Alleviation for Cancer Sufferers by Krista Peterson

Krista kindly wrote this piece for YogaRelax to share how Cancer patients are receiving peace of mind from Yoga. I thank you Krista for sharing, Namaste Michelle

Yoga offers a way to heal 

Going through the treatment process for cancer can be one of the most difficult and challenging experiences you can imagine. Even in treatment, there are multiple stages of therapy, and a number of side-effects that can be incredibly taxing on the body. Complementary treatments have grown exponentially in popularity in recent years due to the ability to relieve some of the rigors of traditional treatments. One of the more popular and better known options is yoga.

One of the larger reasons for the popularity of yoga in medical circles is because of its focus on both the mental and physical aspects of the self. This popularity is also partially attributed to the diversity of the practice of yoga. Patients can engage in yoga sessions around their own treatment schedules. They can take party in short daily sessions, or longer sessions space throughout the week.

 For patients with terminal illnesses, yoga can provide a tranquility and peace of mind, and can also help to provide some clarity for patients going through some of their darkest times. A good example would be patients afflicted with mesothelioma, a rare cancer related to the exposure from asbestos. These patients have an extraordinarily low life expectancy rate, and can use yoga to relieve a lot of the stress and difficulty they may be facing during these times.

The benefits of yoga are common to most households, and have gained popularity as a low-impact exercise routine that not only burns fat, but also melts the body and mind through meditation. For cancer patients, the physical attributes are far more meaningful than just exercise. Yoga is used to relieve the symptoms of the affliction and help the patient feel as though they are on the path to recovery, and can improve sleep in sufferers as well.

Yoga will likely continue growing as a viable complementary treatment as a result of its combined mental and physical benefits. As the research on the subject continues, yoga is certainly on the path to becoming even more popular among terminal illness patients.

Krista Peterson
krista.peterson925@gmail.com