Cancer and Yoga

Questioner · 04-24-2002, 09:23 PM

I would like to know about Yoga for the Cancer Patients. Is there are any contraindications? What Asanas are best for them?

Mukunda · 04-24-2002, 09:31 PM

Are you facing this yourself or is it a theoretical question? Best is if i am given specifics about person involved. As all conditions are personal not general. Cancer affects us all, so the variety of ways this person is experiencing it must be understood. How is the mind? What is the fear? What is the benefit? These must be reflected upon.
Therapists need to be compassionate to work with this situation. By that I mean both comprehending the seriousness and also be willing and knowledgeable of how to demand lifestyle changes in the extreme. Otherwise nothing will happen. Cancer is a kapha condition that should have been dealt with much sooner. Signs were there but person did not want to hear them. Yoga Research and Education Center maintains an extensive series of articles including a cancer bibliography at http://www.iayt.org/biblio.asp.

Questioner · 04-24-2002, 09:34 PM

No is not myself, is that I took a Medical Massage for the Cancer patient in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and I'm interested to know if in Yoga is the same as in massage. The Massage for the Cancer patient is very smooth and tender. I like to know what Asanas are best, etc.

Mukunda · 04-24-2002, 09:37 PM

For cancer patients the practices are not so much focused on what asanas but rather on what qualities to promote. The major feelings would be to develop strength and stamina. The other quality to promote is purification. Classical hatha yogis recommend Kapalabhati (head shining) done to purify the kledaka kapha stored in the abdomen. This practice, one of the satkarmas (purifications), is not simply a pranayama. It is done by the directing of pranic will to purify the physical body. As cancer is predominantly a kapha disorder the practices should be done also to help open the heart, kapha’s home region. The teacher needs to open their own heart to nature and life prior to going into the setting to work. Prayer and meditation are a central practice to promote this openness. Asanas that increase immune function include restorative poses from Iyengar Yoga like supported bridge, fish, and Shoulderstand. Also the poses on their own when the strength has been built. Then the progression is to increase the holding time, the heart connection, and one’s feeling of positivity as radiating from a connection to one’s personal Higher Power. The spiritual side of asana as a way to the Divine is emphasized.

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04-24-2002, 09:23 PM	#1
Questioner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 479	I would like to know about Yoga for the Cancer Patients. Is there are any contraindications? What Asanas are best for them?

04-24-2002, 09:31 PM	#2
Mukunda SYTherapy Creator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Yoga Therapist and trainer Posts: 1,068	Are you facing this yourself or is it a theoretical question? Best is if i am given specifics about person involved. As all conditions are personal not general. Cancer affects us all, so the variety of ways this person is experiencing it must be understood. How is the mind? What is the fear? What is the benefit? These must be reflected upon. Therapists need to be compassionate to work with this situation. By that I mean both comprehending the seriousness and also be willing and knowledgeable of how to demand lifestyle changes in the extreme. Otherwise nothing will happen. Cancer is a kapha condition that should have been dealt with much sooner. Signs were there but person did not want to hear them. Yoga Research and Education Center maintains an extensive series of articles including a cancer bibliography at http://www.iayt.org/biblio.asp.

04-24-2002, 09:34 PM	#3
Questioner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 479	No is not myself, is that I took a Medical Massage for the Cancer patient in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and I'm interested to know if in Yoga is the same as in massage. The Massage for the Cancer patient is very smooth and tender. I like to know what Asanas are best, etc.

04-24-2002, 09:37 PM	#4
Mukunda SYTherapy Creator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Yoga Therapist and trainer Posts: 1,068	For cancer patients the practices are not so much focused on what asanas but rather on what qualities to promote. The major feelings would be to develop strength and stamina. The other quality to promote is purification. Classical hatha yogis recommend Kapalabhati (head shining) done to purify the kledaka kapha stored in the abdomen. This practice, one of the satkarmas (purifications), is not simply a pranayama. It is done by the directing of pranic will to purify the physical body. As cancer is predominantly a kapha disorder the practices should be done also to help open the heart, kapha’s home region. The teacher needs to open their own heart to nature and life prior to going into the setting to work. Prayer and meditation are a central practice to promote this openness. Asanas that increase immune function include restorative poses from Iyengar Yoga like supported bridge, fish, and Shoulderstand. Also the poses on their own when the strength has been built. Then the progression is to increase the holding time, the heart connection, and one’s feeling of positivity as radiating from a connection to one’s personal Higher Power. The spiritual side of asana as a way to the Divine is emphasized.