therapeutic opportunities to those who have battled breast, ovarian, blood and other types of cancer by partnering with local studios to offer complimentary yoga classes to cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society states that yoga can be a useful method to help relieve some symptoms of chronic diseases such as cancer, and the Psycho-Oncology Journal reports that researchers conclude that yoga resulted in a 50 percent reduction in depression, 12 percent increase in feelings of peace and meaning, and a significant improvement in fatigue symptoms for women with breast cancer.

“Currently, there are 15 participating yoga studios in the Arizona Chapter, but in order to meet the needs of cancer survivors in the state, I need to greatly increase that number,” says Smith, who is now the director of the Arizona Chapter of YogaBear. “These individuals have been through so much – surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, you name it – and they are so deserving of the kindness a studio can show them by offering a few free classes, especially in this economy when budgets are already stretched so thin. Not only have these survivors been through physical pain and heartache, but the cancer has struck their pocketbook, too! By taking yoga, they can find inner happiness in a healing environment.”

Fitness studios willing to donate free yoga instruction to cancer survivors and survivors who wish to start a yoga practice should contact Smith at Sherrill@YogaBear.org or 480-227-3302.

Published on behalf of the Arizona Chapter of YogaBear
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.  Yoga Bear is a national 501(c)3, with a volunteer-based staff whose work is made possible through the dedication of these committed individuals.  For more information abpit YogaBear, visit www.yogabear.org/group/yogabeararizona.

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Chandler, yoga, YogaBear