yoga for cancer patients

there's so much to talk about from yesterday that i had to break it down into manageable sections.

free iyengar yoga class for cancer patients.
about 10 students. about half the class was made up of women currently in treatment - recent surgery, chemo, radiation. the other half the class? the other half of the class was made up of women who have been cancer free for 3 years, 5 years, 7 years. and i'm struggling with that. the class description clearly states patients not survivors. maybe it is up to the individual to label themselves. but it was definitely a little surprising.

and beyond that. all of the yoga classes i have been to have been very quiet. this one? very loud. a few women were making fun of the instructor's word choices. the same women were groaning loudly when we did a pose that was difficult for them. laughing. etc. which...is fine. but...so not a normal yoga class. and the women that were doing all of that were the ones who i would label survivors not patients. i feel weird complaining...but...it was definitely different than i expected. it was bordering on social time for cancer survivors...or almost a support group.

so. i will try it again. maybe i just got the one joking class.
it's free.
and i did feel better after the class.
but i haven't fallen in love which is too bad.

oh! but the really good news is that, at the end of the class, the instructor told everyone that there had been an anonymous donation to the studio for all the people participating in the class to have free massages!