Gentle Restorative Yoga and Cancer - Easing Fatigue, Depression and Finding Ease

RESTORATIVE YOGA

Restorative yoga, which is the most gentle kind of yoga, may provide some relief of fatigue and depression problems for women with breast cancer. In restorative yoga you can hold the poses for longer because you’re being supported. Researchers found women who practiced this gentler version of the popular mind-body therapy had a 50 percent reduction in depression and a 12 percent increase in feelings of peacefulness.

Sleep disturbances and fatigue are a common among cancer survivors; 30 to 50 percent of newly diagnosed or recently treated cancer patients have trouble sleeping, and 70 to 96 percent of recently treated cancer patients complain of fatigue.

There are various adjustments to traditional yoga that allow for a gentle, therapeutic practice. This is called restorative yoga and classes generally consist of poses, breathing and meditation.

Yoga may also assist in managing depression, anxiety, insomnia, pain, and fatigue. It can increase the quality of life for those directly affected by cancer and those who care for them. Complementary therapy such as yoga can be crucial in helping those affected by cancer develop a solid physical, emotional and mental base as they make- the sometimes difficult- transition from being a person with cancer to living as a cancer survivor. Yoga might not affect your recovery on a physical level but it can change your perspective so that you are able to face difficult situation with less fear and more control and emotional mastery.

Cancer patients often find themselves in distracted states of mind—bombarded as they are by frightening, sometimes contradictory, information, subjected to invasive, painful procedures, and not-always-compassionate medical care. When our minds are so grievously disturbed, we may find it impossible to make crucial decisions or relate satisfactorily to our family and friends. Practicing controlled breathing exercises (also called Pranayama), meditation can help in relieving tension. When the tension is released, energy can flow more easily in the body and allow patients to experience a sense of well-being, emotional mastery and strength.
In healthy people when practiced appropriately with an experienced teacher, Yoga is generally considered to be safe.

People with certain medical conditions should not do certain yoga practices or should consult a medical pratitioner that is also knowledgeable about yoga poses and contraindiciations. For example, people with disc disease of the spine, extremely high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, retinal detachment, fragile or atherosclerotic arteries, a risk of blood clots, ear problems, severe osteoporosis, or cervical spondylitis should avoid some inverted poses.

Although yoga during pregnancy is safe if practiced under expert guidance, pregnant women should avoid certain poses that may be problematic and should only practice with a teacher trained in prenatal yoga.

Yoga can boost a woman's quality of life while she's being treated for breast cancer. According to recent research, women who did yoga classes had better emotional, social, and spiritual well-being compared to women who didn't do yoga. Women who were not having chemotherapy got more benefits from yoga. This could be because fatigue and other chemotherapy side effects may make it harder to participate in a yoga class.

Maintaining balance in your life while dealing with breast cancer can be difficult. Yoga focuses on the interactions between your mind, your body, and your behavior. While scientific research on yoga is relatively new and the studies are small, early results have shown that some yoga may help ease physical and emotional symptoms in some people. When combined with conventional medicine, complementary therapies may offer a more integrated approach to healing.

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