Cancer survivors and loved ones can learn coping strategies

Fuquay-Varina Cancer survivors and their loved ones can learn coping strategies at a restorative workshop to be held at the Fuquay-Varina Parks and Recreation Communty Center on Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 25, according to instructor Charlotte Ranz, RYT.

Ranz, who is a certified yoga teacher, will hold the one-hour workshops from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. both nights with the goal of helping students learn ways to use their mind and bodies in their recovery process.

While yoga is not a cure for cancer, it can help with some of the symptoms that accompany a diagnosis and the treatments that follow, said Ranz. We know so many emotions go with the diagnosis of cancer both for the individual who has cancer as well as the family members, she said.

Through yoga, they can learn to relax, which helps improve both their physical and emotional quality of life. Ranz encouraged people to talk to their physicians first if they had any concerns about their ability to take the workshop. She has seen the benefits of yoga herself through her husband who was diagnosed and treated with prostate cancer. He will participate in the workshop.

Yoga is the union of the body-mind-spirit. It involves a gentle series of stretches and poses done slowly and with attention to your breath and related sensations. It helps to increase flexibility and muscular strength while mentally, it helps us learn to work beyond our physical limits through our increased awareness.

For those who have been diagnosed with cancer, Ranz explained, the practice can help them move beyond always thinking of themselves as being sick and helpless.

Healing requires a slowing down, a releasing and letting go of tension both the tightness and holding of the body as well as the mind s constant worrying and thinking ahead to unpleasant possibilities, Ranz explained.

The nice thing about yoga is that you can do it anywhere, even in a chair, if standing or getting on the floor isn't possible, Ranz said.

And it's always surprising to those who try it how much more energized they feel after a session, even if they were exhausted when they started!

So what should students expect when they attend these workshops?

Ranz said they will learn some poses to help with flexibility and strength as well as some breathing exercises, ending with a deeper relaxation during the hour workshop.

She suggested that they wear loose, comfortable clothes, bring a blanket and an exercise or yoga mat if they have one, and a pillow as well as water, if they like.

Please leave cell phones and pagers at home.

Questions? You can call Charlotte at 577-6623.

Read about the upcoming workshop!