Table 3 Thematic analysis of interview data
From: Yoga in adult cancer: an exploratory, qualitative analysis of the patient experience
Theme | Category | Pattern | Supporting Statement |
|---|---|---|---|
Patient-perceived benefits of yoga | Psychological and emotional wellbeing | Reduces my stress | "It's that calming down, and yoga is helpful for that…stress reduction is a big one…(after yoga) I feel more relaxed but energized at the same time. It's a really, really nice feeling….Yoga is terrific!" |
Feelings of peace and quiet | "My yoga practice has been huge, because it has allowed me, even in this kind of turmoil, to find peace." | ||
Increases acceptance of self and world around me | "I find it very comfortable and rewarding…I just felt much calmer and more accepting." | ||
Physical wellbeing and body awareness | Improves strength flexibility | "I feel stronger in my body, if nothing else. I don’t know if it's dealt with the fatigue so much, but it's certainly made me feel more solid." | |
It's like exercise, but better | "I think because it's so adaptive and gentle, it's a really beneficial way to get our bodies moving again and the environment of a yoga class is a safe place." | ||
Facilitates groups support and social cohesion | Comforting to be with people who know about cancer | " Although my friends are supportive…the people here understand more of that, more of what you are going through. And it's nice to compare notes." | |
A way to socialize, and meet interesting people | "The community aspect…we socialize and hike and it's nice to hear what the other people are doing…I think that's big factor…” | ||
Reasons and motivation for practising yoga | Seeking a non-medical approach | Desire for a holistic, integrated way of thinking | "I want to pursue a more holistic approach to anything in my life." |
Self-identify as a healthy person, not a patient | "That was my first surgery since I had my tonsils out when I was ten. I don’t want to just be a medical patient." | ||
Maximizing treatment plan | To do all I can to prolong and enjoy my life | "I think it has been an important part of my treatment. And just the feeling that you are doing everything that you can to prolong your life. And your quality of life, too." | |
Creating a treatment plan that suits me | "My qualms with the conventional treatment model is right now it's off the shelf, 'oh, you've got prostate cancer? Here, do this or that', it's not customized and personalized…that's why I've chosen my own personalized treatment of different practices." | ||
Personal responsibility for illness and wellness | "Surgery, radiation and chemo are passive forms of healing, you turn yourself over to somebody to be healed, and these other forms are active healing…I'm actively involved in my own health and healing, not waiting for some saviour on the outside to make me better." | ||
Hurdles and barriers to practising yoga | Logistics | Lack of time | "You have to pick Suzie up at day care and Johnny needs to go skating and somebody's got to make dinner, where do you find time?" |
Cost and accessibility of yoga | "Time, cost and location. Because this isn't a great location, parking is difficult." | ||
Competing priorities during acute treatment | "Looking back on it, it would have been good for me to go to those yoga classes (during chemotherapy)…but I didn't until the end of chemo…there was so much going on." | ||
Personal factors | Lack of discipline | "Discipline. I mean these five Tibetan rights that I could easily do every morning…but I got on it for a month or so and then slid away from that." | |
Recommendations for effective yoga program and delivery | Instruction | Expert instruction with a gentle and predictable class sequence | "We all get in the room and we usually throw our legs up the wall…and then she (the instructor) comes in…and she brings us back down and off we go…it's a pretty good routine…and it's yoga…a good stretch, a good workout." |
Supporting a home-practice | Training needed about how to do brief sessions | "It doesn't have to be long, but it has to be every day." | |
Online or video-led yoga | Not desirable, would miss the instructor-led component | "You need to have somebody instructing I think. Otherwise it's very easy not to turn it on…You go to the class and you know for the hour…you are going to be concentrating on doing the yoga." | |
Cancer-specific yoga | Cancer-only groups make me feel more comfortable | "That this is like our private little club of people who have cancer and you don’t have cancer, you don’t belong here. I’m exaggerating that. I don’t feel that strongly but it is sort of like what are you doing here really?" | |
Negative experience with community-based classes | "There's other yoga places I've gone to and they say, 'go, go, go, go!' You know what I'm saying? [laughter] And I don't wanna be ah 'go, go, go' because, you know, I probably will stretch my muscles too fast. I need to be gentle with myself right now and I feel that that's a place where I can do it." |