What is Yoga?

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India 5,000 years ago.  It combines physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation techniques.  The goal of yoga as described by the ancient sage Patanjali is -to calm the fluctuations of the mind (Sutra 1.2)

It is also important to clarify that “yoga” is not one sequence of movements or approaches, and that although the philosophy and intention of yoga at its core is the same, practices and schools of yoga will differ.   

At NatiaCares, we have looked at the evidence for yoga in cancer populations and at the specific types of yoga practices, sequences and programmes delivered in each study.  We have based the sequences we offer on these, and on the clinical experience of teaching yoga to people going through treatment, post-treatment and in palliative stages of cancer.  We have also borne in mind the needs of caregivers, both familial and professional.

The Science

Recently, a Cochrane Review special collection on yoga was published which includes a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on yoga for patients with breast cancer including over 2,000 participants.   This concluded that yoga can help reduce sleep-related problems and fatigue.   It also showed that compared to other psycho-social interventions, yoga improved quality of life and was beneficial for anxiety and depression.  There is also evidence for pain and relief of lymphedoema symptoms in women post breast cancer surgery with themes of increased embodiment and body-acceptance from yoga post-treatment.

At the present time, the majority of high quality, randomised-controlled trials in yoga for cancer are in breast cancer, post treatment.  However, there are studies showing improvements in quality of life, fatigue, anxiety and distress in other cancers including lung, prostrate, gynaecological, colorectal, lymphoma and for reducing stress and anxiety during hospital treatment for childhood cancers.