ANCHOR LEAD IN:
IT'S DESIGNED TO RELAX, CHANNEL ENERGY, AND GET YOU INTO SHAPE... BUT DOES YOGA HAVE ACTUAL HEALING BENEFITS? A GROWING NUMBER OF MEDICAL CENTERS...EVEN LEADING HOSPITALS...ARE ADDING YOGA CLASSES FOR PATIENTS WITH EVERYTHING FROM CHROHN'S DISEASE TO CANCER. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BEND....BREATHE... AND HEAL? HERE"S____________WITH A HEADS UP!

NAT SOT Length: 02
"Please lay on your backs."

TRACK ONE Length: 02
DARK LIGHTING... DEEP BREATHING....

NAT SOT Length: 02
"AHHHHHHHH"

TRACK TWO Length: 07
...AND PECULIAR POSES. THIS MAY LOOK LIKE A TYPICAL YOGA CLASS, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS LIKE CYNTHIA MENCHER.

SOT
KEY @: 14 Cynthia Mencher, Breast Cancer Survivor
"I was diagnosed in March 2000 with breast cancer."

TRACK THREE Length: 12
IN FACT, MOST OF THE PARTICIPANTS EITHER HAVE, OR HAVE SURVIVED, CANCER. LEADING HOSPITALS AND YOGA CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE NOW CONDUCTING CLASSES FOR PATIENTS WITH SPECIFIC ILLNESSES. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THESE CLASSES?

SOT
Length: 03(Jackie Herbach, Yoga Instructor, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center )
"They're definitely smaller. The pace is a little slower."

TRACK FOUR Length: 11
AND THEY'RE TAILORED AROUND PATIENT LIMITATIONS. JACKIE HERBACH TEACHES YOGA AT THE MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER. SHE SAYS THE EXERCISE PROGRAMS HELP LOWER ANXIETY AND EASE SIDE EFFECTS....

SOT
KEY @: 46 Jackie Herbach, Yoga Instructor, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
"Lots of the medications seem to, can cause nausea, fatigue, headache -- and yoga is wonderful for relieving fatigue."

TRACK FIVE Length: 09
NOTE TO CLIENTS:
For more information on the studies, please see source information below.
RESEARCH BACKS THAT UP. BUT WHILE INITIAL STUDIES SHOW YOGA HAS BENEFITS AS A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY ... SOME DOCTORS WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CLAIMS DON'T GO TOO FAR...

SOT
KEY @: 1:05 Dr. Robert Baratz, National Council Against Health Fraud
"Yoga, like many other things, like massage, like prayer, like physical therapy can be helpful to people in making them relax better, but it doesn't treat the disease that's underneath that."

TRACK SIX Length: 05
INSTRUCTOR JACKIE HERBACH SAYS THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF STRESS RELIEF SHOULDN'T BE OVERLOOKED...

SOT
Length: 06(Jackie Herbach, Yoga Instructor, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
"Helping to increase lung capacity, possibly lowering one's blood pressure, heart rate."

TRACK SEVEN Length: 06
AS FOR CYNTHIA, SHE FEELS STRONGER BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AFTER HITTING THE MATS...AND SAYS THAT'S ALL SHE NEEDS TO KNOW.

SOT
Length: 12(Cynthia Mencher, Breast Cancer Survivor)
" Well, I don't know what doctors are saying that, but I think anybody who does yoga, doctor or non doctor, would recognize the benefits."

ANCHOR TAG:
HERBACH SAYS MANY TIMES, THE CLASSES BECOME MINI-SUPPORT GROUPS FOR HER STUDENTS...WITH PATIENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH TREATMENT OFTEN PROVIDING COMFORT TO THOSE JUST DIAGNOSED.

SOURCE INFORMATION:

Robert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD
National Council Against Health Fraud
119 Foster Street
Peabody, MA 01960
978-532-9383

Dr Baratz is the President of the National Council Against Health Fraud. He says yoga is a good alternative therapy; however, it should not be described as an alternative treatment for any disease or condition.

Dr Baratz practices dentistry, medicine, and emergency medicine. He has held academic appointments at several major universities and has served as a consultant for government agencies, professional associations, insurance companies, and industry.

Jackie Herbach
Yoga Instructor
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Medicine Service
PR Contact:
Maria Connizzo
Office: 646-227-3956

Herbach has been teaching yoga since 1990. She has taught classes for people with several illnesses including cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Sloan-Kettering Information:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering says that people living with diseases, like cancer, can benefit physically and emotionally from complementary therapies. Their yoga classes promote relaxation and reduce fatigue.

Sloan-Kettering does say yoga is not a substitute for mainstream medical care, but their Integrative Medicine Service helps their patients have the best quality of life.

SOURCE INFORMATION FOR TRACK FIVE

Mamtani, R. Ayuryeda and Yoga in Cardiovascular Disease. Caridol Rev. 2004 September/Oct; 12 (5): 155-162

Bower JE, Woolery A, Sternlieb B, Garet D. Yoga for Cancer Patients and Survivors. Cancer Control 2005 Jul:12(3): 165-71. Review.

Nicole Culos-Reed S., Carlson LE, Daroux LM, Hately-Aldous S. A pilot study of Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors: Physical and Psychological Benefits. Pyschooncology. 2005 Dec 23

Brazier A, Mulkins A, Verhoef M. Evaluating a Yogic Breathing and Meditation Intervention of Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS. Am J Health Promot. 2006 Jan-Feb: 20 (3): 192-5