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๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam /Health & Science

'Spiritual Medicine' for Cancer Patients: Yoga Class Offers Hope in Vietnam

From Tuแป•i Trแบป · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A free yoga class in Vietnam offers a vital support system for cancer patients, helping them find smiles and regain their spirits.
  • Participants practice gentle, modified exercises tailored to their individual health conditions, fostering a sense of community and mutual encouragement.
  • The class provides a crucial mental boost, allowing patients to cope with the challenges of their illness and find peace through mindful activities like yoga and painting.

In a quiet studio, nearly 20 cancer patients move through gentle yoga poses, their breaths synchronized with the instructor's guidance. This is not a typical yoga class; it's a sanctuary designed specifically for individuals battling cancer, offering a "spiritual medicine" to help them navigate their challenging journey.

I feel the affection everyone gives me and the class, so I cherish it very much. I just hope everyone has plenty of health to overcome the illness.

· Truong Thi My TienA teacher at the yoga class expressing her feelings towards the students.

The exercises are deliberately simple and low-impact, adapted to suit each participant's varying physical capabilities. Instructors remain attentive, ready to adjust the intensity if a student shows signs of fatigue, ensuring safety and comfort. This personalized approach fosters a deep sense of care and connection, with students often expressing their gratitude through small gifts of food and drink.

This illness needs the most important thing: a comfortable spirit. Just being happy makes the body feel much healthier.

· Phan Thi Kim LoanA cancer patient describing the importance of mental well-being in her recovery.

For many, like 62-year-old Phan Thi Kim Loan, the class has become a lifeline. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer, she initially struggled with feelings of isolation. "There were times I didn't talk to anyone, just stayed at home and in the hospital," she recalls. Discovering the free yoga class allowed her to open up and find solace.

Here, everyone practices together, talks, and encourages each other, so I feel more comfortable and happier.

· Phan Thi Kim LoanA cancer patient explaining the positive social impact of the yoga class.

Years of consistent practice have yielded tangible health improvements for Loan. What once left her breathless after a few stairs now allows her to move with greater ease. "This illness needs the most important thing: a comfortable spirit. Just being happy makes the body feel much healthier," she shares, highlighting the class's profound impact on her mental well-being. Beyond yoga, she also finds peace in watercolor painting, losing herself in the colors and the meditative process, finding beauty and hope even amidst illness.

The more I paint, the more engrossed I become. Some days I sit and paint for 3 hours straight without feeling tired, so absorbed that I forget the time.

· Phan Thi Kim LoanA cancer patient describing her experience with watercolor painting as a form of relaxation.
About this summary

Originally published by Tuแป•i Trแบป in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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