IRB-Approved Pilot and Feasibility Study — Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute
Establishing Yoga4Cancer (Y4C) as the Hospital-Based Standard for Oncology Yoga
Why This Study Matters
Yoga is increasingly offered in cancer care settings — but not all yoga is created equal. When hospitals offer classes from practitioners with varied training, it creates real challenges: patients, families, and clinicians struggle to identify safe, effective programs. This study asked a direct question: Can yoga4cancer (Y4C) become the evidence-based standard for oncology yoga in a hospital setting?
In partnership with the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital's Department of Integrative Medicine, Y4C founder Tari Prinster collaborated on a pilot and feasibility study to find out.
Study Objectives
- Train yoga providers in the Y4C oncology-specific method
- Develop an IRB-approved protocol with quality-of-life (QOL) and functional yoga outcomes
- Recruit cancer patients into a structured, hospital-based Y4C program
Methods
All yoga practitioners completed CITI research training. The Y4C class protocol was structured as one 60-minute class per week for 8 weeks, with a follow-up session at week 12.
Outcome measures included:
- Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale
- EORTC QLQ-C30 (Version 3) quality-of-life questionnaire
- Five Y4C functional performance poses, rated on a 10-point Likert scale (0 = cannot perform; 10 = easy to perform)
Inclusion criteria: Cancer patients at any stage (early diagnosis, active treatment, or survivorship), age 18+, physician approval
Exclusion criteria: Significant comorbidity, musculoskeletal injury, fragility, balance disorders, or vertigo without physician clearance
Results
Results
75% of enrolled participants completed all 120 Y4C sessions over the initial 4-week assessment period.
Participant demographics:
- 84% female, 16% male
- Average age: 61 years
- 72% Caucasian, 12% African American, 10% Asian
- Most common diagnosis: breast cancer (72%), followed by prostate and ovarian
Quality-of-Life Improvements (Week 1 → Week 4):
| Symptom | Week 1 | Week 4 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Trouble | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.039 |
| Feelings of Depression | 1.2 | 0.62 | 0.027 |
| Nausea | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.031 |
| Do You Worry | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.09 |
| Feeling of Wellbeing | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.09 |
Functional Pose Improvements (Week 1 → Week 4):
| Y4C Pose | Wk 1 | Wk 4 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-Up Vinyasa Seated | 7.0 | 7.4 | +4.3% |
| Getting to Hands & Knees | 6.7 | 7.4 | +9.1% |
| Kick-Stand Tree | 6.5 | 6.3 | -1.5% |
| Chair & Block Test | 6.4 | 7.1 | +10.9% |
| Forward Fold | 6.4 | 7.0 | +9.4% |
Conclusions
This pilot study demonstrated:
- Feasibility: An IRB-approved, hospital-based Y4C program with trained oncology yoga therapists is achievable
- Measurability: Functional yoga performance and quality-of-life outcomes can be tracked and assessed over time
- Preliminary efficacy: Meaningful early improvements in sleep, depression, and physical function within just 4 weeks
What Comes Next
The study was paused due to COVID-19. Efforts continue to expand enrollment, increase participant diversity, and pursue further research in hospital and clinical settings.
Originally presented at the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) 16th Annual Conference: Advancing the Science & Art of Integrative Oncology, 2019 — sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.