Cancer patients use yoga as fitness tool

Devin Batey Bigler teaches yoga to cancer patients and survivors at MD Anderson Regional Care Center in The Woodlands.

A: The yoga classes I teach at The Woodlands Regional Care Center are for anyone who is currently a patient, as well as survivors, regardless of where they have received their treatment. This is the same philosophy as who we teach at the MD Anderson main campus, where yoga classes are also available for family members and caregivers.

Q: What are the benefits of exercising during and after cancer treatment?
A: Exercise during and after cancer treatment helps maintain or even improve quality of life, improves mood, reduces sleep disturbances, provides patients with a sense of control and helps them manage weight gain. Maintaining or improving range of motion and mobility in joints, as well as improving circulation and blood flow throughout the body are benefits as well. It is also well established that people who can remain physically active during treatment and into survivorship have better clinical outcomes.

Q: What are general benefits of yoga?
A: Importantly, it provides a specific time for the practitioner to devote toward themselves. Research with people undergoing active cancer treatment has found that practicing yoga can lower anxiety, symptom severity and nausea and vomiting, and improve overall quality of life. Similarly, a regular yoga practice in cancer survivors has been associated with less fatigue, better emotional health, improved sleep quality, and better overall quality of life. The beneficial effects of yoga will be also apparent for everyone in our population, whether you have a chronic illness or not. MD Anderson is currently conducting a number of studies to scientifically document the benefits of incorporating yoga into the clinical care for people with cancer. I am excited to also be part of the MD Anderson research team doing these studies.

Q: When are your classes at the center?
A: The classes are currently on Friday mornings from 8 to 9 a.m. We have had many requests to hold a class later in the day, so women who work during the day can attend, so the classes (are also) held on Monday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m.

Name: Devin Batey Bigler
Practice: MD Anderson Regional Care Center, 17198 St Luke’s Way, #130, The Woodlands
Education: Bachelor of arts from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi; 200-hour level Yoga Teacher Training from The Yoga Institute in Houston; Yoga For Women with Cancer teacher; Training Certification from OM Yoga in New York
Experience: She has taught yoga for five years and has taught yoga for cancer survivors for one year.