Cancer is on such rise these days. As per WHO’s International Agency for Research of Cancer in Globocon 2020 Reports that in India there were 13,24,413 new cases of people suffering from this dreadful disease. The treatment of Cancer is turmoil in itself for the Cancer patients and also for their care givers. There are so many uncertainties a person deals with when it comes to Cancer. For instance, whether the disease has completely cured, its progression, treatment’s after effects or side effects, what if it recurs, and the financial pressure. All these things take a toll on everyone in relation to the patient.
It is challenging for the patients to deal with a life-threatening disease emotionally and physically. The treatment for Cancer takes time, it differs from couple of months to may be years and to keep a positive attitude throughout is very difficult. Many research shows that Yoga therapeutically helps to heal the body, mind and soul. It is very well-established that there are so many health benefits of Yoga in general and when cancer patients practice Yoga regularly, then it supports them through their battle against Cancer.
What exactly is Cancer?
Our body is made up of more than billions and trillions of cells. Old cells die and new cells take their place. Cancer is such a disease in which an abnormal cell of the body divides and grows uncontrollably. Some of these cells may eventually spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). These cells may form into tumors which are lumps of tissues. Tumors can be Cancerous (Malignant) or non-cancerous (Benign).
What are the forms of Cancer?
There are more than 100 different forms or types of Cancer. The five main categories of Cancer are:
• Carcinoma
• Sarcoma
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Central nervous system cancer
Causes of Cancer
As very aptly described by Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, “The major cause of Cancer lays in your lifestyle. The frequent changes in food choices, cooking methods, sleep pattern, daily use products, and lack of physical activities play an important role in causing cancer.”
Some of the causes are stated below:
• Harmful cooking methods
• No proper ventilation in kitchen
• Eating stale food
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of proper hygiene
• Cosmetics
• Obesity
• Tobacco and alcohol
Benefits of Yoga for Cancer Pati ents
Yoga helps cancer patients and cancer survivors relax and cope with stress, anxiety and depression. It also helps in managing the symptoms and side-effects from the treatment. There are innumerable benefits of doing yoga, more specifically benefits of yoga for Cancer pati ents are as follows:
1. Management of State of Mind
Yoga practice is very useful as many cancer patients perceive Cancer as threat and constantly live under fear for their life. Practicing specially designed Yoga poses for cancer patients, practice of meditation by focusing on the breath and pranayama breathing exercises helps in changing the perceptions and reactivity to the situation. Dr. Hansaji Yogendra says, “Cancer is in your body; don’t let it go to your head. Mind supersedes body; don’t let your body overpower your mind. Deal with cancer like a common cold”. These practices in turn help in reduction of fatigue, anxiety and depressive symptoms and encourage resilience to face everything in a calm manner.
2. Improves Bodily Functions
With all the Cancer treatments going on from chemotherapy, popping pills to surgery, there are many side-effects like indigestion, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, insomnia etc. Yoga practices including Asanas aids in proper blood circulation in the body, cleansing practice in kriyas and breathing exercises through pranayama improve digestion and helps in managing these side effects effectively. Chanting and meditation on sound of ‘OM’ and other mantras reduces fear, anxiety and instil restful state of mind.
3. Neuromuscular Strengthening
Going through enormous number of treatments including multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, there are many muscle related issues such as loss of strength, muscle weakness, stiffness of joint, pain, burning sensation, tingling feeling, soreness etc. One of the best known health benefits of Yoga is loosening of muscles and joints stiffness, Yoga poses help in strengthening the muscles and managing the aches. Regular practice helps in functional well-being and keeps one active to complete daily tasks.
Post Cancer treatment; there can be some cognitive issues like mental cloudiness, lack of mental sharpness, forgetfulness, decrease in problem solving skills, lack of concentration etc. often referred to as Chemo Brain. Doctors describe Chemo Brain as cancer treatment related cognitive impairment, cancer related cognitive change or post chemotherapy cognitive impairment. Meditation can help improve brain function by increasing your focus and awareness. One can also practice The Yoga Institute’s Reflection Technique known as Anitya Bhavana which will grea tly help in regaining mindfulness and memory strengthening. As Dr. Jayadeva says “We have to cultivate a balanced state of mind and that is an exercise – throughout the day, whenever you get the chance, just enjoy the balanced peaceful state.”
Must Know: Yoga Asanas For Healthy Body and Mind
4. Emotional Well-being
A cancer diagnosis can create storm of emotions, making one question everything in life. Healing the emotional wound from cancer diagnosis is as important as healing the physical wound to overcome the battle against Cancer. The stress hormones activated in the brain by this trauma gets stuck in active mode and sometimes do not go back to normal turning into PTSD. Dr. Hansaji Yogendra says, “While dealing with Cancer, atmosphere also matters a lot, it may be a healthy place but change it. Change work wonders in healing.” Here, Yoga is the necessary tool to emotionally heal and grow strong internally to pull through this traumatic event.
5. Reducing the Risk of Recurrence
Therapy based yoga helps beyond the physical and work on the patient as a whole including emotional and cognitive function. It helps taming the fears of recurrence. After chemotherapy period is over, the cell multiplication has to be brought back to normal; growth of new cells replacing the old cells has to be normal. Here, Yoga therapeutically helps in strengthening the nervous system and slowly rebuilds the immunity of the body and normalises the bodily functions. Medicine helps kill cancer cells, Yoga treatment works on making the cells healthy, so that these can take care of Cancer before its recurrence. Yoga poses along with pranayama and meditation help break the cycle of negative thoughts and helps let go of things to gain control on the present.
Yoga Poses for Cancer Patients
The Yoga Poses will help remain strong and flexible and encourage good supply of blood and oxygen to the entire body.
Method of Practice:
• Stand with your feet together and hands by your side.
• Using your hands, lift your right leg laterally and press the sole of your foot against the left thigh as high as you can, the heel preferably close to the groin and toes pointing down. For those who cannot lift their legs so high, avoid placing the foot against the knees but rest the foot, wherever comfortable, against the thigh, avoiding the knee joints.
• Balance your body weight on the right leg.
• Once the balance is achieved, join both your palms in a prayer pose. Breathe normally.
• Maintain the pose for a few seconds. If your body sways or you tend to lose balance, try to fix your gaze at one point ahead.
• Bring your leg down and repeat the same procedure with the opposite leg
• Gradually increase the timing of remaining in the posture from a few seconds to one minute with each leg.
Benefits:
• It improves your body balance, endurance, and alertness.
• It stimulates many areas of your nervous system.
• It keeps your mind in the present moment.
• It calms the mind.
Read More: Yoga and Breast Cancer
Marjariasana
Method of Practice:
• Come onto your fours. Form a table such that your back forms the table top and your hands and feet form the legs of the table.
• Keep your arms perpendicular to the floor, with the hands directly under the shoulders and flat on the ground; your knees are hip-width apart.
• As you inhale, raise your chin and tilt your head back, push your navel downwards and raise your tailbone. Compress your buttocks.
• As you exhale, drop your chin to your chest and arch your back up as much as you can; relax the buttocks.
• Hold this pose for a few seconds before you return to the initial table-like stage.
Benefits:
• Getting rid of fatigue and relief from chronic back pain.
• Opens up the upper and lower back muscles.
• It brings in flexibility, massaging the digestive organs thus improving digestion.
• Cat pose also relaxes your mind and tones your abdominal region.
Method of Practice:
• Lie supine at full length on a mat with your feet together and hands at the sides. Inhale.
• Exhaling, raise your right leg, fold it at the knee joint and clasp your knee (or shin) with both your hands interlocking at the arms.
• Pull the knee up to your chest and keep it firmly pressed suspending your breath and maintain the posture for six seconds.
• Release posture inhaling and repeat in the same manner with other leg.
• Repeat the posture with both legs.
Benefits:
• Intra-abdominal compression provides good circulation.
• Great stretch for the extremities.
• Relieves constipation.
• Improves functioning of abdominal and pelvic organs.
Shavasana
Method of Practice:
• Lie down on the mat in supine position.
• Keep distance between your legs wider than your hip width.
• Keep your arms away from the body, palm facing upwards.
• Tuck your chin little towards your chest so that there is no compression at the nape of the neck.
• Close your eyes and consciously relax each and every body part in a systematic manner. Starting from lower body to the crown of your head.
• Do not engage in any external sound or thoughts.
• Keep your breath slow and rhythmic.
• Stay in this relaxed consciousness for 10-15mins.
Benefits:
• Rejuvenates and revitalizes mind and body.
• Relieves anxiety and stress.
• Relieves muscular and nervous tension.
• Calms the central nervous system.
• Normalizes blood pressure.
To conclude, one has to try and follow a healthy lifestyle, good eating habits, proper sleeping patterns, stay away from tobacco and alcohol. Also add some form of physical activities in your daily routine like Yoga, Walking, etc. to make your mind and body strong, healthy and energetic.
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