Restorative Yoga Research Articles

The effect of YOCAS©® yoga on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in older (60+) vs. younger (≤ 59) cancer survivors: Secondary analysis of a nationwide, multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial

IntroductionOlder cancer survivors consistently express the need for interventions to reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and maintain quality of life (QOL). Yoga is a promising treatment to address CRF and QOL. However, research comparing the efficacy of yoga for improving fatigue and QOL in older survivors (60+) vs. younger adult survivors (≤59)is limited. Our objective was to examine the effects of yoga on CRF and QOL in older survivors vs. younger survivors. Materials and MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of a nationwide, multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial. For this study, participants who provided evaluable pre- and post-intervention data on the Functional Assessment for Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) and the Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) were eligible. The yoga intervention comprises gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga and includes breathing exercises, physical alignment postures, and mindfulness. ResultsOf the 177 participants included in the study, 30.1 % were aged 60+ and 69.9 % were aged ≤59. More younger participants had breast cancer (82.0 % vs. 59.2 %. p = 0.009), surgery (98.9 % vs. 77.8 %, p < 0.001), and chemotherapy (80.5 % vs. 55.6 %, p = 0.001). There were no differences in the cancer stage (66.1 % stage I or II). There were statistically significant and clinically meaningful within-group improvements from baseline to post-intervention in CRF for participants aged ≤59 and participants aged 60+ (4.0 ± 0.7, p < 0.001 vs. 3.1 ± 1.0, p = 0.003). Both age groups also demonstrated improvements in QOL (3.2 ± 0.8, p < 0.001 vs. 2.1 ± 1.2, p = 0.078), physical (1.6 ± 0.3, p < 0.001 vs. 0.8 ± 0.5, p = 0.084), functional (0.7 ± 0.3, p = 0.048 vs. 1.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.037), and emotional well-being. There were no significant between-group differences between the age groups. Most younger and older participants reported that yoga helped improve their sleep quality (92.8 % vs 88.5 %) and they would recommend it to other survivors (98.2 % vs 90.4 %). DiscussionOlder cancer survivors who undergo gentle Hatha and restorative yoga performed two to three times per week for four weeks at a low to moderate level of intensity have similar improvements in CRF and QOL compared to participants aged ≤59. For older survivors experiencing these toxicities, it is reasonable for clinicians to prescribe yoga.ClinicalTrials.govidentifier: NCT00397930

Lifestyle medicine program for patients with breast cancer at Kaiser Permanente Oakland.

359 Background: Patients with breast cancer can benefit from comprehensive care strategies beyond conventional treatments. At Kaiser Permanente East Bay (KPEB), 350-400 patients are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, many seeking lifestyle changes to improve their prognosis. The KPEB Lifestyle Medicine Program aims to improve recovery and overall well-being through evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Methods: The KPEB Lifestyle Medicine Program is founded on evidence-based interventions focusing on nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, substance use, and social support. Led by a multidisciplinary team, the program ran from September 29 to November 17, 2022, featuring 8 weekly 1-1.5 hour virtual classes. The program enrolled 18 patients under 60 years of age with stage I-III breast cancer who completed active treatment. Topics covered in the program included nutritional counseling, exercise regimens, stress reduction techniques, sleep guidance, support for managing substance use, and fostering social connections. Additional topics included sexual health, anti-hormonal medication side effects, menopause, and mindfulness. Restorative yoga and cooking classes were also offered and participants formed personal groups for connection outside class. Patients had virtual one-on-one appointments with a physician before, midway, immediately after, and six months post-program, followed annually by the survivorship clinic. Blood work (HbA1c, cholesterol) was conducted before and six months after program completion. Results: Of the n=18 participants, 1 participant dropped out before the first class, and 1 participant attended only 1 class. On average, attendance was 90%, with 90% of participants extremely satisfied with the program and 80% reporting increased confidence in applying course learnings. The class on sexual health and managing side effects of anti-hormonal medications and menopause was the most well-received. Patients were metabolically healthy at program entry and exit, with significant LDL improvement (average LDL: entry = 100, exit = 83). Average HbA1c remained stable (entry = 5.52, exit = 5.57). Conclusions: The KPEB Lifestyle Medicine Program was well-attended, effectively addressed the needs of breast cancer patients, and enhanced overall health. Further research will explore longer-term benefits and broader application in oncology care.

6.34 Examining the Impact of Restorative Yoga on Anxiety in Children Admitted to the Hasbro Partial Hospitalization Program

6.34 Examining the Impact of Restorative Yoga on Anxiety in Children Admitted to the Hasbro Partial Hospitalization Program

Effects of yoga vs placebo on inflammation among cancer survivors: A nationwide multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial (RCT).

12111 Background: Inflammation, both acute and chronic, is universally associated with primary and secondary cancer development and progression, as well as a myriad of toxicities that negatively affect cancer treatment adherence and survival. The effectiveness of targeting inflammation with non-pharmaceutical therapies such as yoga is not known. As part of a nationwide, multicenter, phase III RCT with cancer survivors, we compared the effects of yoga (Yoga for Cancer Survivors; YOCAS) to a behavioral placebo (survivorship health education) on inflammation (i.e. pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and overall inflammatory status). Methods: Participants were recruited via the URCC NCORP Research Base in partnership with 23 community oncology practices across the United States. Eligible participants were cancer survivors with insomnia 2-60 months post-treatment. They were randomized to receive YOCAS (gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, 75-min./session, 2x/week, 4 weeks) or placebo (ASCO survivorship recommendation-based health education, 75-min./session, 2x/week, 4 weeks). Serum samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention to assess inflammation (i.e., pro-inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and anti-inflammatory markers IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, sTNFRI), via Luminex multiplex assays. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to access yoga's effects on inflammation. Results: 502 survivors (94% female, mean age 56±11 years, 74% breast cancer) were enrolled. ANCOVAs revealed significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory markers in YOCAS participants compared to placebo participants (IL-1β: -0.07±0.03, p = 0.01; TNF-α: -0.04±0.02, p = 0.08; IFN-γ: -0.07±0.03, p = 0.02) where YOCAS participants exhibited stable pro-inflammatory responses (all p &gt; 0.05) and placebo participants exhibited significant increases in pro-inflammatory responses (all p≤0.05) from baseline to post-intervention. ANCOVAs also revealed a statistical trend toward lower levels of anti-inflammatory markers in YOCAS participants compared to placebo participants (IL-4: -0.06±0.04, p = 0.10; IL-10: -0.06±0.04, p = 0.09; sTNFRI: -0.06±0.04, p = 0.09). SEM also demonstrated significantly lower pro-inflammatory status (-0.16±0.03, p &lt; 0.01), significantly lower anti-inflammatory status (-0.14±0.03, p = 0.03), and significantly lower overall inflammatory status (-0.15±0.03, p = 0.01) in YOCAS participants compared to placebo participants. Conclusions: Our data suggest that YOCAS yoga significantly reduces inflammation among cancer survivors. Clinicians should consider prescribing yoga for survivors experiencing inflammation, which may lead to a high chronic toxicity burden and increased risk of progression, recurrence, and second cancers. Funding: NCI UG1CA189961, R01CA181064, T32CA102618. Clinical trial information: NCT02613364 .

Restorative yoga therapy for third-year medical students in pediatrics rotation: Working to improve medical student well-being.

Stress experienced by medical students is a well-documented and widespread phenomenon that may have physical and psychological effects on their well-being. One solution is to provide students with the tools to recognize and cope with stress. The aim of this study was to incorporate restorative yoga training-a well-recognized tool for stress reduction-in the third-year medical student pediatrics clerkship and assess the intervention's impact on students' well-being. Restorative yoga, as a prospective intervention, was offered to third-year medical students at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center during their pediatrics rotation. The study was between March and August 2020. Each yoga session lasted 45-minutes, once a week for six weeks. Participants completed anonymous questionnaires before and after the intervention via the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Over the six-month study period, 25 (71%) of 35 medical students, having been given the option, chose to participate. The WEMWBS contains 14 statements on well-being, and all but one from the list showed a positive increase in average rating from pre intervention to post intervention. The statements "I've been feeling more relaxed" and "I've been thinking clearly" showed the greatest average increase. Following Chi-squared testing, two statements were found to be significantly different (P < 0.05) before intervention and after intervention: "I've been feeling more relaxed" and "I've been feeling good about myself." Students' well-being is paramount to medical schools. Restorative yoga offers hopeful outcomes for effective mitigation of the stresses of medical education and may be recommended for wider use.

A pilot study: Comparative efficacy of power yoga, restorative yoga and their combination on reaction time among the college boys of North Tripura

A pilot study: Comparative efficacy of power yoga, restorative yoga and their combination on reaction time among the college boys of North Tripura

Comparing Types of Yoga for Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain in Military Personnel: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundChronic low back pain (cLBP) and chronic neck pain (cNP) are highly prevalent conditions and common reasons for disability among military personnel. Yoga and other mind-body interventions have been shown to safely decrease pain and disability in persons with cLBP and/or cNP but have not been adequately studied in active duty military personnel. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of delivering 2 types of yoga (hatha and restorative) to a sample of active-duty military personnel with cLBP/cNP.MethodsMilitary personnel with cLBP and/or cNP (n = 49; 59% men) were randomized to either hatha or restorative yoga interventions. Interventions consisted of in-person yoga 1-2x weekly for 12 weeks. Feasibility and acceptability were measured by rates of recruitment, intervention attendance, attrition, adverse events, and satisfaction ratings. Health outcomes including pain and disability were measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 6 months. Means and effect sizes are presented.ResultsRecruitment was completed ahead of projections. Over 90% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed participation, liked the instructor, and would like to continue yoga. Retention rates were 86% and 80% at 12 week and 6 month assessments, respectively. Intervention attendance was adequate but lower than expected. There were small to moderate reductions in back-pain related disability, pain severity and pain interference, and improvements in quality of life, grip strength, and balance. In general, effects were larger for those who attended at least 50% of intervention classes. Participants with cNP tended to have smaller outcome improvements, but conclusions remain tentative given small sample sizes.ConclusionsResults demonstrate feasibility for conducting a randomized controlled comparative effectiveness trial of yoga for cLBP and cNP among active duty military personnel. Acceptability was also established. Ongoing work will enhance the intervention for cNP and establish feasibility at another military facility in preparation for a fully-powered comparative effectiveness trial.ClinicalTrials #NCT03504085; registered April 20, 2018.

Effects of Vigorous Versus Restorative Yoga Practice on Objective Cognition Functions in Sedentary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Purpose:Many cancer survivors experience cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). We conducted a randomized controlled pilot trial of 2 types of yoga practice and evaluated their effects on participants’ objective cognitive function.Methods:Sedentary breast or ovarian cancer survivors were randomized to practice either restorative yoga (with more meditative practice and minimal physical exertion) or vigorous yoga (with considerable physical exertion and minimal meditative practice) in 60-minute supervised sessions 3 times a week for 12 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of home practice. We used the NIH Toolbox Cognition Domain to evaluate participants at baseline, week 12, and week 24.Results:We enrolled 35 participants. For women in the restorative yoga group, overall cognitive function was statistically significantly improved at weeks 12 and 24 compared to baseline (P = .03 and 0.004; Cohen’s D = 0.3 and 0.5). Fluid cognitive function also significantly improved at weeks 12 and 24 (P = .02 and 0.0007; Cohen’s D = 0.3 and 0.6), whereas improvements in crystallized cognition were not significant. For women in the vigorous yoga group, significant improvement was only seen in tasks of crystallized cognition at week 24 (P = .03; Cohen’s D = 0.5). Between-group comparisons showed that at week 24, women in the restorative yoga group had significantly higher scores on fluid cognition tasks.Conclusions:Patients who participated in yoga practice demonstrated improvement in objective cognitive function over time. Restorative yoga may be more effective in improving fluid cognitive function at week 24 when compared to vigorous yoga. These promising findings should be confirmed in definitive studies.Trial registration:Clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02305498 (Date Registered: December 2, 2014)

Circulating MicroRNAs predict glycemic improvement and response to a behavioral intervention

BackgroundMicroRNAs may be important regulators of risk for type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this longitudinal observational study was to assess whether circulating microRNAs predicted improvements in fasting blood glucose, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, over 12 months.MethodsThe study included participants (n = 82) from a previously completed trial that tested the effect of restorative yoga on individuals with prediabetes. Circulating microRNAs were measured using a flow cytometry miRNA assay. Linear models were used to determine the optimal sets of microRNA predictors overall and by intervention group.ResultsSubsets of microRNAs were significant predictors of final fasting blood glucose after 12-months (R2 = 0.754, p < 0.001) and changes in fasting blood glucose over 12-months (R2 = 0.731, p < 0.001). Three microRNAs (let-7c, miR-363, miR-374b) were significant for the control group only, however there was no significant interaction by intervention group.ConclusionsCirculating microRNAs are significant predictors of fasting blood glucose in individuals with prediabetes. Among the identified microRNAs, several have previously been associated with risk for type 2 diabetes. This is one of the first studies to use a longitudinal design to assess whether microRNAs predict changes in fasting blood glucose over time. Further exploration of the function of the microRNAs included in these models may provide new insights about the complex etiology of type 2 diabetes and responses to behavioral risk reduction interventions.Trial registrationThis study was a secondary analysis of a previously completed clinical trial that is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01024816) on December 3, 2009.

77-OR: Circulating MicroRNAs Predict Glycemic Improvement and Response to a Behavioral Intervention

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRs) may be important regulators of risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The purpose of this study was to assess whether circulating miRs predicted glycemic improvement and responses to a behavioral intervention over 12 months. Methods: The study included 82 participants from a previously completed trial (PRYSMS study) that tested the effect of restorative yoga vs. stretching among overweight and inactive individuals with prediabetes and the metabolic syndrome, which found significant improvements in fasting blood glucose (FBG) after 12 months of yoga intervention. Circulating miRs were measured using flow cytometry. Linear models were used to determine the optimal sets of miR predictors. Results: Subsets of miRs were significant predictors of FBG (R2=0.754, p&amp;lt;0.001) and change in FBG over 12 months (R2=0.731, p&amp;lt;0.001) in the overall sample. Three miRs (let-7c, miR-363, miR-374b) were significant among the control group only for both FBG outcomes. There was no significant interaction by intervention group. Among the identified miRs, several have previously been associated with risk for T2D and related complications. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to use a longitudinal design to assess whether miRs predict changes in FBG over time. Exploration of the function of the identified miRs may provide new insights about the etiology of T2D and responses to behavioral risk reduction interventions. Disclosure E. Flowers: None. I. D. Allen: None. A. M. Kanaya: None. B. Aouizerat: None. Funding National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (KL2TR000143); National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (R01AT004569); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21DK117346); National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2K24HL112827)

Yoga for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Survivors of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Feasibility Study

ContextCancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Yoga is an approach with supportive evidence to improve CRF in different cancer populations, but to our knowledge, it has not been tested in an adult HCT population. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a yoga intervention offered to adult HCT survivors with moderate-to-severe CRF. MethodsThis feasibility study used a single-arm, pretest-posttest design. Adult HCT survivors were enrolled in a six-week restorative yoga intervention that consisted of a one-hour once-weekly class with twice-weekly home practice using a DVD. ResultsTwenty participants (13 women and seven men) enrolled in this study with a mean age of 51 years (SD = 12.5). The sample consisted of 19 allogeneic HCT survivors, seven of whom had a history of acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), six with active, extensive chronic GVHD, and one autologous HCT survivor. The accrual acceptance rate was 23.2% (20/86 HCT survivors) and retention rate was 60% (12/20). Overall adherence was 45.4%. No adverse events were reported. ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that a restorative yoga intervention in adult HCT survivors is safe and feasible. The incidence of GVHD may have impacted adherence. Strategies to improve accrual acceptance, retention, and adherence are needed.

427P - Sahai: A restorative support to address unmet needs of women with cancer – impact on quality of life

BackgroundSeveral important factors affect directly or indirectly the quality of life of women with cancer in India. Several unmet needs were found to be unaddressed. This program aims to empower the patient, improve quality of life and encourage them to actively participate in the healing process. Hospitals and oncologists are challenged to develop programs that support the growing number of cancer patients. Failure to address leads to decreased compliance and outcomes. MethodsPatients will be enrolled to participate in the introductory half a day program after obtaining informed consent and completing the pre assessment form (physical, psychological and socio-economic domains, along with demography, diagnosis and details of treatment received). Program deals with confidence building tips on grooming, Skin and hair care, management of external prosthesis and wigs, lymphedema prevention, Nutritional advice, De-stressing and relaxation techniques Functional exercises for fitness and rehabilitation through supervised fitness and restorative yoga practices. Following the introductory program women are invited to join the 5 day session. The main intervention during this period is supervised yoga, motivation and counseling, meditative practices, guided relaxation, music, dance therapy. The tools used for assessment pre and post intervention are the assessment questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) scale. Many of the physical problems in these women led to emotional problems such as anxiety and depression hence the HADS scale was used. Results370 patients were enrolled in the study-86% of patients had breast cancer. Age ranged between 26-76 years. 75% of patients were below 60 years. 18% of the patients below 40 years had breast cancer. The burden of unmet needs was primarily issues related to appearance, hair loss, skin changes, body image, arm swelling, impairment of cognitive factors and emotional problems like depression, anxiety and worry. The percentage of patients with anxiety and depression pre and post interventionTable427PTableHADS DEPRESSION SCOREPRE-INTERVENTIONPOST-INTERVENTIONBORDER LINE (8-10)12.50%0%ABNORMAL (11-21)12.50%0%HADS ANXIETY SCOREPRE-INTERVENTIONPOST-INTERVENTIONBORDER LINE (8-10)18.80%0%ABNORMAL (11-21)37.50%0% ConclusionsThis preliminary study shows that such unique, multidimensional supportive care programs have a significant impact on quality of life through treatment into survivorship phase. Legal entity responsible for the studyP.P. Bapsy. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureAll authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Restorative yoga for occupational stress among Japanese female nurses working night shift: Randomized crossover trial.

ObjectivesTo determine whether restorative yoga is an effective method for relieving occupational stress among female nurses working the night shift in Japan.MethodsFrom July 2017 to May 2018, 20 female nurses aged in their 20s to 30s who were working the night shift at a university hospital participated in a randomized crossover trial, consisting of a 1‐hour guided group yoga session followed by 4 weeks of at‐home practice and 4 weeks of usual stress relief methods. The level of stress was assessed by the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before and after performing restorative yoga. Descriptive statistics were calculated and data were analyzed by Student's t test, one‐way analysis of variance (with repeated measures), or Bonferroni's multiple comparison test.ResultsVital signs showed no significant differences from before to after the group yoga session, and there was no change of weight after 4 weeks of at‐home practice. The mean questionnaire score for "psychological and physical stress reactions" was significantly reduced after the group yoga session. In addition, the mean score was significantly lower after 4 weeks of at‐home practice than before or after group yoga, or after 4 weeks of the usual stress relief methods.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that restorative yoga may be effective for alleviating occupational stress among female nurses working the night shift.

2429-PUB: Circulating microRNAs Are Associated with Glycemic Variability over a 12-Month Period

Introduction: Circulating microRNAs (miRs) function as mediators of biological responses to the environment and may provide insights into mechanisms for type 2 diabetes (T2D). A limitation of prior studies is their cross-sectional design. We sought to characterize variability in fasting blood glucose (FBG) at 5 time-points over a 12-month period in order to determine whether FBG variability was associated with circulating miR expression and identify miR-associated biological pathways. Methods: Participants were from a previously completed trial on restorative yoga for overweight/obese adults with prediabetes. FBG variability was defined using the standard deviation across 5 time-points. A subset of participants with high (n=10) vs. low (n=10) FBG variability, matched by age and sex, were evaluated. Expression of 336 miRs collected at baseline was measured with the Fireplex Circulating MicroRNA assay. False discovery rate (FDR) threshold of 0.2 was applied. The miRPathDB database was used to identify KEGG pathways. Results: A total of 6 miRs (i.e., miR-192, miR-197, miR-206, miR-424, miR-486, miR-93) were differentially expressed between individuals with highly compared to low FBG variability. For the six miRs identified in both batches, 321 KEGG pathways were targeted. The Insulin signaling pathway was targeted by miR-197, miR-206, miR-424, and miR-486; the Insulin secretion pathway was targeted by miR-486; and the type 2 diabetes mellitus pathway was targeted by miR-197, miR-206, miR-424, and miR-486. Conclusions: Circulating miRs are associated with variability in FBG and miRs target pathways that are known to underlie risk for T2D. The immediate next step is to perform longitudinal analysis of the relationships between FBG and circulating miRs to explore novel pathway targets to derive new insights about mechanisms for T2D. Disclosure E. Flowers: None. I.D. Allen: None. A.M. Kanaya: None. B. Aouizerat: None. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1R21DK117346-01A1)

The Association Between Yoga Use, Physical Function, and Employment in Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Mind-body exercises such as yoga offer patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a symptom management strategy for improving physical and mental health. Studies have evaluated yoga to manage symptoms of RA and improve physical function; however, none has examined the relationship between yoga and work status in adults with RA. The objective was to describe differences in RA symptomatology, physical function scores, and work status between adults with RA who participate in yoga and those who do not. This cross-sectional study surveyed adults with rheumatologist-diagnosed RA regarding yoga use in the past year, symptoms, physical function, and work status. Differences between yoga and non-yoga participation groups were assessed with 2-sided t tests or Pearson χ tests. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to identify significant associations between yoga participation and primary outcomes. The sample included 398 adults with RA; 88% were females, 66% were white, mean age 61.8 years, mean disease duration 24.8 years; 10.6% participated in yoga. Vinyasa, Bikram, Hatha, Iyengar, and restorative yoga styles were practiced, mostly in a group setting. Yoga participants were significantly more likely to work full-time, less likely to be unable to work due to disability, and had better physical function. These findings characterize yoga practice and practitioners among adults with RA. In adults with RA, yoga participation is associated with full-time work status and better physical function than nonparticipation. This study adds additional information to the growing body of literature about adults with RA who practice yoga.

Restorative Yoga for Easing Fatigue and Stress

Restorative Yoga for Easing Fatigue and Stress

A Feasibility Study of Restorative Yoga Versus Vigorous Yoga Intervention for Sedentary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Survivors

Yoga has been shown to improve cancer survivors' quality of life, yet regular yoga practice is a challenge for those who are sedentary. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled study to assess feasibility and adherence of two types of yoga intervention among sedentary cancer survivors. Sedentary breast and ovarian cancer survivors were randomized to practice either restorative yoga (minimal physical exertion, Group R) or vigorous yoga (considerable physical exertion, Group V) in three 60-minute supervised sessions a week for 12 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of home practice. Accrual, adherence, and attendance rates were assessed. Of the 226 eligible patients, 175 (77%) declined to participate in the study, citing time commitment and travel as the most common barriers. Forty-two subjects consented to participate in the study. Of the 35 participants who began the intervention (20 in Group R and 15 in Group V), adherence rate (percentage remaining in the study at week 12) was 100% and 87%, respectively. Rate of adequate attendance (more than 66% of the scheduled supervised sessions) was 85% and 73%, respectively. Rate of completion of the home practice period was 85% and 77%, respectively. In this study, sedentary cancer survivors were able to adhere to a long-term, regular yoga regimen. The rate of adequate attendance was higher for restorative yoga. Future studies for sedentary patients should focus on reducing time commitment and travel requirements to improve recruitment, and on using restorative yoga as a more feasible intervention for this population.

Yoga as a survivorship tool in cancer patients and caregivers.

90 Background: Preliminary data suggest that yoga is one of the most popular complementary and alternative therapies and most likely to improve quality of life. In spite of the methodologic limits,studies suggest an improvement in a range of symptoms of patients with cancer among those who did yoga. The absence of side effects and the excellent cost-benefit ratio make it a very interesting symptom management tool. Methods: We advertised to our cancer patients the availability of a free yoga class twice a week. (August 2016-present). This was run by one trained instructor. All patients with different cancers were allowed to participate including caregivers. A post session survey was done at one time point to evaluate the benefits of the class. Results: Usually between 8-15 individuals attend the class. In one session a written survey was conducted, 13 patients/caregiver agreed to fill up the survey. 9 were patients (breast , sarcoma, lymphoma, brain tumor melanoma and spine tumor) and 5 were caregivers.4 never had any prior yoga class before, the reasons for attending the class included stress relief, improve balance, help pain, support spouse, suggestion by MD and exercise. Among those who answered the question 7 were new to yoga 0-3 month, they mainly did restorative and gentle yoga. The perceived benefits among attendees included being more relaxed, calm down, peaceful, increase strength, more mindful and better health. 8/13 perceived that it did improve quality of life very much, 3/13 quite a bit 1 a little. All were very satisfied with the yoga sessions. Conclusions: In an undifferentiated group of cancer patients, yoga classes participants have positive perceived benefits in majority of the individuals who did restorative/gentle yoga. This led to symptom control and also had significant participant satisfaction.

A Restorative Yoga Intervention for African-American Breast Cancer Survivors: a Pilot Study.

Data show that yoga is effective for improving health-related outcomes in breast cancer survivors. While breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African-American women (AAW), AAW are less likely to engage in yoga compared to other ethnic groups. The goals of the current study were to assess the feasibility of an 8-week restorative yoga program among African-American breast cancer survivors (AA BCS). Specifically, study aims were to (1) measure changes in study outcomes in a restorative yoga (RY) group compared to a wait list control group, (2) assess adherence to the RY program, and (3) assess program satisfaction among study participants. Thirty-three AA BCS were randomly assigned to either the RY intervention (n=18) or wait list control group (n=15). RY classes met once per week for 8weeks. Pre- and post-testing assessments were measured at 0 and 8weeks (immediately post-intervention). Depression scores at follow-up were significantly lower in the yoga group (M=4.78, SD=3.56) compared to the control group (M=6.91, SD=5.86). No significant group differences were observed for sleep quality, fatigue, or perceived stress. Yoga program participants completing baseline assessments demonstrated 61% adherence to the yoga classes. Average rating of the yoga program was "very useful." Recommendations for future yoga programs were provided. This study suggests that yoga has a beneficial effect on depression in AA BCS. There is, however, a need to further explore the benefits of yoga among minority breast cancer survivors using a study with larger sample sizes.

ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF RESTORATIVE YOGA

Background: Lifestyle including exercise and stress management has been demonstrated to reduce hypertension. It has been suggested that restorative yoga has the potential to lower blood pressure (BP) more than other lifestyle changes. Rigorous studies comparing restorative yoga to other lifestyle