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Yoga for Cancer Teacher Training
Healing the Whole Person
is a mindful, whole-person approach to yoga
for people affected by cancer.
Book your discovery call today
Yoga for Cancer Teacher Training
TRAINING DATES:
9am - 5pm 21st - 23rd October 2022 | 7 - 9pm Online 25th October and 1st & 8th November
LOCATION:
Sacred Space Yoga
33A Swiss Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS23 3AY
PRICE:
£400 until Sept 15th then £450
Option to attend the in-person course only as a three day CPD at £300
Yoga for Cancer Teacher Training
If you are a yoga teacher who wants to help people coping with cancer to live better, a student of yoga or a professional in another field such as nursing, physiotherapy, or psychotherapy this course will give you a grounding in the diverse aspects of working with those on the cancer journey.
Cancer affects nearly all of us in some way. A diagnosis has a huge impact on one's life and those of our loved ones, and the repercussions extend well beyond the physical body and the duration of treatment.
Just as no two people experience a yoga pose in the same way, no two people experience cancer in the same way. Pain and suffering are not always proportionate to the trauma on the body and are felt in a subjective and deeply personal way. This course aims to give you a grounding in the psychological, emotional and physical reality of cancer, so that you can share yoga in a way that is physically and emotionally safe for the attendees. You will also learn specialised therapeutic movement for common physical limitations caused by the illness or by the treatment, and learn therapeutic applications of other facets of yoga practice in order to serve the whole person - body, mind, spirit and relationships.
Click here for a FREE Yoga for Cancer Masterclass with Morven.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
You will learn to:
create unique holistic Yoga programmes for the individual on the cancer journey
integrate people with cancer into your regular classes
design courses for groups and individuals on the cancer journey
apply Mindfulness concepts and techniques to your yoga teaching
compassionately hold space for those who are potentially in physical, emotional, mental and spiritual difficulty
explore your own personal responses to life-threatening illness and end of life.
DESCRIPTION
This five day course covers the cancer journey throughout diagnosis, treatment (or not), recovery, remission and what comes next. We will also explore working with people at end of life. The loved ones and support persons of those with a diagnosis are considered in this course, as they are coping with cancer too.
The course includes practical application of asana and sequencing, mindfulness and mindful movement, restorative yoga, yoga nidra, breathwork and meditation. Trainees are encouraged to explore their own responses to life-threatening illness including their own preconceptions and fears.
There will be plenty of space for Q&A, discussion and practice, enabling participants to be grounded in their own unique process.
You will receive a comprensive course manual written by Morven Hamilton. It is both an accompaniment to the course and an ongoing support for your reference.
Additional to the 35 contact hours is a mentoring programme. You will complete a case study or an assignment and receive a one to one Skype/ phone consultation with Morven. You will also have access to unlimited ongoing support via email.
Please read the course FAQs for information about the course structure
Yoga and Mindfulness have been shown to:
Improve the immune system
Help people to cope with the effects of treatment
Accelerate healing of the scar tissue
Recover mobility more quickly following surgery
Improve body image
Help with sleep issues, depression, stress and anxiety following a diagnosis
People who have had a cancer diagnosis will reduce the likelihood of a recurrence by 25% if they take up regular physical exercise (please see links to the research below). Furthermore, those who are no longer mobile can still benefit from increased circulation and improved lymph flow through pranayama, and reduced inflammation thanks to the stress-reducing effects of relaxation, yoga nidra, visualisation, mindfulness and meditation.
Loved ones and support persons can find a sense of calm and alter their perspective through yoga,making it possible to cope with the trauma of diagnosis and the caring work which follows.
COURSE CONTENT AND STRUCTURE
Day 1: Exploring personal responses to cancer and its implications. Basic cancer biology and treatment. The immune system and yoga. Treatment side-effects and yoga practices to cope with them. Modifications. Creating class plans for individuals and groups (ongoing throughout the course).
Day 2: The Healing the Whole Person Approach in depth.The impact of cancer on the whole person (body, mind, spirit and relationships). Restorative yoga. Patient Q and A with yoga practitioners who have had a diagnosis. Exploring identity and the cancer journey.
Day 3: Mindfulness for Health. Using Yoga nidra, mantra, visualisation and poetry in your class. Cultivating compassion. Holding a safe and compassionate space. Business, marketing and ethics.
Course Structure
21 hours in-person
19 hours online and self-study
3 contact days, 9AM - 5PM face to face with the lead instructor Morven Hamilton at Sacred Space Yoga in Weston-super-Mare.
We’ll use props to recreate some of the physical movement restrictions that patients often suffer. Through this and other course elements, you’ll be encouraged in your own personal transformation towards an embodied understanding of the person with cancer.
Presentation (teacher to student and peer to peer)
Led practice
Discussion
Enactment
Peer to peer teaching practice
Teaching practice will take place via Zoom 7 - 9pm on 28th March and 4th April 2022. You will teach a 20 minute practice and receive feedback from the group and the teacher. Further mentoring and methodology training takes place on 11th April
Case study due date is 30th June 2022
__________
Published research and articles on yoga, meditation mindfulness, complementary therapy and cancer:
Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga for Sleep Quality Among Cancer Survivors
Yoga reduces inflammatory signalling
http://www.wcrf-uk.org/reserch/continuous_update_project.php
mindfulness and cancer 2013 perceived health benefits – breast cancer
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/07/regular-yoga-can-help-cancer-survivors/
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/09/108886/lifestyle-changes-may lengthen-telomeres-measure-cell-aging
Syllabus / Modules
(Accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals)
Module 1 - The cancer journey
Anatomy and physiology of cancer.
The most common types of cancer.
Lymphodoema - what causes it and how it shows up in yoga class.
Types of treatment and their effects.
Wider repercussions of cancer on the whole person – body, mind, spirit and relationships.
How trauma can change us and how it can be transformed.
SYT hours: 3
Module 2 - Yoga as Medicine
The benefits of yoga and meditation for people with cancer and their loved ones.
Application of therapeutic asana for common effects of cancer in the body.
Therapeutic sequences for individuals.
Restorative yoga - key poses, modifications.
Pranayama, relaxation, mantra, visualisation adapted for cancer.
Yoga Nidra as a therapeutic practice.
SYT hours: 6
Module 3 - Ethics, compassion and the whole person
Exploring personal responses to disease and death.
Working holistically with people with life threatening illness.
Dealing with loss.
Creating a safe environment - practicalities.
SYT hours: 3
Module 4 - Designing your course
Putting together a programme – things to consider and what to include.
Using themes – how to choose a theme and develop it in your class.
Including people with cancer in your mainstream class.
SYT hours: 3
Module 5 - Mindfulness and yoga
Introduction to Mindfulness for Health.
How to incorporate mindfulness into your yoga class.
Mindfulness techniques for pain and illness.
Mindful movement.
Language and metaphor – creating an attitude and directing attention with words.
Music and poetry, how to use it in your yoga class.
Module 6 - Business
Starting up a course for cancer.
Inclusion techniques.
Resources.
SYT hours: 1
Module 7 - Teaching preparation and practice (online)
Peer to peer teaching. Trainees will be assigned a themed class and co-teach.
Trainees choose an area or areas they wish to focus on for their subsequent practicums eg.
Mindfulness meditation, visualisation, restorative yoga, yoga nidra etc
SYT hours: 10
Homework
Case study: You will work with someone on the cancer journey and prepare a case study of your work with them.
Or
Essayt: Morven will work with you on choosing an appropriate subject for essay.
PAYMENT & OFFERS
£450 for YAP accredited teacher certification. For the 21 hours CPD course, please click here for the relevant course page. You can upgrade from the CPD course to the teacher training for £170.
Example daily schedule
08:00 - 09:30
09:30 - 10.00
10:00 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:30
12:30 - 13:30
13:30 - 15:30
15:30 - 16:45
16:45 - 17:00
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MORNING PRACTICE
CHECK-IN
YOGA TECHNIQUES & MINDFULNESS
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY
LUNCH
METHODOLOGY / LIFESTYLE / ETHICS
TECHNIQUE & PRACTICUM
CLOSING CIRCLE
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Postural Hatha yoga, relaxation and meditation.
A group check-in to set the intention for the day ahead.
Asana, pranayama, kriya, bhanda, mantra, mudra, meditation.
Anatomy in action & applied philosophy, lifestyle and ethics.
A chance to nourish, relax and refresh together.
Yoga on and off the mat, sequencing, postural applications.
Teaching & practice with peers in small groups.
Space to share and meditate
Are you ready to become your best you?
Reveal the most radiant, confident, skilful version of yourself, as well as
gaining a professional qualification.
Curious? Contact info@yogabynature.org to discuss your next steps
Download our policy documents
"This course was one of the most powerful and empowering experiences of my life. I found the holistic approach enlightening and thought provoking and I felt very supported in exploring some big topics and ideas for myself. While I now feel confident to teach yoga, this course hasn’t just facilitated an ability to teach yoga; it has truly developed a bedrock for my whole life."
Jess - 200 hour training graduate