PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Chemo Companions nonprofit and the Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers have been partners for a few years to help cancer patients through their journey.
One way they’ve teamed up is by offering free yoga classes to cancer patients, their loved ones and caregivers.
“The breath work is just powerful. Just sit and breathe and try to let go,” said Alyssa Dinowitz, the executive director and founder of Chemo Companions. “When you can be present and mindful, you’re not fear-based.”
Dinowitz is honoring her late mother, Marriann Gofonia, who died in 2009 from breast cancer.
Just a few months later in 2010, Dinowitz officially founded her nonprofit to help others in their journey with cancer.
“She was amazing. She never complained about her cancer. She would say, when other people said, ‘Why me,’ her motto was like, ‘Why not me?’” said Dinowitz. “It’s like she’s working through me, her mission.”
Dinowitz said she began by offering cancer patients care bags with blankets, snacks and other items they can use while receiving chemo therapy.
Dinowitz said she started her partnership with Ironwood a few years back and the goal now is to add more yoga instructors to the centers’ supportive care services that are free.
“We know about patients going through chemotherapy, that it is an incredibly stressful time,” said Dr. Heidi Rula, the medical director of supportive care services at Ironwood. “We know that stress impacts a way a patient feels. It can increase somebody’s pain, their nausea. It can really increase all of chemotherapy side effects.”
A couple of the Ironwood locations offer different supportive care services such as wellness and fitness classes and support groups.
Yoga is one way the center helps treat a patient as a whole.
“There is studies to show that when patients have different mind, body interventions, they’re better able to tolerate their treatments. When patients are in a better emotional state, that helps them kind of be able to navigate their cancer treatment much more effectively,” said Dr. Rula.
There is a calendar available for the centers’ services, or you can learn more by calling the Supportive Care Services Department at 480-314-6660.
The classes are also available for people who are not patients with Ironwood.
Dinowitz said the yoga classes also offer people a community that’s full of support.
“People just need somebody with them. It’s just natural. You just need a companion,” said Dinowitz. “You connect with each other through this powerful healing experience.”
Originally posted here: https://www.azfamily.com/2024/07/18/nonprofit-oncology-center-offer-free-yoga-classes-phoenix-area-cancer-patients/