What if teaching yoga for cancer was easy?!

From questions I have been asked by yoga teachers over the years, I know that for many the idea of adapting yoga for a roomful of people all of whom have a different type and stage of cancer and all receiving different treatments, can feel scary and overwhelming.

I totally understand! If you had asked me when I was first qualified whether it was possible for me to do this, I would have definitely said no!

How can you plan and juggle all the modifications needed for each person for each practise? How do you then make sure that you give each student enough individual attention? How do you keep everyone both safe and sufficiently challenged throughout the class and have a fully rounded practise? - It’s too hard or maybe even impossible!

The reality is however, that teaching yoga for cancer can be so much easier and more joyful than you think – especially the way I have developed my teaching style over the years.

My initial way of teaching came from my very thorough British Wheel training. It was certainly a great place to start and really helped us to look at each student as individuals and learn how to modify for each person according to their needs and abilities.

My teaching style today has evolved through years of experience to be something that now feels intuitive and almost effortless, and this is the approach I share with the teachers I train. As with the path of yoga in general it takes many years of effort and trial and error for something to then look and feel simple and easy!

The key to everything is empowering your students to be in charge of their own practise, in charge of their own body, and as teachers we simply become facilitators. Of course we need to be informed and skilled in what we choose to include in our lesson plan in the first place, knowing what practises are beneficial and useful for what our students are going through. We also need to have refined language skills to give teaching cues that guide appropriately, and develop a style that is inclusive and trauma-informed.

But once we have those skills and that knowledge the teaching can be easy.

And joyful!

When teaching becomes intuitive and free flowing we can relax into our role and really be present for our students and observe more than instructing. This can bring so much more ease and joy to our teaching experience.

And the best thing is that this way of teaching is also what brings more confidence and joy to our students.

The more that they can build trust in their ability to make their own judgement on how and when to move their body, to not compare themselves to others or worry they are not doing it right, and instead discover what they are capable of, the more they too can mentally relax into their own yoga experience.

One of the reasons why I love training other yoga teachers is that I get to help two groups of people – yoga teachers and cancer patients.

I know how transformative and life-changing yoga can be for those facing cancer. I also know what it is like to be a self-employed soulful yoga teacher wanting to make a difference in the world.

The training I run comes from a place of not just passing on information but creating a circle of support for teachers to grow on a personal and professional level so they in turn can be part of the circle of support for those with cancer.

My message to my yoga students and teacher trainees alike is:

“You’re safe here, you can do this – it’s easier than you think!”

If you’d like to enhance your teaching skills and support cancer patients in your community, you are very welcome to join me on 15th Sept for the next 12 week YFCA Holistic Teacher Training Course.