Women who take yoga classes during radiation treatment for breast cancer may function better physically and feel better about their overall health, according to Cancer Center researchers.
The yoga program was designed specifically for breast cancer patients, emphasizing breathing and relaxation, and excluding some positions that might be difficult given the patients' possible weakened range of motion.
After just one week of yoga and radiation, the patients reported significantly increased physical function, as well as improved general health, compared to the control group.
The study participants also reported marginally better social functioning, significantly lower levels of sleep-related daytime dysfunction, as well as marginally lower levels of fatigue overall. No differences in the level of depression or anxiety were found between the two groups.
These findings only emphasize what our staffers have felt for many years. Yoga is the ultimate relaxation technique to staying in tune with our bodies. As the lights go down low, and the yoga instructors voice softly calls for us to stretch and breathe to their incantation, we begin to feel our body free itself of all its toxins, stress, tensions. We can begin to heal in mindful meditation.
Women who take yoga classes during radiation treatment for breast cancer may function better physically and feel better about their overall health, according to Cancer Center researchers.
The yoga program was designed specifically for breast cancer patients, emphasizing breathing and relaxation, and excluding some positions that might be difficult given the patients' possible weakened range of motion.
After just one week of yoga and radiation, the patients reported significantly increased physical function, as well as improved general health, compared to the control group.
The study participants also reported marginally better social functioning, significantly lower levels of sleep-related daytime dysfunction, as well as marginally lower levels of fatigue overall. No differences in the level of depression or anxiety were found between the two groups.
These findings only emphasize what our staffers have felt for many years. Yoga is the ultimate relaxation technique to staying in tune with our bodies. As the lights go down low, and the yoga instructors voice softly calls for us to stretch and breathe to their incantation, we begin to feel our body free itself of all its toxins, stress, tensions. We can begin to heal in mindful meditation.