Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Traditionally it has been believed that yoga therapy offers numerous beneficial effects on human’s physical and emotional health. This belief is proved by several investigative trials, studies and researches; they concluded that yoga exercises are helpful for treating numbers of patients suffering from diseases like asthma, diabetes, arthritis, gastro intestinal disorders, headaches and depression. Latest studies have also reported beneficial effects of yoga intervention among cancer patients or those who are going through their cancer treatment. The therapy may affect maximum number of patients during initial stages of treatment and improve their survival rate by reducing distressing symptoms and their quality of life.

According to the studies conducted in India among cancer patients to examine the effects of yoga intervention. Yoga exercises were used as an adjunct therapy with 2 sessions per week of 90 minutes, patients were taught to practice a series of simple relaxation exercises rather than strenuous one. The results reported include improvement in appetite, sleeplessness, and bowel habits, feeling of peace and serenity along with reducing risk of complications during treatment and improving recovery outcomes.

Diagnosis of cancer for an individual is life shocking and very hard-hitting news. Treatment process of this distressing ailment comprises of slow recovery, which affects negatively on patient’s health both physically and mentally; the recovery process makes them weak, nauseated and depressed. Their body also undergoes many changes whereas chemotherapy or radiations destroy cancer cells along with other cells responsible for body’s vital functions and White Blood Cell causing lower levels of energy.

Many studies have shown positive effects of yoga therapy during recovery of cancer survivors, incorporating different techniques of yoga like paranayama, meditation and physical asanas help to strengthen body, restoring peace of mind and directing positive energy in body. The yoga exercises enhance the body’s immune system by making it a powerful tool to fight against the illness or to manage side effects of it.

Research and studies also stated that paranayama breathing improves the function of brain cells by supplying excess amount of oxygen to them and regular practice of it by cancer patients increases the circulation of natural cancer fighting immune cells. Physical asanas help muscles to squeeze and massage internal organs also helpful in getting rid of dead cells and toxins from the body. The treatment has negative impact on bone strength, practice of standing poses are helpful in building bones strength and joints mobility. Yoga’s main advantage is that it provides numerous psychological and emotional benefits during recovery process and teaches positive method for managing levels of stress. The relaxation pose improves cortisol levels, which are very vital for mental wellness. These patients mostly experienced problem of fatigue or muscles soreness the issue is effectively sort out by performing gentle stretch or warm up poses to rejuvenate and revitalize body parts. Scientific studies that have been under process since 35 years have also shown that yoga as an adjunct therapy can be helpful in boosting up immune system, cleansing chronic stress and increasing vital force of energy in cancer survivors.

Resources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16062164/

https://www.yogajournal.com/article/lifestyle/qa-seva-winner-tari-prinster/

https://www.yogahealthfoundation.org/health_benefits_of_yoga_explained