4 yoga poses to effectively treat breast cancer

Yoga is not only an effective and gentle exercise, but also proven in many studies to reduce fatigue, improve physical function, sleep quality, and contribute to improving quality of life. , especially can support the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, according to statistics, 1 in 8 people have it. According to the National Cancer Institute, exercise can lower levels of certain breast cancer hormones, such as insulin and estrogen. Many studies also show that regular physical activity can have many therapeutic benefits.

Among the exercises, yoga is a gentle, simple but effective subject. Not only that, practicing yoga has also been shown to be very beneficial for the treatment of diseases. Let’s continue with easyhealthylive.com to see the shares below to better understand the benefits as well as some suitable yoga movements to support breast cancer treatment.

Should I practice yoga when I have breast cancer?

You can practice yoga at all stages of treatment: before, during and after radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and targeted therapies. However, before exercising, you should consult your doctor, especially if you have recently had surgery. If you’re at risk for lymphedema, ask your doctor about the movements you’ll be doing to see if they’re appropriate.

Yoga is a gentle discipline that can bring recovery, but even so, when you first start practicing or when practicing new movements, there are always potential risks. Therefore, you should discuss specifically with your doctor about how to practice yoga for the most accurate training advice and do not forget to practice with a professional yoga teacher for guidance on correct technique.

4 yoga poses to effectively treat breast cancer

Here are some yoga poses that can be of great help to someone with breast cancer:

1. Cat-cow pose

This is a movement that strengthens the lower back, reduces hip pain, and increases mobility of the spine. Doing this exercise can give your body flexibility, flexibility and release the tension you are experiencing.

Doing

• Start in a crawling position, with your hands and knees touching the floor like a table pose, feet flat, no toes. Shoulders and wrists, hips and knees in line.
• Inhale, push your butt up high, lower your back as much as possible, open your chest, and raise your head up towards the ceiling to get into cow pose.
• Exhale, arch your back toward the floor as much as you can, squeeze your hips, and lower your head toward your navel to get into cat pose.
• Repeat the movement 10 times.

2. Seated side bend

This is a simple sit-up that can do wonders. This pose not only works to stretch the abdominal muscles and improve spinal flexibility, but it also helps to stretch the intercostal muscles (the muscles between the ribs). Stretching these muscles will help improve posture, stretch the neck and shoulder muscles, and increase the mobility of the entire ribs.

Doing

• Sit cross-legged in the middle of the mat
• Place your left palm on the ground about 15 cm from your body, in line with your left hip. Right hand raised.
• Inhale deeply to fill your lungs with air.
• Exhale, gently tilting your right arm and spine to the left. If it doesn’t feel uncomfortable, you can put your left hand further out until the entire forearm is flat on the ground.
• Breathe deeply, evenly at least 3 times, then, gently return to a sitting position and switch sides. Do this movement at least 3 times on each side.

3. Fish Pose

The fish pose opens up the chest, ribs, lungs, and upper back. Not only that, this move also stimulates lymphatic drainage in the breast and tissue, and reduces scar tissue.

Things to prepare: A small mattress, two thin blankets (one folded for you to sit on and the other folded to support the upper back).

Doing

• Fold and sit on the blanket for hip support. The mattress should be placed perpendicular to the blanket to support the spine. The other blanket should rest on your shoulders to support your upper back.
• Sit upright on a folded blanket, legs stretched out in front of you, big toes touching, heels slightly apart if comfortable.
• Gently lie on your back. You can use your hands to assist when lowering yourself.
• When lying down, rest your head completely on the mat and let your hands rest along your body, palms down.
• Keep your feet close together and breathe deeply. Move the supports until you feel comfortable.
• You can hold this pose for up to 10 minutes. If you’re new to this pose, place your hands at your sides for support.

4. Deep belly breathing exercise

Deep belly breathing exercises will help the diaphragm work more effectively. As the function of the diaphragm improves, the need for oxygen you need is reduced and the pressure on the lungs is reduced. This exercise is very beneficial during and after breast cancer treatment. In addition, deep breathing also helps you calm down because the increased amount of oxygen to the brain stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which signals the body to enter a state of relaxation.

Note: If you’re currently having radiation therapy, exercise can help you limit radiation exposure to your heart and lungs during treatment.

Doing

• Lay up. You can prop your head up with a small pillow if you want.
• Place your hand on your stomach and take slow, deep breaths, feeling your belly stretch. This exercise is important because most of us breathe shallowly in the face of pain. When taking a deep breath, the diaphragm will work to the maximum and the lungs will stretch to the fullest.
• While inhaling, count how long you can breathe deeply.
• Hold as long as you feel comfortable, if you feel uncomfortable, you can exhale slowly, evenly (not suddenly) slowly, maybe even a few beats longer.
• Repeat this movement 4-6 times a day, if possible.

Yoga has been shown to have a positive effect on breast cancer treatment outcomes. However, for the best results, you should consult your doctor before exercising. And don’t forget to download easyhealthylive.com to your phone to find professional yoga teachers or yoga classes to support you.

Reference source

Yoga for Breast Cancer https://www.healthline.com/health/yoga-for-breast-cancer Access date: September 25, 2020