“This is a beautiful service you share with an underserved, unrecognized community. I have never met someone with my cancer. Your class helps me to feel more connected to my new reality and to others who are living it—not quite so alone.” – Jody N.
My therapeutic yoga work with the IWMF began in May 2021, and has since blossomed into a staff position as their wellness program coordinator, where I am broadening the wellness offerings for this amazing community affected by the rare lymphoma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. My father was diagnosed with WM in 2019. Read more about the The Birth of the WM Wellness Community
Chair Yoga Mondays at 2pm
Our 45 minute classes incorporate some of the following:
- Breath exercises for reducing stress and boosting the immune system
- Gentle stretches designed to energize the whole body
- Yoga poses that move the lymph fluid, and improve balance and steadiness
- Meditations like body scans to facilitate mindfulness, acceptance, and relaxation
- Optional 15 minute community chat (satsang/sangha) after class
Sign up by emailing me: anngrace@iwmf.com
Cardio Flow – Fridays at 2pm, see calendar
Physical activity is the number one intervention for cancer-related fatigue. Get your flow on with simple repetitive movements that strengthen the core and legs, work the upper body, and pump the lymph fluid for immune system support. 45 minutes.
We will be both seated and standing for the class, using the chair for balance as needed. Stick around for our optional community chat afterwards.
Sign up by emailing me: anngrace@iwmf.com
Sound Meditation – Fridays at 2pm, see calendar
Relax to the sound of authentic Himalayan Singing bowls, with gentle verbal guidance and healing chants to further calm the nervous system. 30 minutes.Singing bowls introduce a healing harmonic sound wave that helps dislodge stagnation on the cellular level, bringing the mind and body into perfect tune.
Research studies have shown that sound meditation with singing bowls reduced tension and increased feelings of spiritual well-being in its participants, and could be useful for those experiencing fatigue, chronic stress, depression or anxiety.
Sign up by emailing me: anngrace@iwmf.com
Yoga Nidra – a Conscious Relaxation Practice
Sundays at 4pm, see calendar
Those affected by Waldenstrom’s are invited to attend a live Yoga Nidra offering for free, once a month. This guided relaxation practice can be done from bed and is good for reducing stress, getting better sleep, and elevating well-being in general. If you miss a class, you’ll receive the recording later – reach out if you’d like access to the recordings. 30 minutes.
Sign up by emailing me: anngrace@iwmf.com
More free videos can be found on my YouTube Channel!
Our WM Community
Satsang or Sangha refers to the practice of connecting with members of the community, in pursuit of truth and support.
Each week the community WM supports each other in whatever they’re experiencing. They also share how the practice helps them breathe better, feel more relaxed, balanced and flexible. The connection they experience with each other over the Zoom platform is just as therapeutic as the movement and breathing.
“Thanks so much to Ann you, and the IWMF for these wonderful yoga classes. This is a highlight of my week. Ann is the best yoga instructor I have encountered. Her lovely personality and soothing voice make the classes most enjoyable and therapeutic. I just love her classes. It’s also very gratifying to meet with other WMers and hear about their experiences. Everyone is so willing to share and learn. Thank you for organizing all this.”
Anne M., North Bay, Ontario, Canada
“Ann is wonderful. I have taught and participated in yoga classes for over thirty years and also worked in the NHS with cancer patients, here in the UK. I have never come across such a warm and generous teacher as Ann, and her use of the Tibetan bowls is wonderful. She is so gentle and honest. Wonderful.“
Alison M., United Kingdom
“I cannot say enough about the this class and the benefits I have received from taking it. Ann’s bright cheerfulness sets the tone for my day. Her constant attention to our unique needs make me feel very special. I have also learned from the support group after class as well.”
Susan S., California USA
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Research
Research on Efficacy of Yoga / Sound Therapy in managing cancer, blood cancer, and WM: Although still in the infancy stage, studies of yoga as a complementary or integrative practice are promising.
- From Sloan Kettering:
- Both the American Society of Clinical Oncology and Society of Integrative Oncology (ASCO and SIO) recommend yoga for anxiety, stress reduction, depression, mood disturbance, and improved quality of life in cancer patients.
- Cancer survivors including those recently diagnosed report better sleep, less stress, and improved mood and quality of life with the practice of yoga.. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO) recommend yoga for anxiety, stress reduction, depression, mood disturbance, and improved quality of life in cancer patients.
- Home-Based Yoga Program for the Patients Suffering from Malignant Lymphoma during Chemotherapy: A Feasibility Study The results of the present study support the safety and feasibility of yogic interventions in patients diagnosed with lymphoma undergoing multiagent chemotherapy: quality of life, fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep improved in our study.
- Yoga into Cancer Care: A Review of the Evidence-based Research: This article reviews the evidence-based research on the effects of yoga in cancer care when integrated as an adjuvant with conventional therapy. Despite a wide range of methodological gaps and limitations, yoga interventions were shown to be beneficial and yielded positive results without any adverse outcomes. While work must continue using well-designed clinical trials, the findings reported here strongly support the integration of yoga in the conventional cancer care.
- A number of studies have shown that the sustained stress (commonly observed in cancer patients) negatively affects the cellular immunity. An impaired immune system may facilitate tumor development. Several studies have shown that yoga reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, changes cellular milieu by genomic alteration, and enhances cellular immunity. It is therefore very likely that yoga could prevent tumorigenesis and progression and possibly help cure cancer.
- Yoga Therapy to Reduce Physical and Emotional Symptoms in Hematological Cancer Patients; Yoga therapy was a feasible and effective nondrug adjunct intervention for hospitalized patients receiving treatment for hematological cancer, including bone marrow transplantation. Significant decreases were reported in all symptoms, with the greatest decrease in fatigue and anxiety.
- Efficacy of Yoga and Naturopathy as an Adjuvant in the Management of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma : Yoga and Naturopathy based interventions were efficient in decreasing the psychological morbidity, reducing conventional treatment related side effects, improving the hemoglobin content and quality of life in patients with NHL undergoing conventional cancer chemotherapy.
- Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study: Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being.
- Bee’s Breath Blog at Ann Grace Yoga cites research below: