Living with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy is not only physically taxing but also psychologically and emotionally exhausting.  Yoga practices such as pranayama (breathing exercises) and yoga nidra (guided meditation) have been known to support the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of cancer patients. In a recent study published earlier this year, these two yoga practices were shown to effectively treat anxiety and depression in people who have cervical cancer and are undergoing the standard of care.

Pranayama

Pranayama refers to yogic breathing techniques that are designed to clear the physical and emotional obstacles in our bodies to free the breath and the flow of prana, or life energy. In Sanskrit, prana translates to breath, while ayama translates to expansion, length and rising. This yogic practice involves controlling your breath in different styles and lengths. A strong pranayama practice is believed to help detoxify the body. Over the years, many scientific studies have shown that deep breathing can improve our emotions and well-being, and have shown that controlling one’s breath is key to regulating one’s emotions. Breathing in slowly through your nose, which is often part of one’s yoga practice, activates the parasympathetic nervous system – the part of your nervous system that relaxes and reduces your body’s activity. When your parasympathetic nervous system is activated, you tend to feel more comfortable, relaxed and alert.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep, is a form of guided meditation that is designed to increase relaxation by encouraging “letting go”. It is usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. The goal is to get to a state halfway between wakefulness and sleep, where the body finds its natural state of equilibrium, the breath becomes easy and balanced, and unconscious and conscious aspects of the mind reveal themselves. Scientific studies have shown that Yoga Nidra can reduce pain, fatigue, anxiety, promote sleep and reduce the psychological affects of traumatic experiences.