About 3 years ago, I began practicing yoga on a daily basis, I had been ill at the time and found that I did not have the strength to resume my regular exercise routine. During my recovery, one of my dear friends suggested I try a yoga class to resolve the stiffness in my body that came with being bed ridden for an extended period of time. By the completion of my first sun salutation I was hooked. OM! The physical benefits of yoga were immediately obvious, my limbs were longer and leaner, my posture was improved and face seemed brighter, more relaxed I guess. What I did not anticipate was the mental and emotional benefits; I was less stressed - not that my life was less stressful, but I seemed to be handling things better, I had more patience and I was able to just take things as they were, rather than applying the usual layers of subjective analysis to my thoughts.
As I began doing research for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wondered if yoga’s benefits could help breast cancer patients and survivors or even reduce the risk? Answer: IT HAS, IT DOES & IT ALWAYS WILL!
BENEFITS OF YOGA FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS, PATIENTS & SURVIVORS
- yoga can reduce your risk by stimulating lymph flow, strengthening the endocrine and immune systems, and improving your attitude toward your body
- yoga eases some of the physical and psychological symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment - decline in frequency and severity of hot flashes, less fatigue, joint pain, sleep disturbance, and symptom-related distress
- yoga has been shown to improve quality of life during and after breast cancer treatment
- yoga classes offer social support, which helps to counteract loneliness and isolation, which is common after a cancer diagnosis
- yoga improves self-esteem, overall fitness and body composition
For a thoughtful and touching personal account of one breast cancer survivor’s experience with yoga, read this article at The Huffington Post by Lauren Cahn {I laughed, cried and cheered}.
For a more in depth read on Yoga and Breast Cancer, The Yoga Journal {one of my favourite magazines} has an excellent article: RE-EXAMINING BREAST HEALTH {This article is 5 pages but well worth the read}.
NAMASTE.
{Photo Credit: lululemon athletica}
