It’s both.
Yoga is a great multi-faceted form of exercise, an effective fitness program, incorporating mindfulness to movements while building strength; improving flexibility and fostering spiritual growth or even transcendence. Done regularly, the practice serves as a potent preventative medicine by improving our heart health; muscle tone; stretching and releasing the connective tissues, improving one’s balance … all these great benefits.
But all times, it’s therapeutic. I think I heard Judith Lasater say, yoga to her has always been more than a fitness regimen but more about the therapeutics and quieting of the agitation in the minds.
For cancer survivors, it’s especially a safe place, an empathetic supportive community, to aid their healing process through the use of expertly sequenced lesson plan.
I learned so much from this expert teacher and equally as much from her students who showed up to fully engage in Lorien’s expertly led group yoga class and then stayed awhile to share their stories with us So many smiles, even a joke shared by a cancer survivor student to which we all laughed with; good vibes; SO Very inspiring conquering that fear we all have – that fear of the ultimate unknown, to be so vulnerable to open up to that fear we all share – fear of suffering, fear of death ! It’s about mastering your fears – this class – and acceptance of the impermanence while slowly regaining the energy to be empowered. It’s such a powerful class I recommend highly as most everybody I know are eventually affected by cancer, suffered by friends and family, if not directly by themselves.
Thank you for holding that space of learning and sharing Lorien ! Beautiful souls lit up the beautiful space. Namaste:)