Yoga Intervention for the Improvement of Cancer-Related Stress in Cancer Survivors

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To develop and test the feasibility of a standardized 12-week online hatha yoga intervention (n=30) of breathing and movement incorporating both restorative poses, breathing techniques, guided meditation.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the yoga intervention in relation to self-reported levels of stress and quality of life in cancer survivors (n=30).

II. Feasibility of collecting blood and saliva at baseline and post-intervention for stress biomarkers, including cortisol and norepinephrine.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine how behavior change, quality of life (QoL), and biomarkers of adrenergic stress, inflammation, and immunosuppression are affected by a 12-week online yoga program completed by cancer survivors.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive online yoga intervention once a week (QW) for 12 weeks.

After completion of study, patients are followed up at 3 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Age >= 18 years of age
• Have been diagnosed with a cancer and have finished treatment
• Have been cleared for physical activity by a physician or nurse practitioner (physician or nurse practitioner name and date clearance received)
• Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion criteria

• Unwilling or unable to complete the assessment in English
• Are pregnant or nursing
• Are unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
• Have skeletal instabilities and/or cardio-pulmonary comorbidities
• Have any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the subject an unsuitable candidate to participate in this study