Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body, including those that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime, such as the prostate. By gently stretching muscles and joints, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in flushing out toxins as well as providing nourishment. Using specific yoga techniques to relax, relieve stress and renew the spirit, yoga provides participants with an energizing and meditative experience. Moreover, yoga calms the nervous system, balances the body, mind and spirit and encourages you to connect to a deeper relationship within.
Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center focused on 61 women who had surgery for breast cancer and were getting six weeks of radiation treatment. Thirty women were assigned to a test group that took twice-a-week yoga classes. The others did not. At the end of six weeks, study participants filled out detailed questionnaires grading their ability to lift groceries, walk a mile and perform other physical activities. They were also asked about feelings of fatigue, their sense of well-being and other aspects of their quality of life. The researchers found the yoga group consistently had higher scores in almost every area. It was most pronounced in physical function, when participants said they were in better general health, were less fatigued and had fewer problems with daytime sleepiness.
weSPARK Cancer Support Center offers three free yoga classes for people with cancer along with their families and friends. An intake is necessary before participating in our programming.
For more information or to schedule an intake, please call 661-288-2322.