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QUINCY, ILL. -- Mahala Grant-Grierson was a yoga student for most of her life, but it wasn't until after surviving cancer that she decided to teach it.

"When I went through the illness I realized how beneficial yoga was and I thought I want to give back this yoga to the community and other cancer survivors," Grierson said.

Grierson was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2011. During her chemotherapy treatment and recovery she attended cancer survivor yoga sessions.

"I don't know what I would have done without yoga," Grierson said. "It just really bought me a piece of mind. More than anything there was some healing that I felt personally through yoga not just only the physical exercise but I think there's a huge spiritual aspect to yoga."

So when she was approached by the Quincy Park District to teach her own Cancer Survivor Yoga class she jumped, stretched at the chance.

"The comradery is great," Grierson said. "It's kind of like in a sense a support group. You find that you can relate to other cancer survivors and having a teacher that is familiar with the battle that you've gone through I think is really beneficial."

Grierson's class will focus on Vinyasa Flow yoga which incorporates a series of poses or flows. A practice, she says healed her mind, body and soul.

Namaste.

The first Cancer Survivor Yoga class starts Tuesday at 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Emerson Community Center. There is no cost for area cancer survivors.

For more information, click here.