Instituto ZENcancer
Instituto ZENcancer is a Brazil- and Portugal-based non-profit association offering free integrative wellness practices — primarily Restorative Yoga, meditation, and psychotherapy — to oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, delivered by a volunteer network across 8+ countries and partially funded by a certified teacher training course.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersRio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Instituto ZENcancer does
Instituto ZENcancer is a civil non-profit association (associação civil sem fins lucrativos) founded in 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Luciana Lobo, Ana Virginia Ramos, and Elizabeth Ribeiro. It offers free integrative and complementary wellness practices — including Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Psychotherapy, Hatha Yoga, Yogatherapy, Pranic Healing, Reiki, Flower Therapy, Art Therapy, Theatre, Creative Writing, Human Movement, Mindfulness, and Nutritional Guidance — to oncology patients, their families and caregivers, and healthcare professionals before, during, and after cancer treatment. The organization was born from founder Luciana Lobo's personal cancer journey (diagnosed May 2017) and has developed proprietary assets including the Protocolo RestauraZEN (a restorative protocol grounded in neurophysiology of relaxation and self-regulation) and the Lubo support equipment designed to adapt restorative postures for patients with physical limitations. The service portfolio is delivered in Portuguese through both in-person sessions in cities across Brazil and Portugal and online sessions reaching participants in Angola, the USA, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Canada, and Austria.
In 2022, the organization expanded to Portugal, establishing Associação ZENcancer Portugal — Saúde Integrativa em Oncologia at the invitation of physiotherapist Maria Alice Medina, creating a dual-entity structure. The operating model is volunteer-driven: 13 employees coordinate a distributed network of trained facilitators and program coordinators (covering Restorative Practice, Yogatherapy, Mindfulness, Reiki, Pranic Healing, Flower Therapy, Hatha Yoga, Art Therapy, Theatre, Creative Writing, Human Movement, Gymnastics, and Nutrition). Revenue is generated primarily through donations (Banco Santander and PIX for Brazil; NIB/IBAN for Portugal) and through the 50-hour Restorative Yoga Teacher Training course run twice yearly in Lisbon, certified by Yoga Alliance International via Gaya Immersions Education under the YACEP designation; 100% of course proceeds are directed back to the Association. The Portugal course is on its 9th edition for October/November 2026, and the organization maintains a flagship partnership with Liga Angolana Contra o Cancro to extend reach into Portuguese-speaking Africa. Marketing and beneficiary acquisition rely on organic social (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), a blog, and referral networks through oncology support groups and hospitals; no AI/ML capabilities, mobile apps, or external APIs are deployed.
Instituto ZENcancer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Instituto ZENcancer
- Legal name
- Instituto ZENcancer
- Website
- https://zencancer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Instituto ZENcancer is a Brazil- and Portugal-based non-profit association offering free integrative wellness practices — primarily Restorative Yoga, meditation, and psychotherapy — to oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, delivered by a volunteer network across 8+ countries and partially funded by a certified teacher training course.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Instituto ZENcancer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Integrative Oncology Wellness Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6213), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Therapeutic/Adaptive Yoga & Clinical Pilates (HSADACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra (HSADACAF), Yoga Nidra & Deep Relaxation Practices (HSADAJAE), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices) (EDAAAHAH)
Keywords
Where Instituto ZENcancer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rio de Janeiro
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Instituto ZENcancer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Teacher Training Course Revenue: The 50-hour Restorative Yoga Teacher Training course conducted by Luciana Lobo is the main sustainability source for ZENcancer Portugal activities. 100% of the revenue raised from the course is donated to the Association, enabling the continuation of free wellness practices for cancer patients. The 9th edition of the course is scheduled for October/November 2026 in Lisbon.
- Donations and Financial Support: The organization receives support from donors (apoiadores) through monthly or sporadic donations. Brazil operations accept donations via Banco Santander and PIX. Portugal operations accept donations via NIB/IBAN. Additionally, partners and supporters provide funding assistance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free wellness practices for cancer patients and supporters |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Instituto ZENcancer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Instituto ZENcancer is a civil non-profit association that provides free integrative and complementary wellness practices — including Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Psychotherapy, Hatha Yoga, Yogatherapy, Pranic Healing, Reiki, Flower Therapy, Creative Writing, Theatre, Art Therapy, Mindfulness, Human Movement, and Nutritional Guidance — to oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals before, during, and after cancer treatment, delivered in-person in Brazil and Portugal and online globally in Portuguese. It also runs a certified 50-hour Restorative Yoga Teacher Training course whose proceeds sustain the free programs.
Product overview
Instituto ZENcancer operates as a dual-entity wellness organization comprising the Instituto ZENcancer Brasil (founded 2018) and the Associação ZENcancer Portugal (established 2022). The organization provides a portfolio of free integrative and complementary wellness practices for oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, including restorative yoga sessions, meditation, and psychotherapy. The flagship educational offering is the certified Formação de Professores em Yoga Restaurativo, a 50-hour teacher training program delivered in Lisbon with online components. The organization also developed the Protocolo RestauraZEN, a specialized restorative protocol for cancer care. All offerings are delivered in Portuguese and serve participants across Brazil, Portugal, Angola, and other countries through both in-person and online sessions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Formação de Professores em Yoga Restaurativo A 50-hour certified Restorative Yoga Teacher Training program taught by Luciana Lobo, designed to equip yoga teachers and wellness practitioners to apply restorative yoga safely in oncology and general therapeutic contexts. Delivered twice yearly in Lisbon with online components, certified by Yoga Alliance International / YACEP via Gaya Immersions Education. Course proceeds (100%) fund the Association's free wellness activities for cancer patients.
- Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (PICs) Free integrative wellness practices offered to oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals before, during, and after cancer treatment. Modalities include Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Psychotherapy (Conversation Circle), Hatha Yoga, Yogatherapy, Pranic Healing, Reiki, Flower Therapy, Creative Writing, Theatre, Art Therapy, Mindfulness, Human Movement, and Nutritional Guidance. Delivered in-person in Brazil and Portugal, and online in Portuguese to international participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- Participants report improved sleep quality, reduced pain, reduced medication reliance, and decreased anxiety and stress through regular Restorative Yoga practice
Companies that use Instituto ZENcancer
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Instituto ZENcancer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Instituto ZENcancer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Liga Angolana Contra o CancroflagshipA special partnership with Liga Angolana Contra o Cancro reinforces ZENcancer's commitment to bringing care and restorative practices to more communities, extending efforts to the African continent. This partnership enables outreach to Portuguese-speaking African countries.
- Gaya Immersions EducationcoreGaya Immersions Education provides YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continued Education Provider) certification support for ZENcancer Portugal's teacher training courses, enabling international certification for graduates.
- Maria Alice MedinacorePhysiotherapist, Acupuncturist, Coach and Speaker who invited ZENcancer to expand to Portugal in 2022, becoming the founder and director of Associação ZENcancer Portugal.
- Boutique da CulturaminorLisbon venue partner for hosting in-person Restorative Yoga Teacher Training courses, located near Colégio Militar metro station at Av. do Colégio Militar, 1500-187, Lisboa.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Instituto ZENcancer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Healing Yoga Foundation: Provides yoga therapy programs for individuals affected by cancer and chronic illness, including specialized teacher training. Closely aligned with ZENcancer's teacher-training-plus-direct-service model.
- Commonweal: Operates the Cancer Help Program, offering week-long residential retreats with yoga, meditation, and other integrative practices for cancer patients. Most directly comparable peer given the integrated, multi-modality wellness model for oncology populations.
- Y4C (Yoga for Cancer): Nonprofit dedicated to making oncology-specific yoga accessible, with teacher training and direct patient programs. Direct functional peer given focus on training instructors to deliver yoga specifically adapted for cancer patients.
- Smith Center for Healing and the Arts: Washington DC-based nonprofit providing integrative cancer care including yoga, meditation, art therapy and support groups. Closely mirrors ZENcancer's model of combining multiple complementary modalities for oncology patients.
Regional players
- Fundação do Câncer: Brazilian non-profit focused on cancer awareness, prevention, and patient support. Regionally comparable cancer-focused nonprofit serving Brazilian populations, though more oriented to awareness/research than direct wellness services.
- Instituto Oncoguia: Brazilian non-profit focused on cancer patient navigation, education and support. Directly comparable as a Brazilian cancer-focused support organization serving Portuguese-speaking patients, though more navigation-focused than wellness-focused.
Broad incumbents
- Macmillan Cancer Support: UK-based major cancer charity offering complementary therapies including yoga and mindfulness alongside broader support services. Comparable in offering wellness modalities to oncology patients, but operates at much greater scale.
- Livestrong Foundation: Major US cancer survivorship nonprofit historically providing integrative wellness programs to cancer survivors. Broader portfolio than ZENcancer but overlapping audience of patients/families seeking non-clinical supportive care.
Others
- Yoga Alliance International: Certifying body for ZENcancer's teacher training course (YACEP designation). Relevant as the credentialing ecosystem enabler that gives the paid training program its international legitimacy and scalability.
- Liga Angolana Contra o Cancro: Angolan oncology association and ZENcancer's named strategic partner; comparable as a Lusophone cancer-focused support organization operating in the same Portuguese-speaking oncology ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Instituto ZENcancer social profiles
Digital presenceInstituto ZENcancer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Instituto ZENcancer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Instituto ZENcancer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Instituto ZENcancer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Instituto ZENcancer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Instituto ZENcancer
What does Instituto ZENcancer do?
Instituto ZENcancer is a civil non-profit association that provides free integrative and complementary wellness practices — including Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Psychotherapy, Hatha Yoga, Yogatherapy, Pranic Healing, Reiki, Flower Therapy, Creative Writing, Theatre, Art Therapy, Mindfulness, Human Movement, and Nutritional Guidance — to oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals before, during, and after cancer treatment, delivered in-person in Brazil and Portugal and online globally in Portuguese. It also runs a certified 50-hour Restorative Yoga Teacher Training course whose proceeds sustain the free programs.
Is Instituto ZENcancer a public or private company?
Instituto ZENcancer is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Instituto ZENcancer founded?
Instituto ZENcancer was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Instituto ZENcancer based?
Instituto ZENcancer is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Instituto ZENcancer make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Teacher Training Course Revenue is the primary driver. The others are donations and Financial Support.
Who are Instituto ZENcancer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Healing Yoga Foundation, Commonweal, Y4C (Yoga for Cancer) and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Regional players are Fundação do Câncer and Instituto Oncoguia. Broad incumbents are Macmillan Cancer Support and Livestrong Foundation. Others are Yoga Alliance International and Liga Angolana Contra o Cancro.
Does Instituto ZENcancer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Instituto ZENcancer.
What industry is Instituto ZENcancer in?
Instituto ZENcancer's product category is Integrative Oncology Wellness Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSADACAE, Therapeutic/Adaptive Yoga & Clinical Pilates, with a secondary code of HSADACAF, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra. Its NAICS code is 6213 and its SIC code is 8000.