Oncology yoga is a clinical specialization — not an extension of general training or a yoga therapy program. The list below outlines the key topics, competencies, and learning outcomes achieved in the yoga4cancer 75-Hour Certificate Program. It is designed to be used as a benchmark — against any yoga program, at any level or any lineage.
Clinical knowledge
- Cancer biology, staging, grading, and diagnostic tools
- All major treatment modalities and their mechanisms
- Side effects — neuropathy, lymphedema, bone loss, cognitive change, and more
- Breast reconstruction types and their movement implications
- Intersection of cancer with pre-existing conditions
- Advanced-stage and metastatic disease
Safety skills you won’t find elsewhere
- Contraindicated poses — and the clinical reasoning behind each
- Protocols for lymphedema, bone mets, neuropathy, post-surgical restrictions
- Chemo-specific cautions: blood counts, infection risk, heat regulation
- Radiation-specific cautions: fibrosis, skin sensitivity, fatigue patterns
- Proprietary verbal intake process for pre-class information gathering
- Scope of practice guidelines for every clinical situation
The physics of yoga — why it actually works
A 200-hour program teaches poses. y4c teaches the science behind why each pose does what it does — and why that matters for cancer recovery.
- Gravity: lymphatic drainage, venous return, bone strength
- Compression and restriction: circulation and lymph flow
- Resistance: building strength and space simultaneously
- The relaxation response: physiology of counteracting chronic stress
- Breath as mechanical force: vagal stimulation, nervous system shift
Meeting the standard of care for cancer survivors
Cancer survivors need 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week plus strength training. “Gentle yoga” doesn’t meet the required standards.
- Evidence-based physical activity guidelines for survivors
- Training to deliver active, breath-led practice that is safe and sufficient
- Skills to advocate for structured movement as standard survivorship care
Evidence and research literacy
- Reading and evaluating yoga and oncology research — not just citing it
- Key clinical guidelines: SIO-ASCO, ACSM, ACS, AICR
- Language to communicate your work credibly to healthcare providers
Building a sustainable professional practice
- How to write a program proposal for hospitals and cancer centers
- Understanding the funding landscape for oncology yoga
- Positioning yourself within interdisciplinary care teams
- Marketing toolkit for launching your practice in your community
The Confidence to Actually Do This Work
- You leave knowing not just what to teach, but why — and how to explain it to a skeptical oncologist, a nervous student, or a hospital program director
- 87% of y4c certified teachers are actively applying their certification after graduation
Professional Credibility and Community
- Individual mentor feedback on your teaching practicum from a senior y4c certified teacher
- Listing in the world’s largest directory of oncology yoga professionals
- 75 Yoga Alliance and IAYT CEUs upon completion
- Access to the y4c teacher community across 39+ countries
- Ongoing access to a curated evidence library, updated as research evolves
100+
cancer types covered
3,000
teachers trained
87%
graduates using certification
