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Table 2 Description of yoga programs, in alphabetical order of first author and attendance to yoga class
| Author, year | Yoga program (Y); Duration and frequency (D); Home practice (H) vs comparison (C) | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Banasik 2011 [56] | Y Iyengar yoga given by expert Iyenger instructors, with focus on training and accepting the physical form of the body without specific meditation component. | Average 14 classes out of 16 (87.5%), range 12 – 15. |
| D 8 weeks, twice a week, 90 min per session | ||
| H - | ||
| C wait-list | ||
| Banerjee, 2007 [51] | Y Meditative practice, slow stretching and loosening exercises, motivation and counseling, yoga asanas, group awareness practices, pranayama, deep relaxation (yoga nidra) given by expert yoga trainers. | ? |
| D 6-weeks; 90 min per session | ||
| H Patients were provided with audio and video tools to practice at home and were followed up via telephone during weekends to ensure continuity of the practice. | ||
| C Supportive counseling and advised to take light exercise. | ||
| Blank, 2003 [31] | Y Iyengar Yoga, including seated meditation, active asana, restorative poses, savasana. | ? |
| D 8 weeks, 2 times per week | ||
| H 1 home practice per week | ||
| C wait-list control | ||
| Bower, 2012 [58] | Y Iyengar yoga classes were taught by a certified Junior Intermediate Iyengar yoga instructor and an assistant under the guidance of a senior teacher. | The mean number of yoga classes attended was 18.9 of 24 classes (78%), and the median was 22 of 24 classes (92%). |
| D 12 weeks, twice a week, 90 min. | ||
| H - | ||
| C Health education classes were conducted for 120 min once a week for 12 weeks. Classes were led by a PhD-level psychologist with clinical experience in the treatment of breast cancer survivors. | ||
| Carson, 2009 [32] | Y Yoga of Awareness given by certified yoga teacher: 40 min yoga poses, 10 min breathing techniques, 25 min meditation, 20 min of study pertinent topics and 25 min group discussion | Average 6 classes out of 8 (75%). 3 women less than 4 classes (3/17 = 17.6%) |
| D 8 weeks, once a week, 120 min | ||
| H Patients were encouraged to practice daily at home with aid of CD recordings and illustrated hand books. | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Chandwani, 2010 [55] | Y The multidimensional yoga module was given a trained yoga instructor: 10 warm-up movements synchronized with breathing, 25 min maintenance in selected postures, 10 min deep relaxation, 5 min pranayama, 10 min mediation. | 15 (50%) all 12 classes; 8 (28%) attended 11 classes; 1 (3%) attended 10 classes; 1 only 2 classes. One attended 3 classes, one 4, one 5, one 7 and one 8 classes. Average number of classes was 10.2 (85%); SD: 2.96; range 2 – 12. Home practice: 8 (28%) reported practicing |
| D 6 weeks, 2 times per week; 60 min per session | ||
| H Patients were encouraged to practice type full yoga once per day outside the classes, supported by a 60-min audio CD of the yoga program and a manual with photographs and instructions. | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Cohen, 2004 [44] | Y Tibetan yoga sessions given by experienced instructor, divided into 4 aspects: controlled breathing and visualization, mindfulness, and postures. | 32% all sessions; 26% 5 or 6 sessions; 32% 2 or 3 sessions; 10% 1 session |
| D 7 weekly sessions | ||
| H Patients were encouraged to practice the techniques at least once per day, supported by audiotape that walked them though all of the techniques. | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Culos-Reed, 2006 [52] | Y Classes were led by a certified yoga instructed and included 10 min gentle breathing; 50 min Yoga asanas; 15 min savasana. | |
| D 7 weeks, 75 min. | ||
| H - | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Danhauer, 2009 [53] | Y Restorative yoga classes were taught by a yoga instructor with cancer-specific yoga training and combined yoga asanas, pranayama, savasana. | Mean 5.8 (3.4) classes out of 10 (58%) 2 (10%) women 100%; 3 (14%) 0% of classes |
| D 10 weekly 75-min classes | ||
| H - | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Littman, 2011 [57] | Y Viniyoga, a Hatha therapeutic type o f yoga given by certified experienced yoga instructors: 5–10 min centering exercises to promote relaxation and internal focus, 50–60 min of seated and standing poses, 10–15 min guided relaxation, breathing exercises and meditation. | Mean 19.6 (range 1–61; median 20.5) classes. Home practice: 55.8 times (range 2 – 102; median 62). |
| D 6 months, 5 times per week including at least one 75-min class | ||
| H patients were given a DVD, VD and booklets of four home practices lasting 20–30 min each. | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Moadel, 2007 [54] | Y Classes were given by a certified yoga instructor and included 3 yoga components: physical stretches and poses, breathing exercises, and meditation. | High adherence (>6 classes): n = 33 (; Low adherence (1–6 classes), n = 24; No adherence (0 classes), n = 27. Average attendance 7 out of 12 classes (58%). |
| D 12 weekly 1.5 hrs classes (more allowed) | ||
| H Patients were asked to practice yoga at home daily and given an audiotape/compact disk for guidance. | ||
| C Wait-list control | ||
| Raghavendra, 2007 [49] | Y Integrated yoga program administered by an instructor: asanas, breathing exercise, pranayama, meditation and yogic relaxation techniques with imagery. | ? |
| D 30 min before the start of the chemotherapy infusion (once in 10 days, number of cycles 4–8). | ||
| H Patients were provided with audiotapes of these exercises for home practice and asked to practice daily for 1 h for 6 days/week during intervals between chemotherapy cycles. | ||
| C Supportive therapy and coping preparation | ||
| Rao, 2009 [50] | Y Integrated yoga program administered by an instructor: asanas, breathing, pranayama, mediation and yogic relaxation techniques with imagery. | ? |
| D Four sessions during pre- and post operative period, 3 in-person sessions per week for 6 weeks during radiotherapy. During chemotherapy, subjects underwent person sessions during their hospital visits for chemotherapy administration (once in 21 days) and an additional yoga session once in 10 days. | ||
| H Patients were given booklets, audiotapes with instructions on practices for home practice. | ||
| C Supportive therapy sessions | ||
| Vadiraja, 2009 [46–48] | Y Integrated yoga program administered by an instructor: asanas, breathing, pranayama, mediation and yogic relaxation techniques with imagery. | 29.7% attended 10-20% supervised sessions, 56.7% attended 20–25, 13.7% attended >25 supervised sessions over a 6-week period. Attend minimal 3x/wk for 6 weeks → 18 classes. |
| D Minimum of 3 in-person sessions per week for 6 weeks during radio treatment; 1 hour per session. In total between 18–24 yoga sessions. | ||
| H Patients were given booklets, audiotapes with instructions on practices for home practice. | ||
| C Supportive therapy with education. 15-min counseling sessions once every 10 days during 6 weeks (3 or 4 sessions in total). |
