Journey Within

Nanci George will lead yoga classes for children as part of Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s fourth annual ‘Yoga Unites.’

By: Sally Friedman
   She will never forget the conversation. Nanci George was talking to the husband of a young breast cancer patient, a mother like herself, when he mentioned that his wife was spending the day cutting off most of her hair and being fitted for a wig as she underwent chemotherapy.
   "I thought about her kids, and what they must have been going through that day," says Ms. George, a Bensalem, Pa., resident and registered nurse who works with psychiatric patients at Philadelphia’s Friends Hospital. "I know from my work in nursing that serious illness doesn’t just affect the patient — it affects the whole family in significant and painful ways."
   On May 21, on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Ms. George will be reaching out to those families as she participates, as a volunteer, in a gathering of more than 500 people affected by breast cancer, from current patients and survivors to their loved ones.
   Ms. George’s role: leading yoga exercises for kids as part of Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s fourth annual Yoga Unites event.
   People of all ages and fitness levels are invited to spend the morning experiencing the healing effects of this ancient discipline, one that Ms. George believes can be remarkably healing for kids. A certified facilitator for YogaKids, a worldwide organization of specialized yoga trainers for youngsters ages 3 to 18, Ms. George plans to work with any children who are interested in participating in yoga at the event.
   "Children’s yoga is delightful, fun and creative," says Ms. George, who has taught yoga to children with physical conditions such as cerebral palsy. "It gives kids permission to feel satisfied within their own bodies, and to discover a sense of awareness and respect for each other and the environment," "With children’s yoga, there is acceptance, not competition. The journey is within."
   For children dealing with a parent’s illness, past or present, there are often strains that go unexpressed. Ms. George’s background in psychiatric nursing has, she believes, given her a unique perspective on mental health, and also on the benefits of yoga at almost any age.
   "The youngest children I’ve taught were 2, and I began with my own grandson when he was only a year old," she says. "My own yoga journey began by my standing on my head with my baby grandson."
   Over the last two years, Ms. George has led yoga classes for kids at Decorwood Showroom and Soy Good Health Food Store, both in Bensalem, Pa., but she ran out of space and is currently seeking a permanent home for her programs. Meanwhile, she will be working at Today in Newtown, Pa., developing a yoga program coordinated with a 12-step approach for teens struggling with alcohol and drug problems.
   "I obviously believe in the value of yoga for all ages, and I’m delighted to participate in the Art Museum event to help spread the word about yoga not just for adults, but also for children," says Ms. George.
   The Yoga Unites event will feature remarks from Philadelphia resident Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the New York Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love (Viking, $24.95). There will also be an appearance by Valerie Kraus, a breast cancer survivor who recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The international organization based in Philadelphia aims to empower all women affected by breast cancer to live as long — and as well — as possible.
   Yoga Unites also will welcome Jackson Hunsicker, author of Turning Heads (Press On Regardless, $29.95), a collection of photos and essays by women undergoing cancer treatment.
   Leading the adult mass yoga class will be Jennifer Schelter, founder of the Yoga Schelter Studio in Philadelphia’s East Falls, who came up with the concept when her close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. "By using yoga as part of the healing process, I hope to honor all women who struggle with breast cancer, and the people who lend them support," says the well-known yoga expert.
   The morning event will offer extensive information on yoga, healthful foods, natural cosmetics and other goods and services with a healthful bent.
   But for one Bucks County, Pa., woman, the real mission will be to reach children, particularly those experiencing stress, and to get them in touch with the ancient discipline that she earnestly believes can make their lives more peaceful and serene.
   "Life can be pretty complicated for kids, and this is one activity that doesn’t leave kids looking around to see if they’re performing as well as the next kid," says Ms. George. "Yoga is about what the late Mr. Rogers used to tell kids: ‘I like you just the way you are.’"
Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Yoga Unites will be held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Phila., May 21, 8 a.m.-noon, rain or shine. Walk-in registration $35, $10 ages 6-16. Participants are advised to wear comfortable clothing and are asked to bring their own towels or mats. For information and registration, call (610) 645-4567. On the Web: www.lbbc.org