Serenity Wellness Therapy

Exercise During and After Breast Cancer Treatment: Yoga Therapy and Pilates in Iowa City

Marcie Evans — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:02:59 +0000

Movement during and after breast cancer treatment has to be done carefully, and it has to be done with someone who understands what treatment does to the body: the shoulder that will not lift the way it used to, the fatigue that comes and goes, the range of motion that needs rebuilding a little at a time. Serenity offers that kind of movement in Iowa City, one person at a time.

Our approach to breast cancer exercise

At our studio, we are committed to supporting individuals affected by breast cancer through safe, gentle, and effective movement during and after treatment. Our instructor, Marcie Evans, is BCES certified, bringing specialized knowledge and training to help breast cancer clients exercise safely and confidently. Through Pilates and yoga therapy, and individualized movement, we focus on rebuilding strength, improving mobility and posture, restoring balance, and supporting overall well-being. We understand that every person’s journey is unique, so sessions are tailored to each client’s needs, energy levels, and abilities, with special attention to shoulder mobility, range of motion, and recovery. Our goal is to provide a compassionate, supportive environment where clients feel empowered to reconnect with their bodies and improve their quality of life.

What a session looks like

Sessions are private and one-on-one, so the work matches where you are that day, not a class plan. Some days that is gentle yoga therapy focused on breath, shoulder mobility, and range of motion. Other days it is Pilates on the mat or the reformer to rebuild core strength and posture. The pace, the load, and the length of the session follow your energy level, and everything can be scaled down or built up from one visit to the next.

Before you start

Check with your care team first. Once they have cleared you for exercise, let us know where you are in treatment or recovery, any restrictions from your surgeon or oncologist, and anything that feels off in your shoulder, chest, or arm. That conversation is the first part of your first session.

About Marcie

Marcie Evans is a Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist (BCES) and the only Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) in the Iowa City area. She has taught mind-body movement since 1999, and cancer recovery, including post-mastectomy work, is one of her specialties. Read more about her training and background on her page.

How to book

Breast cancer exercise sessions are booked as private training. Call the studio at (319) 541-4997, email marcie@serenitywellnesstherapy.com, or send a message through the contact page, and tell us you are getting back to movement during or after breast cancer treatment. We will take it from there.

If you would rather start with a group class once you are further along, our gentle yoga and mat Pilates classes are small and modified to every body in the room.

Morning Yoga in Iowa City: Why a 6 AM Class Might Be the Best Hour of Your Day

Marcie Evans — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:31:56 +0000

There are two kinds of people who take a 6 AM yoga class: the ones who’ve always been morning people, and the ones who tried it once, on a dare to themselves, and never went back to evening workouts. Hope’s Tuesday morning class at Serenity has both.

Here’s what morning yoga does for the rest of your day, what Hope’s class is actually like, and how to make a 6 AM start stick.

What a morning practice changes

Yoga first thing works on the day, not just the body. A steady sequence of strength and stability work wakes up the muscles that sitting puts to sleep, the breath work settles your nervous system before email can rattle it, and you walk out the door with the hardest decision of the day already made.

It’s also the easiest class to keep. Nothing has gone wrong yet at 6 AM. No late meeting, no tired kids, no “I’ll go tomorrow.” People who struggle to stay consistent with evening classes often find the morning one simply holds.

Inside Hope’s 6 AM class

In Hope’s words: “Ease into your morning with this gentle, practical flow. We will move together to build strength and flexibility of the body and mind during this season of transition. Leave feeling grounded, aligned and ready for your day.”

It’s a practical flow, not a sleepy stretch: you’ll build strength and flexibility at a steady, calming pace and finish clear-headed rather than wiped out.

Beginners are welcome. Like every class at Serenity, it’s small, the instructor knows your name, and modifications are offered without making a scene of it. If you’re coming from a gentler practice, this is a comfortable step up; if you want the strength side pushed harder, our TRX classes are built for exactly that.

How to make 6 AM stick

Lay it out the night before. Clothes, mat, keys, water. The fewer decisions at 5:30, the more likely you leave.
Eat light or not at all. A banana or nothing. Breakfast is better after.
Give it three Tuesdays. The first one is a shock, the second is fine, the third is when you notice the rest of Tuesday feels different.
Book it in advance. Our classes stay small on purpose; a reserved spot is a promise to yourself.

Join the class

Morning Yoga with Hope meets Tuesdays, 6:00 to 7:00 AM, at our Iowa City studio. The current session runs October 20 through December 22. An 8-class punch card is $130, a 10-class card is $150, or drop in for $20.

The early time works for people driving in before work, whether you’re in Iowa City or coming from Coralville. Reserve a spot on the schedule, or read about the rest of our yoga classes if mornings aren’t your hour. The full fall lineup is in our new fall classes post.

What Is Relaxation Yoga? Benefits and What to Expect in Class

Marcie Evans — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:03:49 +0000

Most people hear “yoga” and picture effort: balancing, stretching, holding. Relaxation yoga is the other side of the practice. It’s a class built entirely around downshifting, and for a lot of people it’s the hour of the week their body actually lets go.

Here’s what relaxation yoga is, how it differs from the classes you may already know, and what to expect if you try one.

Relaxation yoga, defined

Relaxation yoga is a gentle, slow-paced practice designed to release physical tension and quiet the mind. Instead of building strength or working toward challenging postures, the class moves through comfortable, supported positions held long enough for your muscles to genuinely soften, guided breath work, and a period of stillness at the end.

The aim isn’t a workout. It’s teaching your body to find where it holds tension and let that tension go.

How it differs from gentle and restorative yoga

The three overlap, and studios use the labels differently, so here’s the honest version:

Gentle yoga still moves. You’ll flow slowly through accessible postures, with the emphasis on ease rather than intensity.
Restorative yoga uses props (bolsters, blankets, blocks) to fully support the body in a small number of long-held resting poses.
Relaxation yoga borrows from both and points everything at one outcome: calming the nervous system. Expect breath work, long slow stretches, guided full-body relaxation, and touches that deepen the wind-down.

If you’re choosing between them, you don’t really have to. They’re neighbors on the same end of the yoga spectrum, and our yoga classes cover the range.

What a class looks like at Serenity

Our relaxation classes are built around discovering where your body holds tension and letting it go. Breath work calms the mind and settles the nervous system. Depending on the class, your instructor may bring in essential oils, eye masks, or hot stones to deepen the experience. Every session closes with long, slow stretches, a guided full-body relaxation, and an optional temple massage followed by stillness.

Classes are small, the pace is unhurried, and no experience is required. You don’t need to be flexible. You don’t need to have done yoga before. You need an hour.

Who it’s for

People come to relaxation yoga for different reasons: a stressful season at work, trouble sleeping, a body that feels permanently clenched, or simply the wish for one scheduled hour that belongs to no one else. It’s also a natural companion class for people who train hard elsewhere, including our Pilates students, as the recovery end of an active week.

Because the practice is gentle and adaptable, it suits nearly every body and every age. If you have a specific concern, mention it to your instructor before class; teaching to the bodies in the room is what we do.

Try a class

We run Relaxation Yoga in evening series throughout the year at our Iowa City studio; the current schedule has the next dates.

The evening time makes it an easy stop after work, whether you’re coming from Iowa City or driving in from Coralville. Check the schedule, reserve a spot, and give your week a different ending.

Serenity at Iowa City’s First Downtown Wellness Festival

Marcie Evans — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:46:42 +0000

Downtown Iowa City held its first Downtown Wellness Festival on Saturday, August 22, and I had the joy of teaching one of the event’s free yoga classes. Hundreds of community members came out to enjoy the day, and a morning run, free wellness classes, and dozens of local vendors filled the streets.

The Daily Iowan covered the festival and stopped by our class. Two University of Iowa students who practiced with us told the reporter they appreciated having a variety of ways to approach each exercise so all skill levels could participate. This is exactly what I hope people carry out of every class I teach. You can read the full story here: Iowa City downtown builds community through health and wellness festival.

Comfort Comes First

Everything at Serenity starts with a conversation. Before you join a class, we sit down together and talk through any injuries, health conditions, medical history and fitness goals, so that your practice fits your body instead of the other way around. It is the same approach whether you come to us for yoga, Pilates, or barre.

This Might Be Your Thing

If you participated in the festival and it sparked something for you—or if you wish you had been there—fall is a wonderful time to begin. We have three new classes starting this fall, including a beginner-friendly series, Intro to Pilates: Mat. You can always find the full lineup on our class schedule.

Scenes from Saturday

A friend caught a few moments from the morning on her phone cam. Here are some of my favorites, from our first standing poses to the stretching and relaxation that closed out the class.

August/September 2026 Newsletter

Marcie Evans — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:18:01 +0000

We’re so glad you’re here!

A Studio Update: Check Out Our New Classes!

We’re excited to share some beautiful additions and updates to our weekly lineup! Whether you’re looking to build strength, find stillness, or try something new, we have something for you.

Relaxation Yoga with Noelle – Monday SEP 14, 21 & 28 at 6:30 PM

Enjoy this relaxing and inclusive yoga class to discover where your body is holding in tension. This flow incorporates breath work to regulate the nervous system and clear the mind. Essential oils, eye masks and hot stones may be used to enhance the relaxation experience. Class ends with deep stretches, a guided full-body relaxation, and an optional temple massage followed by stillness.

FEE: $60 ALL 3 OR $25 per class

Early Morning Yoga with Hope – Tuesdays at 6:00 AM

Yoga is THE BEST way to wake up! Join Hope for this wonderful combination of strength and stability, also calm, to give you the perfect start to your day!

Sept. 1st-Oct. 6th
FEE: $90 for ALL 6 or $20 per class

Intro to Pilates: Mat with Tricia

This 6-week Beginner Mat Pilates series will give you all of the basics of Pilates and help you better engage your core. Mat Pilates can also help tone your muscles, correct imbalances, and prevent back pain with regular practice.

Qi Gong – Tuesdays at 5:30 PM

This class is offered as a paid class through Deep Roots Acupuncture and is currently filled. If you are interested in future classes, please contact Lucy Marsh at Deep Roots (please email us with subject line Qi Gong) for more info.

**Please see the class schedule for select dates and registration.

$25 BIA SCANS!

We’re excited to share that we’re now offering BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) scans at the studio! This quick, non-invasive assessment provides insight into your body composition—including muscle mass, body fat percentage, hydration levels, and more.

Whether you’re building strength, deepening your practice, or focusing on overall wellness, a BIA scan gives you meaningful data to support your goals beyond the scale. Think of it as another tool to help you move, feel, and live better!

Quarterly Progress Package: 4 scans (one every quarter) + analysis from Marcie, $175
Single Scan Option: 1 scan, no analysis, $25

Three New Classes Join Our Fall Schedule in Iowa City

Marcie Evans — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:18:01 +0000

Fall is when routines reset, and this year we are making it easy to build movement into yours. Three new classes are joining the schedule at our Iowa City studio this fall, spanning both ends of the day and both sides of our practice: yoga to help you unwind, yoga to help you wake up, and a brand-new Mat Pilates series built for beginners.

Whether you are looking to build strength, find stillness, or try something new, there is a spot here for you. None of these classes require an orientation, just register and show up. Here is what is starting, and how to grab your place before classes fill.

Relaxation Yoga with Noelle: Monday Evenings at 6:30 PM

If your nervous system needs a Monday reset, this is it. Relaxation Yoga is a gentle, inclusive class built around discovering where your body holds tension, and letting it go. Noelle weaves in breath work to calm the mind and regulate the nervous system, and may bring in essential oils, eye masks, and hot stones to deepen the experience. Each class closes with long, slow stretches, a guided full-body relaxation, and an optional temple massage followed by stillness.

When: Mondays, September 14, 21 & 28 at 6:30 PM
Cost: $60 for all three sessions, or $25 per class
Best for: stress relief, better sleep, and anyone who has ever said “I’m too tense for yoga”

If gentle, restorative practice is your speed, you will find more options on our yoga classes page.

Early Morning Yoga with Hope: Tuesdays at 6:00 AM

Yoga is the best way to wake up, and Hope makes the case every Tuesday at 6 AM. This six-week series blends strength and stability work with a steady, calming pace, so you walk out the door stronger, clearer, and already ahead of your day.

When: Tuesdays at 6:00 AM, September 1 to October 6
Cost: $90 for all six sessions, or $20 per class
Best for: early risers, before-work movers, and anyone who wants their workout done before the day starts negotiating

Update: the class continues October 20 through December 22; punch cards are $130 for 8 or $150 for 10, drop-in $20.

Intro to Pilates: Mat with Tricia, Thursdays at 5:30 PM

New to Pilates? This is your on-ramp. Tricia’s six-week Intro to Pilates: Mat series teaches the fundamentals from the ground up: how to properly engage your core, move with control, and build the kind of deep strength that supports everything else you do. With regular practice, Mat Pilates helps tone muscles, correct imbalances, and prevent back pain.

When: Thursdays at 5:30 PM, August 27 through October 1
Cost: $90 for all 6 sessions, or $18 per class
Best for: first-timers, desk workers, and anyone curious about Pilates without the machines

Want the full picture of what mat Pilates is, who it is for, and how it compares to reformer? We put together a complete guide on our new Mat Pilates page.

And If You Have Been Eyeing the Reformer

Our reformer classes run all year, and fall is a great time to claim a spot as summer schedules wind down. If you have built some core strength on the mat, or you just want the full spring-resistance experience, explore our Reformer Pilates classes and come see why our students keep coming back.

New This Fall: $25 BIA Body-Composition Scans

One more addition to the studio: we now offer BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis) scans, a quick, non-invasive assessment of muscle mass, body fat percentage, hydration, and more. It is meaningful data for your goals beyond the scale. Single scans are $25, or get four quarterly scans plus Marcie’s analysis for $175. Ask at the studio or contact us to book one alongside your classes.

Save Your Spot

Our classes stay intentionally small, and series like these fill up. You can register through our studio page, or check the full fall schedule to see where these new classes fit into your week.

See you on the mat this fall.

June 2026 Newsletter

Marcie Evans — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:17:53 +0000

We’re so glad you’re here!

A Studio Update: Check Out Our New Classes!

We’re excited to share some beautiful additions and updates to our weekly lineup! Whether you’re looking to build strength, find stillness, or try something new, we have something for you.

Yoga for Stress Release with Noelle

Offered ONLY Thursday, July 16th, 2026 at 6-7:30PM. Relaxing and inclusive Yoga session with candlelight, essential oils, calming music. Led by one of our veteran yoga teachers (20+ years of experience)!

Yoga Therapy Flow (Your Yoga)- Wednesdays at 8:00 AM with Marcie Evans, CYT

Select dates this Summer, a very special class! Bring your body AS-IS to this Yoga fixer-upper! This ‘Pain or Shine’ class is the way to learn how to cope with and potentially help with chronic nagging issues in your body. We will move in a slow flow into postures and postures and self-massage techniques will specifically be selected and choreographed to deal with YOUR issues of the day!

Morning Yoga with Hope- Tues/Thurs at 6:00 AM

A class especially for the early riser! Special dates offered this Summer, please register online!

**Please peruse schedule for select dates.

Healing with Pilates (6-Week Series) – Tuesdays & Thursdays at Noon, Mondays and Wednesdays at 11.

This class SERIES is a very special group class for those healing injuries or returning to Pilates post-injury or surgery (NOT meant for beginners to the reformer, and also NOT meant to diagnose injuries OR be a replacement for Physical Therapy)! We will use the reformer, cadillac, stability chair and more to work everyone through the best exercises for them in a slow and controlled fashion. Modifications will be provided for those needing them. This class is going to be very slow and mindful, gleaning the most strength and flexibility possible from each and every exercise.

Qi Gong – Tuesdays at 5:30 PM

BIA Scans Available

Know MORE about your health and fitness! Are you doing enough to maintain or improve your fitness level? We’re excited to share that we’re now offering BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) scans at the studio to help you answer these questions! This quick, non-invasive assessment provides insight into your body composition—including muscle mass, body fat percentage, hydration levels, and more.

Quarterly Progress Package: 4 scans (one every quarter) + analysis and recommendations from Marcie, $175
Single Scan Option: 1 scan, no analysis, $25