Yoga and Meditation for Cancer

Why Is Yoga Good for Cancer Patients?

Yoga is a practice that combines the body, mind and breath. Yoga for cancer patients is done using gentle and slow movements as well as breathing techniques to develop a calm presence and focus.

Studies show that practicing yoga during cancer treatment may:

• Improve your quality of life
• Decrease depression and anxiety
• Reduce cancer-related fatigue
• Decrease nausea
• Help alleviate pain

Yoga Classes at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center

At Banner MD Anderson, we offer a variety of yoga classes to our patients, caregivers and community cancer survivors. Classes include:

• Chair Yoga
• Gentle Mat Yoga
• Therapeutic Yoga
• Stress Reduction Yoga

Common Yoga Poses for Cancer Patients

A few common poses that can be used during a yoga and cancer recovery treatment program are:

• Cat-cow stretch
• Easy seated pose with palms pressed
• Legs up the wall pose
• Bridge pose
• Savasana

Why Is Meditation Good for Cancer Patients?

For patients with cancer, meditation and other calming activities can be highly beneficial. At Banner MD Anderson, we offer mind/body consultations that offer you tools to help you ease your stress as well as promote a healthy state of relaxation in the body and inner calm and peace in the mind. Like yoga, meditation may help you manage the physical and emotional side effects brought on by cancer and its treatments. 

Some of the tools used include:

• Breathing exercises
• Guided meditation 
• Visualization techniques

Talk to your doctor about getting started with yoga and meditation as part of your cancer care program or find a class.