Get to Know Yoga Therapy’s Supportive Effects During Cancer Care
Navigating cancer treatment can be physically and emotionally challenging. Integrating complementary practices, such as yoga therapy, for cancer care offers holistic support for the body's vital systems.
In this blog, we'll explore the impact of yoga therapy on the body's different systems. Understanding how yoga therapy for cancer care can help ease both the patients' and their families' journey through treatment and recovery.
Musculoskeletal System
The musculoskeletal system is composed of 206 bones and over 600 muscles, with bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue. This system provides a sturdy framework for muscles and soft tissues, supporting weight, maintaining posture, and enabling movement. Its five key functions include movement, support, protection, heat generation, and blood circulation.
Impact of Cancer on the Musculoskeletal System
Cancer can lead to sarcomas growing in the bone or connective tissues. It also can lead to the following:
Muscle weakness resulting in loss of balance
Fatigue
Loss of mobility
Arthritis - joint inflammation
Arthralgia - joint pain
Bone fractures
Osteoporosis / Osteopenia - bones become porous and brittle
How Yoga can Support the Musculoskeletal System
Studies have found that yoga can help support bone health and joint health. Yoga therapy for cancer care can also help provide the following benefits:
Improved balance
Improved posture and alignment through Asana
Improved strength through postures that use body weight for resistance
Increased mobility and flexibility by improving range of motion
Lowered muscle tension through mindfulness and breathing practices
Digestive System
The digestive system, composed of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, processes food for energy, growth, and cell repair. The GI tract connects the mouth to the anus through organs like the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. The bacteria within the GI tract help maintain digestive health.
Impact of Cancer on the Digestive System
Cancer cells can grow near this system's organs and spread out. Some of the common cancers that affect the digestive system are colorectal, esophageal, gastric, liver, and pancreatic cancer. While there are treatments for GI-related cancers, they can disrupt the gut biome, leading to GERD, diarrhea, and constipation, among others.
How Yoga can Support the Digestive System
Yoga therapy for cancer can include a variety of positions that can help the digestive system. For instance, Asana can aid in peristalsis. Twists and turns with pressure along the abdomen can help relieve constipation. For heartburn-related concerns, keeping head above heart can be beneficial.
Endocrine System
The endocrine system consists of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream. These include the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pineal, pancreas, ovaries, and testes. The hormones regulate reproduction, metabolism, energy balance, growth, body defenses, sleep, and blood pressure, all while maintaining homeostasis—a state of dynamic equilibrium in the body.
Impact of Cancer on the Endocrine System
Cancer can increase cortisol, leading to high stress, which activates the body's fight or flight response. It also disrupts the production and release of hormones or even produce their own homes which affect the natural homeostasis of the body. When cancer exists, the body cannot repair tissues and produce reproductive and growth hormones, as well.
How Yoga can Support the Endocrine System
Yoga therapy for cancer care can help reduce stress as it can regulate cortisol levels and improve hormone balance. Yoga can support the reduction of allostatic load and bring balance to the seven yoga chakras associated with glands. Postures can also help increase blood flow to the endocrine glands to promote production and regulation of hormones in the body.
Respiratory System
The respiratory system includes the lungs, airways, and blood vessels. Air travels through the mouth, nose, sinuses, trachea, pharynx, and bronchial tubes to reach the lungs. The diaphragm and ribs protect the lungs, while blood vessels transport oxygen to and from the lungs.
Impact of Cancer on the Respiratory System
Cancer, or its treatment, can diminish lung capacity as well as possibly damage the organs and tissues. A weakened respiratory system due to treatment is also at high risk of getting infected, which can lead to flu, pneumonia, and bronchitis, among others.
How Yoga can Support the Respiratory System
Yoga therapy for cancer care can help strengthen the muscles of the lungs and keep them strong and flexible. It can also help move fluid, such as mucus, out of the body. Through pranayama, yoga can help increase the efficiency of the lungs.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system, a network of tissues, vessels, and organs, moves lymph fluid throughout the body. With 600-700 lymph nodes filtering and cleansing lymph, this system is vital to the body’s immune response, producing white blood cells to combat foreign invaders. It also absorbs and transports fats from the small intestine to the bloodstream for energy.
Impact of Cancer on the Lymphatic System
Cancer cells can develop in the lymph nodes and vessels, which can spread to other parts of the body. It can cause lymphedema, which is a buildup of lymph fluid that can cause swelling. This can affect how the body gets rid of toxins and waste.
Common cancer for this system include lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and lymph node cancer.
How Yoga can Support the Lymphatic System
The following yoga therapy for cancer care practices can help support this system:
Asana can help stimulate the lymphatic system, thereby moving lymph and waste.
Breathing practices can help promote drainage.
Twisting postures can help compress and release the organs and muscles, which also help move lymph fluids.
Urinary / Excretory System
The urinary/excretory system filters 120-140 liters of blood daily, creating urine as a waste product. Urine travels through the ureters to the bladder, where it's stored until excretion. Composed of the kidneys, renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and urethra, it filters the blood, removes toxins, and regulates salt and water balance.
Impact of Cancer on the Urinary/Excretory System
Cancer can cause pelvic and back pain. It can also cause frequent urination and discomfort. Having cancer can cause blood in the urine, and pain or burning when urinating.
Common cancers for this system include kidney and bladder cancer. Treatments, though, may cause urinary and bladder problems, including constipation and diarrhea, as well as nausea, vomiting, and weight loss/gain.
How Yoga can Support the Urinary/Excretory System
Yoga therapy for cancer can help support this system in the following ways:
Postures can help strengthen the urinary tract's and the pelvic region's muscles. This helps prevent bladder control issues and urinary incontinence.
Postures can support blood circulation and help the body remove waste.
Yoga practice can help reduce stress.
Conclusion
The body's different systems each have their own importance functions, which means cancer treatment should always focus on holistic care. Yoga therapy for cancer care can support these systems and lead to overall wellbeing.
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.
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.
Supporting Immunity with Yoga Therapy During Cancer Care
Cancer is a disease that affects a lot of people not only in the US but also worldwide. From 2016 to 2019, the survival rate for cancer is 68.7%. The shocking statistic is that approximately 41% of people in the US will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are various health programs that are in place to help those with cancer, including yoga for cancer patients.
As a disease, cancer attacks various systems in a person’s body. One of these systems is the immune system. Read on to know more about what the immune system is, how cancer affects it, and how yoga for cancer patients can help support their immunity.
What is the Immune System?
According to the National Cancer Institute, the immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that help the body’s defense system against infections. They usually include white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system. Some of these are the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and bone marrow.
This system fights bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. With the help of the immune system, the body flushes out these things from the body.
When the immune system is compromised, the body is unable to remove these from the body. As a result, the person gets sick.
How does Cancer Affect the Immune System?
When immune cells grow uncontrollably, certain kinds of cancer can occur. These are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma which affect the immune system directly.
These result in immunosuppression, or the reduced ability of the immune system to fight unwanted foreign objects in the body. Cancer damages the overall function of this particular system and has a huge impact on the T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells.
When the immune system is not working properly, chronic inflammation and other conditions can occur.
How Can Yoga Support the Immune System
Yoga for cancer patients offers a variety of health benefits, especially to the immune system. First and foremost, it downregulates pro-inflammatory markers. It reduces cytokine IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, which are pro-inflammatory markers.
Yoga for cancer patients also helps improve the respiratory function of cells. Improved cells will help ensure that they are functioning properly.
Additionally, yoga for cancer patients can help lower stress levels. It also helps improve sleep, resulting in better quality of life for the individuals.
Most importantly, yoga therapy helps ensure better lymph circulation.
Conclusion
Cancer is a condition that affects various systems of the body, including the immune system. Yoga for cancer patients has shown different benefits that can help improve such conditions.
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.