Yoga for Cancer Recovery: Cultivating Optimism

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

One of the most challenging aspects of living with cancer is managing the tremendously high levels of stress, anxiety and downright fear that such a daunting diagnosis causes most of us. Truly speaking, part of living well with cancer is maintaining an ever present awareness of the reality of the disease, while walking the razor’s edge of cultivating optimism and hope in the face of a life-threatening diagnosis. This balancing act requires the daily, diligent holistic and/or allopathic treatment of cancer, in addition to the ability to focus on the positive aspects of your life. 

When a cancer diagnosis descends on you or your loved one, the world can feel that it is spinning out of control. Although this out-of-control feeling may only be related to your own individual situation, keeping all of different aspects of your life in order, while you engage in a cancer recovery program or support a loved one in their recovery process, can certainly be overwhelming. Until you have experienced the challenge of living with a life-threatening diagnosis, you may not realize how difficult it is to keep all of the bills paid, take care of the household chores, and even regularly change the oil in your car, while you or your loved one are healing from a series of cancer treatments.  

Of course, attempting to keep all of the proverbial, financial balls in the air, while contending with a cancer diagnosis, can cause even more stress and anxiety. When stress and anxiety levels remain high for an extended period of time, the immune system is negatively affected. For some cancer patients, a lowered immune system could mean the difference between life and death. There are many ways to manage your stress and anxiety levels, while you recover from cancer and from intrusive cancer treatments. By maintaining strong family and community connections and reaching out for help when you need it, you will feel a little bit less stressed and less alone during your journey recovering from cancer.

Additionally, a well-rounded, daily practice of some form of Yoga can greatly help to boost your physical level of well-being and your sense of optimism. There are a wide variety of Yogic techniques that help to nourish and maintain a strong, limber body, a calm mind and a happy heart. Of course, if you are living with a life-threatening disease such as cancer, your body may not be quite as strong as it used to be if you are still recovering from a series of cancer treatments, but your body will be stronger than it would be if you did not do any Yoga postures or relaxation exercises at all!

The daily, diligent practice of a series of traditional, modified or restorative Yoga postures will help you to maintain your strength and flexibility during your recovery from cancer. Many of the standing postures of Yoga help to strengthen the large muscles groups, elongate the muscles and ligaments, and generate heat and energy throughout the body. Back bending Yoga postures, such as Cobra Pose and Bow Pose, open up the front of the body and help to release muscular constriction around the heart and throat chakras, which is very common if you are feeling afraid and overwhelmed much of the time. Seated Forward Folding Yoga postures, such as Marichyasana A, will help to open up the shoulders, hips and the back of the legs, while the body and mind can come to rest on the solidity of the earth. 

As you journey through your cancer recovery process, you may find that you will only be able to do a few gentle, restorative forward bends and soothing pranayama exercises on a particular day. While, at other points during your recovery process, you will be pleasantly surprised when you are able to naturally expand the “portfolio” of Yoga postures and pranayama exercises that you are able to practice in a safe and comfortable manner. By maintaining a regular rhythm of self-care through a daily practice of Yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, you will nourish your own underlying intention of healing and well-being, which is so vital to cultivating an optimistic attitude during your recovery from cancer.  

Virginia Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an academic support specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related writing orders and may be contacted at: enchantress108@gmail.com.