Enable cancer survivors to achieve recommendations

On May 20th, I turn 76 years young and I want to invite you to celebrate with me. My birthday plans are simple to continue doing the hard and necessary work of helping cancer patients and survivors globally to find strength and recovery after a cancer diagnosis. 

But, sadly, we are failing cancer survivors everywhere.  Cancer survivors are NOT achieving exercise guidelines and that impacts their survivability.  70% of cancer survivors are not achieving the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation of exercise.  That recommendation is a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week - and yoga is recommended.  And up to 320 minutes if people are carrying extra weight. These guidelines are to improve the health, wellness and mortality rate of our survivors and our community.  However, they are failing to achieve.  So we are failing. 

We are failing to provide motivation, opportunities and justification.  My  yoga4cancer Mission is to solve that.  To advocate healthcare professionals to recommend yoga. To remove barriers to participate.  To train an army of educated and compassionate teachers. To cascade the mounting evidence. 

We must remove barriers for cancer survivors to improve health outcomes :  

One of the worst side effects of cancer is financial toxicity.  Over 30% of cancer patients or survivors report major financial crisis post diagnosis including bankruptcy, loss of income or job, loss of assets or savings and beyond. This financial strain impacts their ability to get the best healthcare and integrative support that ultimately impacts their survivability.  We want to remove barriers to practice like the cost of a yoga class. Often it's that first class that provides the long term support and motivation that is a matter of life and death.  So for Tari and her organization, it's hard to ask someone finding it challenging to pay for medications to pay for a yoga class.  

How are the funds raised used?

• Provide FREE oncology yoga class for cancer patients and survivors
• Fund research and advocacy projects on the proven benefits of oncology yoga
• Support low income and cancer survivors to achieve advanced oncology yoga education 
• Advocate and support her nearly 3,000 existing teacher base so they can best support the cancer survivors in their community.

About yoga4cancer and Tari Prinster

yoga4cancer is an evidence-informed oncology yoga method tailored to address the specific physical and emotional needs left by the cancer and cancer treatments. The approach matches breath and movement to stimulate the immune system, improve flexibility & strength, reduce anxiety and boost overall well-being. Our goal is to support cancer survivors in achieve the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services exercise recommendation of achieving between 150 – 320 minutes of exercise per week to speed recovery or defend against cancer occurrence and reoccurrence.

Yoga4cancer was started by Tari Prinster in 2003 shortly after her own breast cancer treatments. Since she has trained nearly 3,000 teachers globally, published THE book on Yoga for Cancer, funded research projects and protocols, advised healthcare and yoga organizations on the benefits and needs of yoga for cancer survivors. Learn more about Tari Prinster.