Special yoga class in the hallway of Tu Du Hospital

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, the hallway of the Gynecological Oncology Department, Tu Du Hospital is bustling with a special class - yoga class for cancer patients.

Soothe the pain

The yoga class for cancer patients was established in September 2022, starting with simple exercise sessions. Accompanying the class are professional trainers and experienced volunteers who take turns to guide.

Deep breathing exercises, relaxation, and gentle stretching not only help reduce pain and increase flexibility, but also improve sleep and strengthen the patient's immune system. The "special students" also come to class voluntarily, practice diligently, and pay "tuition" with their smiles.

Lớp yoga đặc biệt cho bệnh nhân ung thư Tại Bệnh viện từ Dũ - Ảnh 1. — Tu Du Hospital's free yoga class is supported and attended regularly by patients.

Ms. Phan Ngoc Huong Lan (yoga instructor of the class) said that once when she visited the hospital, she accidentally learned that there was a yoga class for patients. Before that, the class had been operating but had to stop for a while due to lack of teachers. Hearing the news, Ms. Lan met with doctors from the Social Work Department of Tu Du Hospital to ask about it. Seeing that this was a very meaningful job, she volunteered to teach the class, starting from 2022 until now.

"In the early days, the class only had 4 participants. Patients often thought yoga was too difficult and couldn't practice, but I still maintained the class, regularly attending 2 sessions/week. After about 6 months, many patients began to see results, their bodies became healthier, and side effects of medication such as nausea, dizziness, and headaches were reduced. Doctors also encouraged patients to practice. Thanks to that, the class gradually became more crowded, and now there are often 20-30 participants per session," Ms. Lan recalls the first days of teaching.

When teaching, I not only give but also receive a lot of love and affection from patients and their families. After each class, I feel like I am re-energized and have more inner strength to do other jobs well. I hope to be able to spread yoga classes to more hospitals to help more patients have more motivation.

Ms. Phan Ngoc Huong Lan, free yoga class instructor for cancer patients at Tu Du Hospital

The exercises that Ms. Lan chose mainly involved breathing combined with gentle movements of the arms and legs to help patients reduce the feeling of numbness and fatigue when receiving medication, helping blood circulate better. Many patients remember the exercises after practicing and can practice at home.

"The happiest thing is to see students get better and have the spirit to continue treatment. Some patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital but still come back to visit the class, advising others to continue practicing and eating regularly to get well soon," said Ms. Lan. Maintaining the class over the years, Ms. Huong Lan feels that the effort she put in is completely worth it.

"When teaching, I not only give but also receive a lot of love and affection from patients and their families. After each class, I feel like I am re-energized and have more inner strength to do other jobs well. I hope to be able to spread yoga classes to more hospitals to help more patients have more motivation," Ms. Lan shared.

Also participating in the yoga class is Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Yen Nhi. Two instructors take turns teaching the class. "Many patients before entering the class were still exhausted, dizzy, nauseous due to having just received medication, some had prolonged insomnia. However, when I encouraged them to try to practice, by the end of the session, they felt much healthier, their limbs were less numb, and the feeling of nausea and dizziness also decreased. The patients' spirits were more rosy, they wanted to eat more. The most important thing is that they like practicing yoga, clearly feeling the changes in their bodies," Ms. Nhi shared.

Ms. Nhi added that every time she sees positive changes in her students, she deeply feels the meaning of the work she is doing. "I see that what I create is not just a simple physical exercise, but also adds spirit and motivation for them to fight the disease," she expressed.

Practical effectiveness

Dr. Vo Thanh Nhan, Head of the Gynecological Oncology Department of Tu Du Hospital, said that the free yoga class at the hospital was established in 2022. The goal of the class is to create a closer connection between patients, as well as between patients and the medical team. Through that, the hospital hopes to bring mental health, help patients have a comfortable space, temporarily forget the pain of illness, and feel like they are living with their own relatives.

According to Dr. Nhan, the department has chosen yoga as a method to support cancer patients because this therapy helps strengthen overall physical strength and improve mental health. At the same time, patients will reduce stress and anxiety about the disease, limit depression, provide positive energy, reduce fatigue, improve sleep and support recovery after surgery.

Lớp yoga đặc biệt cho bệnh nhân ung thư Tại Bệnh viện từ Dũ - Ảnh 2. — Ms. Huong Lan has been accompanying cancer patients since 2022.

After a period of implementation, from the first training sessions with many awkwardness and shyness, the number of patients participating has increased. Patients feel the obvious benefits of practicing yoga: easier to sleep, less tired and numb hands and feet, less nausea after chemotherapy treatments. Not only that, they also have moments of relaxation, cheerful spirit, full of energy for a new day.

"Many patients have left a deep impression thanks to their persistent practice, which has significantly improved their health and spirit. They have better appetites, less pain, and a more relaxed spirit. Because we understand the positive impact of yoga on the treatment and recovery process, the doctors in the department always actively encourage patients to participate in classes," said Dr. Nhan.

Yoga classes are still held every Tuesday and Thursday morning, starting at 6am. However, because the department is located on the third floor and does not have an elevator, many patients from far away provinces returning for chemotherapy often take the night bus and need time to rest, so they cannot participate in the morning class.

"The department's space is quite cramped, so the number of participants is limited. In addition, there are still some patients who do not really realize the importance of yoga in supporting treatment and are still hesitant to participate. In these cases, the department's medical staff will be the ones to accompany, share and encourage patients to feel secure and boldly participate in the practice," Dr. Nhan shared.

The free yoga class for cancer patients at Tu Du Hospital is one of the typical examples in the patriotic emulation movement "Silent but noble examples" of Ho Chi Minh City for the 6th time, 2024.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lop-yoga-dac-biet-o-hanh-lang-benh-vien-tu-du-185251111165203628.htm