Yoga, which means "union," is a 5,000-year-old system of principles and practices that focus on movement and breathing. More than a hundred variations of yoga are practiced in the United States—some slow and gentle and others active and fast-moving.

Research in breast cancer patients has shown that yoga may be able to help improve physical functioning, reduce fatigue, reduce stress, improve sleep and improve quality of life.

Several cancer patients take yoga classes at Health Directions, Lexington Medical Center's health and wellness facility in West Columbia. In this WLTX news story, Darci Strickland introduces us to a yoga teacher and some of her patients, who talk about how yoga has helped them through their journeys with cancer.

Patients who are being treated for cancer at Lexington Medical Center receive complementary fitness classes and specialized personal training at Health Directions, thanks to funding from the Lexington Medical Center Foundation.