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Gilbert yoga studio helping breast cancer patients, survivors

Tribune (Mesa, AZ) - 10/12/2015

Oct. 09--Cancer is a daunting challenge and it racks the body as well as the mind. Treatment of the disease is brutal between chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the physical toll they take is tremendous.

But one East Valley-based yoga studio is opening its doors to breast cancer survivors and patients during the entire month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in an attempt to give patients and survivors an outlet.

Gilbert-based Body and Brain, a yoga and Tai Chi studio with 120 centers in 20 states, is allowing breast cancer patients and survivors a free week of classes throughout the month of October.

"We come from the idea that you have a lot of congested energy like heaviness and stuffiness that's stuck in your chest area," said Linda Yoonjin, public relations manager for Body and Brain. "Yoga, with stretching and breathing, it helps alleviate tension from the chest."

But this isn't simply a one-month thing; it is part of a year-long campaign by Body and Brain, called Healthier Together, where they focus on a different health issue each month. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it was natural to feature breast cancer relief for the month and offer a program to help those afflicted by the disease.

Yoonjin said that reaction to the program thus far has been nothing but positive.

"We have a lot of members who are breast cancer survivors themselves and when they heard about it they were really ecstatic that we were promoting this," she said. "We have a lot of them who are actually big advocates of our practice and believe that our exercises and principles helped them clear a lot of energies from their chest."

As daily requirements of work and family and other things add stress to our lives, Yoonjin said it is important to pay attention to one's body and to try and take as much care as possible to prevent serious medical conditions.

She also said she has noticed a shift in the way people are treating themselves and that gives her hope for the future of programs like Body and Brain's yoga program.

"I feel like things like this are very important," she said, "especially because people nowadays are more interested in natural, holistic, alternative medicine instead of popping pills and getting surgery and all these things so I really see a lot of hope for (programs) like this."

--Contact writer at 480-898-6549 or follow him on Twitter @Eric_Smith_evt.

--Check us out and like The East Valley Tribune on Facebook and EVTNow on Twitter

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