There are now over 11 million cancer survivors in the US, who must face the transition from cancer patient—undergoing rounds of chemo, radiation, and surgery—back to their lives, families, and jobs. During the healing process, more and more survivors are looking for tools to help smooth this transition, all while reducing the chances of recurrence. As alternative medicine, such as yoga and meditation, becomes more mainstream, survivors and medical professionals are increasingly recognizing their importance. But the high cost of yoga classes remains a barrier for many. Understanding that cancer survivors could benefit from a yoga practice if given the opportunity, we began Yoga Bear, a non-profit dedicated to providing more opportunities of health and wellness to cancer survivors.

Yoga may assist in managing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, pain, and fatigue, and help someone with cancer as they transition from what can be a difficult process of cancer patient to cancer survivor, and beyond. Yoga classes generally consist of poses designed to gently stretch, strengthen and exercise every muscle, nerve, and gland in the body. These poses integrate awareness of breath through breathing exercises, which can aid in cultivating meditation and promoting relaxation. These elements are crucial in enhancing the quality of life for cancer survivors. Yoga Bear is a network of over 120 studios nationwide, which have made donations of yoga memberships to our organization.

We have grown to over 120 partner studios nation wide, providing more health and wellness opportunities to hundreds of cancer survivors since 2006. With the proper resources, and dedicated leadership, we hope to expand our work to more and more survivors in the US and beyond.

Email info@yogabear.org for volunteer opportunities.