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Yoga, Women, and Cancer: Experiences in a Specialized Yoga Program

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dc.contributor.advisorSafai, Parissa
dc.creatorCowling, Angela Elizabeth
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-26T14:47:47Z
dc.date.available2015-01-26T14:47:47Z
dc.date.copyright2014-07-23
dc.date.issued2015-01-26
dc.date.updated2015-01-26T14:47:47Z
dc.degree.disciplineKinesiology & Health Science
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMA - Master of Arts
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this project was to better understand the experiences of women with cancer who participated in a specialized yoga program at a studio in Toronto. The focus on this particular location served as a case study of such specific physical activity programming for special populations. This study examined who participated in this program and explored their reasons for participating in efforts to better understand their thoughts on health, including the imperative to be healthy (i.e., healthism), illness, physical activity (specifically yoga), and the interrelationships between such issues in their lives. Using qualitative research methods, semi-structured interviews were completed in order to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of women who have participated in yoga classes while having or recovering from an illness. Participants consisted of five women in remission from cancer who practiced yoga prior to their diagnoses, during treatment, and throughout recovery. Findings indicated participants' motivations for practice centered on achieving holistic health and experiences during the cancer journey were greatly influenced by their socioeconomic privilege. In addition, results showed an overwhelming focus on positivity and the adoption of healthism. Future implications of this research may be to modify existing specialized yoga programs and provide recommendations on the use of yoga in cancer care, as well as consider how to approach the influential "tyranny of cheerfulness" in cancer culture and combat dominant healthist ideals. In addition, this project will contribute to the existing body of sociocultural research in health and physical activity and increase knowledge of experiences in this population.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/28233
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectSociology
dc.subjectHealth sciences
dc.subjectPhysical therapy
dc.subject.keywordsConstant comparativeen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHealthen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHolisticen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHolistic healthen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHealthismen_US
dc.subject.keywordsIllnessen_US
dc.subject.keywordsCanceren_US
dc.subject.keywordsCancer careen_US
dc.subject.keywordsCancer journeyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsCancer cultureen_US
dc.subject.keywordsTreatmenten_US
dc.subject.keywordsTherapyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsComplementary and alternative medicineen_US
dc.subject.keywordsComplementaryen_US
dc.subject.keywordsAlternativeen_US
dc.subject.keywordsCAMen_US
dc.subject.keywordsPhysical activityen_US
dc.subject.keywordsYogaen_US
dc.subject.keywordsProgramen_US
dc.subject.keywordsProgrammingen_US
dc.subject.keywordsWesternizationen_US
dc.subject.keywordsAthleticismen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSpecializeden_US
dc.subject.keywordsPositivityen_US
dc.subject.keywordsPositiveen_US
dc.subject.keywordsWomenen_US
dc.subject.keywordsFemaleen_US
dc.subject.keywordsGenderen_US
dc.subject.keywordsExperienceen_US
dc.subject.keywordsLived experienceen_US
dc.subject.keywordsRealityen_US
dc.subject.keywordsRealitiesen_US
dc.subject.keywordsPre-canceren_US
dc.subject.keywordsRemissionen_US
dc.subject.keywordsAgencyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHegemonyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsMotivationen_US
dc.subject.keywordsTyranny of cheerfulnessen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSocioeconomicen_US
dc.subject.keywordsPrivilegeen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSocial locationen_US
dc.subject.keywordsCommunityen_US
dc.subject.keywordsNormalcyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHealth promotionen_US
dc.subject.keywordsOpportunityen_US
dc.subject.keywordsOpportunitiesen_US
dc.subject.keywordsBarrieren_US
dc.subject.keywordsBarriersen_US
dc.subject.keywordsStressen_US
dc.subject.keywordsDistractionen_US
dc.subject.keywordsBiomedicalen_US
dc.subject.keywordsMedicineen_US
dc.subject.keywordsOncologyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsKinesiologyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHealth scienceen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSociologyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSocioculturalen_US
dc.subject.keywordsQualitativeen_US
dc.subject.keywordsCase studyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSemi-structureden_US
dc.subject.keywordsInterviewen_US
dc.subject.keywordsGrounded theoryen_US
dc.titleYoga, Women, and Cancer: Experiences in a Specialized Yoga Program
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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