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Yoga can help people facing cancer in a number of ways. For people needing surgery, yoga practice can help to prepare the body and mind beforehand and some gentle exercises that can be done at home could be learned in advance. Breathing techniques can help calm the body and mind, which are especially helpful when fear or upset is present.
Practising hatha yoga can help the body to heal after illness or surgery in a number of ways. By using slow, deep breathing, (when appropriate--right after surgery may not be a good time to do deep breathing), the body takes in more oxygen so the organs can function better, as well, the movement of the diaphragm, which is the pump for the lymphatic system, promotes a stronger immune system. Gentle stretching of the tissues in the body (not the joints or connective tissue, but the muscles and fascia), helps to restore flexibility and keep pain levels down by increasing the body’s pain threshold. Increased circulation promotes healing as the blood carries the components needed to heal. In addition to helping the physical body to heal, strengthen, and relax, yoga helps the mind to be calm and for the person doing yoga to practise allowing things to be as they are. By being present in the moment, the practitioner can have a sense of wellness inside, no matter what state the body is in at the time. Although a survey of a regular yoga class would likely include some cancer survivors, a regular yoga class may not be appropriate for someone with low energy from chemo treatments, or for someone who’s recovering from surgery for instance. At that point, it’s good to know there are Recovery Yoga classes being offered where other people will be needing to take it easy in a variety of different ways. If you have been told by your doctor that yoga is good for you and you wind up at a regular yoga class with a flexible young instructor who hasn’t personally dealt with chronic pain or acute health issues, you might not get the tips you need to look after yourself in the class. Working one-on-one and in small groups of people going at their own pace in Recovery Yoga teachers help their students discover how each pose can be done at an individual level. The intention is to provide a space for people to explore their range of movement and make sure they have a good understanding of how to do yoga properly so they get the benefits that yoga provides without getting hurt in the process. --------------- Jamine Ackert offers Recovery Yoga sessions at the Metta Massage and Yoga Clinic in Westboro. She has been a Kripalu certified yoga instructor since 1993 and has trained with Sam Dworkis, the author of ExTension Yoga and Recovery Yoga. Jamine also teaches beginning and intermediate hatha yoga at Rama Lotus in Ottawa.
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