title: Perceived health benefits from yoga among breast cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to describe the health benefits reported by breast cancer survivors following an 8-week yoga intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  This phenomenological study employed three focus groups with six breast cancer survivors each (n = 18) following the yoga intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  The focus groups and yoga classes were conducted in a large hospital in a midsized town in the Midwest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen female breast cancer survivors who were at least 9 months posttreatment participated in the focus groups following the 8-week yoga intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-week yoga intervention designed specifically for this population was led by a yoga therapist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semistructured interview guide was utilized to guide each focus group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interpretative phenomenological analysis methods were employed to explore breast cancer survivors' experiences after participating in an 8-week yoga intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings revealed that the women in the study found health promoting benefits in the areas of physical health and healing, mental health and healing, and social health and healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yoga may be an important tool in the healing process for breast cancer survivors.
authors: School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, 1025 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. mvp@indiana.edu
authors: Marieke
authors: M
authors: Van Puymbroeck
authors: Brooke N
authors: BN
authors: Burk
authors: Kimberly J
authors: KJ
authors: Shinew
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Cronan Kuhlenschmidt
authors: Arlene A
authors: AA
authors: Schmid
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*