Can patients practice yoga during chemotherapy?

Yoga is a popular form of exercise and fitness in recent years. It achieves a balanced state of physical health through the unity of body and mind. Generally speaking, it is not only suitable for ordinary people to learn, but also for patients in recovery. Let’s take a look at how patients can practice yoga during chemotherapy and some precautions.

Yoga is a form of fitness that integrates the mind and body, and is very suitable for patients recovering from breast cancer. Some yoga movements, such as chest expansion exercises, cow face exercises, and one-handed wind-blown tree exercises, can also stimulate breast tissue activity, prevent surgical wound scar contracture and swelling of the affected arm. At the same time, practicing yoga can broaden the mind, improve negative emotions, and help cancer patients regain self-confidence. A healthy and positive attitude can even exceed the efficacy of drugs.

When breast cancer patients practice yoga, they should move slowly and stretch as much as possible within a safe and comfortable range. When practicing, pay attention to correct breathing and do not hold your breath. To persist in practicing every day, you can choose a fixed time or practice in segments.

Yoga poses to help with breast cancer recovery

Chest expansion exercise: Sit or stand, keep your spine straight, legs at right angles to the ground, and clasp your hands behind your back or hold the back of a chair. Inhale, expand your chest, tilt your head back, pull your chin upward, look back, and adjust your breathing for more than 5 times. You can repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times.

Cow Face Pose: You can do this while sitting or standing, keeping your spine straight. Inhale and stretch the affected arm upward; exhale, bend your elbow and bring your palm as close to your shoulder blade as possible, bend the other arm at the elbow underneath your back, and clasp your hands together. If you can't do it, use a towel to connect your hands behind your back, adjust your breathing more than 5 times, and repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times.

One-handed Wind-blown Tree Pose: Stand with your spine straight. Inhale and raise the affected arm as close to the ear as possible. Let the other arm hang naturally at the side of the body or hold the back of the chair. When you inhale again, use your arm to stretch the spine upward as much as possible. When you exhale, use your arm to slowly bend the spine to the side. Adjust your breathing for more than 5 times. Repeat the exercise 3 to 5 times with alternating arms.

The above content is what we have compiled today about the yoga exercises and precautions for patients during chemotherapy. Generally speaking, when practicing yoga, patients with cancer need to pay attention to the following: 1. Move gently and slowly, and don't be too impatient. 2. Keep practicing every day and don’t give up halfway. Finally, I hope these can help everyone.