The chair pose, the tree pose, the locust and the wheel — they are all standard yoga moves. Now they come with a twist. They have been modified to help the bodies of women with breast cancer.

Gamma Phi Beta held its first Yogathon event on Sunday to raise money to benefit the Libby Ross Breast Cancer Foundation. The sorority hosted two yoga sessions, taught by Syracuse University instructors, in the Killian Room of the Hall of Languages.

The yoga classes are part of the foundation’s Pose for Pink Yoga Program, which provides support for women dealing with cancer through yoga. The classes are designed to strengthen the parts of the body affected by breast cancer.

The goal of Gamma Phi’s program, called Orange U Yoga, was not only to raise money but also to get young people involved and help fight breast cancer. 

Approximately 30 participants signed up for each yoga session, said Lori Ross, the co-founder of the Libby Ross Breast Cancer Foundation. Relaxing music played as the participants followed an instructor who was at the front of the room. Between sessions, people could help themselves to water bottles and granola bars.

Ross created the foundation in memory of her mother, Elizabeth, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 1998. Since then, the organization has worked to provide various support programs and raise awareness about the disease. 

Through the success of the event, a generous amount of funds was raised, Ross said. 

Ross attended the event and said she was excited about its success. She and Orange U Yoga’s main coordinator, Rachel Brenner, are close friends and have talked about doing a fundraiser for the organization before. Brenner came up with the idea for the yoga classes, Ross said.

‘Rachel and the Gamma Phi girls have done a really great job. She’s done a wonderful job of putting it together,’ Ross said.

Lindsey Pearson, program director and board member for the foundation, said she and others from the foundation were at the Yogathon event to reach out to students. 

‘That’s more of our goal than bringing in big dollars,’ she said.

Pearson said another goal was to bring knowledge about breast cancer to young women.

Charlotte Lipman, a sophomore television, radio and film major, said she thought the session was relaxing. She could still feel the stretches afterward, she said. 

‘When I leave, I always feel that my posture has gotten better,’ she said.

Lipman also has a close connection to the disease and said the program hit close to home for her. Her mother’s cousin had breast cancer. 

Lauren Wannermeyer, a junior hospitality management major, said she had never done yoga before and stuck to the easier modifications. She said she was glad to support breast cancer research and awareness.

‘As a woman, I can sympathize with those who are suffering,’ she said.

By the end of the day, Ross said she felt the foundation’s message got through.

‘It definitely put in the heads of the girls that support services are very important,’ she said, ‘and that awareness is something they could keep in their future.’

mjberner@syr.edu

Published on February 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Maddy: mjberner@syr.edu