Why Cancer Patients Practice Yoga?
The purpose of Yoga practicing is to stretch the muscles, strengthen the body and increase concentration. Based on the Yoga concept, the most effortless breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques can go a long way in helping cancer patient deal with anxiety of surgery and cope well with cancer treatment side effects such as pain and tiredness.
Briefing of Yoga
Yoga is an ancient Hindu practice started over 5,000 years ago but now very popular in Western countries; and these days Yoga has conquered the world with its helpful healthy effects on those who practice it. Yoga is more than just an exercise to get our physical body fit and healthy, proper practice of yoga is intended at bringing mind, body and soul in perfect harmony.
Yoga practitioners deal with the body is through the practice of physical postures (called asanas). These invigorate and balance all the systems within the body – circulatory system, respiratory, digestive, nervous system, musculoskeletal, endocrine, reproductive and urogenital system.
Yoga in Cancer Cure
While yoga may not cure cancer, it might enhance the healing process. Yoga practice is always patient specific, depending upon which parts are affected, the type of cancer one is suffering from, and the patient’s physical abilities. The physical exercises and asanas in Yoga work in a number of ways on the internal organs and the systems of the body, especially the nervous system.
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center conducted a pilot study in 2005 with 61 women recovering from breast cancer surgery and undergoing radiation treatment. Thirty women were assigned to a test group that took twice-a-week yoga classes. The others did not.
The study was primarily a psychological evaluation, but the initial results also revealed that the control group performing yoga experienced less fatigue and an enhanced ability to do daily tasks and had fewer problems with daytime sleepiness.
Reasons Cancer Patients Practice Yoga
Based on some studies, benefits of yoga for cancer patients included better sleep, improvements in mood, reduced stress, and enhanced day-to-day capabilities. So cancer patients are advisable to practice yoga while undergoing cancer treatment to improve quality of life.
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