YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Health is launching a new therapeutic approach to complement cancer treatment: yoga. 

The Yale Cancer Center’s new restorative yoga initiative is part of the Integrative Medicine Program, which offers resources such as guided meditation, wellness workshops, T’ai Chi, nutrition consultations and gentle and restorative yoga for their patients. 

Restorative Yoga sessions are conducted over Zoom and led by Ellen McNally, who has been trained as a Trauma-Sensitive Yoga teacher and received the highest certification from the Yoga Alliance — RYT500, or Registered Yoga Teacher — after 500 hours of training. She joined Smilow’s Integrative Medicine department in 2018 and has made it her mission to help individuals heal through mindfulness and movement. 

“I love teaching yoga, and I especially enjoy teaching people how to get closer to a clear, calm, and tranquil mind,” McNally said. “I think the loneliness of the cancer journey is terrifying, because no matter how much support you have from your family or your medical staff, ultimately it’s you and who is navigating through this challenging journey.” 

With 12 years of experience, McNally helps guide Smilow’s cancer patients in managing the stresses and strains of their treatments.

“Ellen’s expertise allows her to adapt the practice to patients’ varying abilities, ensuring it is both supportive and effective,” adds her close colleague, Dr. Gary Soffer, an integrative medicine physician at Smilow.

Restorative yoga is a gentle practice that focuses on relaxation through supported poses and regulated breathing, and has long been recognized as a way to relieve physical and emotional tension and helps in “calming of the fluctuations of the mind,” as McNally puts it. 

Soffer also highlights that restorative yoga is adaptable for individuals of all abilities. He works closely with McNally, oncologists and other providers to integrate yoga in a way that complements patients’ medical treatments.

“Regular communication with the medical team allows us to adjust as needed, promoting overall well-being,” he said. “Restorative yoga is effective for addressing emotional and physical tension by managing symptoms like fatigue, anxiety and pain, particularly for cancer patients. It provides a calm space for recovery and can significantly reduce stress levels, helping to improve overall quality of life.”

The restorative yoga session focused on holding fewer poses for five to eight minutes, combined with relaxed, effortless breathing and mindful awareness.

This allows participants to gently declutter their thoughts and deepen their connection with themselves.

“Part of the yoga class and yoga in general is creating a sense of community, also known as Sangha, in Sanskrit,” McNally told the News. “The beauty of regular classes is that it creates a through line in their lives and gives patients a way to calm their minds and relax their bodies.” 

She also emphasizes that yoga helps mediate the uncertainty and instability of undergoing cancer treatment for patients.

Madelyn Kaehler, the organizer of the event and manager of the Integrative Medicine team at the Smilow Cancer Hospital, described the session as “an opportunity for patients to bring their body, breath and mind back into balance with gentle floor stretches, breath awareness and systematic relaxation to soothe the nervous system so that they can leave feeling refreshed and relaxed.” 

During patient testimonials, the attendees of one of the sessions agreed that restorative yoga with McNally helps them maintain the well-being of their mental health and retain a positive

mindset, complementing the physical care they receive from medical doctors.

The benefits of restorative yoga can extend far beyond the physical realm, providing patients at Smilow Cancer Hospital with a tool for navigating the challenges of cancer treatment with a holistic approach. Through breath awareness and mindful movements, this practice can foster not only mental clarity but also a sense of community.

Smilow Cancer Hospital is located at 35 Park St.