Supporting the Nervous System with Yoga Therapy During Cancer Care
According to the National Cancer Institute, “the nervous system is the major controlling, regulatory, and communicating system in the body. It is the center of all mental activity including thought, learning, and memory.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the nervous system is “the control network which connects all systems”. Basically, this system is responsible for our sensory, integrative, and motor functions.
In this blog, we’ll talk about how important the nervous system is, what happens when cancer attacks this system, and how yoga therapy for cancer can help support this bodily network.
Nervous System: The Body’s Control Network
The nervous system is composed of different subsystems and organs namely: central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and the different subsystems which we’ll discuss below.
The Central Nervous System (CNS)
The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. This system is primarily the processing center of the body.
The brain controls our thoughts, learning ability, movements, and senses. On the other hand, the spinal cord is responsible for carrying messages back and forth between our brain to the many nerves throughout the body.
The entire CNS is responsible for coordinating different body activities. A disease, such as cancer, can reduce the effectiveness of such coordination.
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The PNS is composed of the ganglia and the nerves that lie outside our brain and spinal cord. These nerves typically run through the head, neck, and body. They also serve as little distributors of messages to and from the central nervous system.
The PNS is subdivided into the somatic and the autonomic nervous systems.
Somatic Nervous System
This system is composed of the nerves that link the brain and the spinal cord to skeletal muscles that are responsible for voluntary movements and sensory processing.
It typically detects mechanical stimuli such as pressure, vibration, and light touch. It also detects temperature and painful stimuli.
Autonomic Nervous System
This system is responsible for the regulation of the body’s involuntary physiological processes. These processes include digestion, blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, and even sexual arousal. The autonomic nervous system also has the following distinct divisions:
Sympathetic Nervous System: This division carries signals that mobilize the body, especially during stressful situations, known as our “fight or flight” response.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: This division carries signals that promote the relaxation and recovery of the body, especially after stressful situations.
Each of these systems play an important role in ensuring that bodily processes are functioning properly. This is also why yoga therapy for cancer affecting these nervous systems tends to focus on improving the functions of these parts.
So how does cancer negatively impact the whole nervous system?
How Cancer Impacts the Nervous System
Cancer cells, unfortunately, can also grow in the nervous system in the form of neuroblastomas, brain tumors, and glioblastomas. These can damage the nerve tissues.
Cancer cells invade these tissues which can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. They can also compress the nerve roots. They can also impact a person emotionally, such as stress, depression, and anxiety. They can even cause cognitive changes and memory loss.
The Role of Yoga Therapy for Cancer in Supporting the Nervous System
There are a variety of benefits that can help support a person’s nervous system going through yoga therapy for cancer. These include the following:
Mindfulness, meditation, and breathing practices can help lower stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
Dopamine and serotonin levels can increase.
The person’s cognitive function, memory, attention, and processing speed can improve.
Savasana and yoga nidras can help support the PNS.
Increased GABA levels can help reduce anxiety.
Top-down and bottom-up techniques can help regulate the entire nervous system.
Conclusion
When cancer affects the nervous system, yoga therapy for cancer can help alleviate the symptoms through various practices. It’s important to take note of which proper techniques and practices will be the most beneficial and effective for the person receiving care.
Are you a yoga teacher or healthcare practitioner looking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into your practice? Are you interested in learning more about Yoga and Cancer Care? Please check out our annual Yoga and Cancer Care Training - as well as our comprehensive yoga therapy certification at Prema Yoga Institute.
