Gentle Yoga for Cancer Patients Therapeutic Yoga for Stress and Medical Conditions Continuing Therapeutic Yoga for Stress and Medical Conditions

While yoga has been used for more than 3,000 years to help maintain and restore health, it has only been recently introduced in the West. Most people associate yoga with exercise and most yoga classes focus entirely on physical movement. But yoga is in many ways opposite of exercise, and some of the non-movement-oriented practices of yoga can have a profound effect on the physical body.

The postures (asanas) and breathing practices (pranayama) together constitute hatha yoga. In the Sanskrit language of ancient India, "ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon." The two together, "ha-tha" indicate the balance of opposites (night and day, yin and yang). Asana focuses at its core on flexibility of the spine: forward bends balance backward-bending poses, left twists balance twists to the right. There are even inverted positions to counter-balance gravity.

The goal is to keep the muscles relaxed in movement so that the muscle fibers actually elongate. This results in increasing flexibility and a sense of well-being. The yoga practitioner engages the body in a stretch, extending and elongating into a pose as much as comfortable, not as much as possible. The breath is crucial in this work because it both focuses and calms the mind.

While the spine is integral for physical balance, self-awareness, which is developed through yoga, is integral for emotional balance. The attitude one brings to hatha practices is as important as the practice itself.

Gentle Yoga for Cancer Patients
This class is designed specifically for cancer patients and combines gentle movements, postures, slow deep-breathing, meditation and relaxation.
Date:	Thursdays
Time:	1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location:	1701 Divisadero St., Suite 150 at Sutter St.
Fee:	FREE
Information:	Please contact instructor at 415-353-7718 prior to first class. Advance registration is necessary.
Instructors:	Jnani Chapman, RN, BSN, CMT
Prerequisite:	Yoga registration/ medical release form

Co-sponsor: Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center

Therapeutic Yoga for Stress and Medical Conditions
Students will learn gentle movements, postures, slow deep-breathing, meditation and relaxation at their own pace.
Date:	7/10/08-8/21/08 Seven week course
Time:	Thursday from 6-7:30
Location:	1701 Divisadero St., Suite 150 at Sutter St.
Fee:	$110
Information:	Call 415-353-7718 or email. Advance registration is necessary.
Instructors:	Jnani Chapman, RN, BSN, CMT
Prerequisite:	Yoga registration/ medical release form

Therapeutic Yoga for Stress and Medical Conditions
Students will learn gentle movements, postures, slow deep-breathing, meditation and relaxation at their own pace.
Date:	10/29/08-12/17/08 Seven week course (no class 12/10/08)
Time:	Wednesday from 6-7:30
Location:	1701 Divisadero St., Suite 150 at Sutter St.
Fee:	$110
Information:	Call 415-353-7718 or email. Advance registration is necessary.
Instructors:	Jnani Chapman, RN, BSN, CMT
Prerequisite:	Yoga registration/ medical release form

Continuing Therapeutic Yoga for Stress and Medical Conditions
This class continues to combine gentle movements, postures, slow deep-breathing, meditation and relaxation for more advanced students who want to continue their practice.
Date:	Tuesdays
Time:	5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location:	1701 Divisadero St., Suite 150 at Sutter St.
Fee:	$12 per class
Information:	Call 415-353-7718 or email. Advance registration is necessary.
Instructors:	Jnani Chapman, RN, BSN, CMT
Prerequisite:	Yoga registration/ medical release form & participants must have completed one of the introductory yoga classes offered at the Osher Center or have an equivalent level of experience.

Co-sponsor: Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center