Hi,
I’ve been doing yoga for almost 4 months and recently a friend ask me such a question. Let’s say, if a person has cancer but do not know about it, will doing yoga quicken the spread of cancer cells? In other words, will doing yoga endanger the person who is suffering from cancer?
I don’t think yoga can hurt you or aggravate cancer…but listen to your own body. I do counseling for cancer patients. There are many aspects to yoga. Meditation, which is part of yoga, can be very helpful to those who are ill. Sometime, but not always, physical illness, like cancer, can have an emotional/psychological component. There is no blame in that statement.
For more detail on this find the book - Radical Healing - by Dr. Ballentine.
Dear Lizzie,
Here is a link to Yoga Research and Education Center (YREC) compilation of titles on the subject of yoga as a therapy for cancer patients. Certainly many aspects of yoga can be helpful to cancer patients, and patients of all types. Breathing practices can help to bring about a state of deep relaxation, which is essential for the body’s homeostasis (balance) and rejuvenation. The body cannot heal when it is in a state of stress. Meditation and self awareness practices can support the process of accepting the current conditions and moving into the future with love and grace.
http://www.iayt.org/cancer.pdf
Namaste,
Chandra
I knew a person with lukemia and she started practicing yoga thoroughly, and she saw some amazing improvement. just my two cents