How yoga can help you cope with the cancer challenge
I got a call from Delhi informing me that my younger son, Nishant, a fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force, was hospitalized with low haemoglobin levels. I went to the hospital not knowing what was in store for us. Later that day I found out that Nishant had been diagnosed with blood cancer – Acute Myeloid Leukemia, stage 3.
‘Why me?’, ‘Why him?’, ‘Why?’ were my first thoughts after I recovered from the shock and think. I immediately called Hansaji and Dr Jayadeva to pour my heart out. Dr Jayadeva then asked me just one question, ‘As a yoga practitioner, where is your faith?’ He told me that will power is a wonderful thing and can help strengthen the body in the fight against cancer. That conversation changed the way we looked at the issue we were facing. We decided we will get out of it through positivity. We did anulom viloum pranayama to calm our minds and of course had all our friends and family to encourage us.
Our fight had just begun when we found out that the doctors were unable to find the right stem cell match for Nishant but my child was constantly trying to be positive.
Ultimately, after running multiple tests, the doctors figured out that his own cells could be used to resurrect the damaged ones. The doctor told us after the procedure that most patients don’t survive a bone marrow transplant and Nishant’s strong will power had helped him fight the odds. My son was later discharged from the hospital, in complete remission from cancer. He is now a squadron leader in the Indian Airforce and life is wonderful. Nishant still practices yoga – a tool that made him stronger to fight his cancer.
This is a real story narrated by the mother of a boy who fought cancer. In this article Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, Director of the Yoga Institute tells you how cancer and yoga are related and how the practice can actually keep the disease at bay.
How does yoga help prevent cancer?
I always tell people that yoga is a way of life. So it’s more about following set patterns rather than employing specific techniques. For an instance, we insist that everyone should eat right, eat on time, sleep on time and do some form of physical exercises as a part of their daily routine.
To live the yogic way and to be able to set a suitable pattern to one’s lifestyle one must first eliminate the structural defects or ‘kleshas’ from one’s life. There are five kleshas one need to get rid of.
– Avidya or ignorance
– Asmita or ego
– Raga or attachment
– Dvesha or detachment
– Abhinivesha or fear of change
The reason we should all destroy these kleshas is that the lack of these qualities helps us remain in a balanced and a positive state of mind. So, it’s not just cancer that yoga can prevent but any illness that is not hereditary. If a certain illness is hereditary though, yoga can still be used to control it and keep it under check.
Why do people suffer from cancer?
The term we use to explain this is pragna apradha or faulty thinking and faulty use of mind. When a person is diagnosed with cancer the first thought in the individual’s mind is that of fear – the fifth klesha that I mentioned earlier. Here the person’s mind becomes very negative and anxious. In this state the body doesn’t respond to therapy or medication and the person becomes all the more anxious. However, if you don’t let cancer affect your attitude and perspective and put conscious efforts to not be negative then you can overcome the klesha of fear and be mentally prepared to fight the disease. We must always remember that when the body is suffering, the mind has to take over and give the body the necessary strength and support. It is this that will help you survive cancer.
Another good tip is to start living a very organized and healthy life. Always be joyous and optimistic. You should believe in yourself and incorporate all the necessary changes into your life with full faith. This is yoga’s answer to cancer. Read more about the Ayurveda way to detox.
Asanas to keep cancer at bay:
Simple asanas (yoga postures), kriyas (yoga techniques) and easy pranayamas (breathing techniques) done effortlessly without pushing oneself too much can both help prevent and control the disease. However, it is very important to do this on a regular basis and incorporate all these methods in one’s life to see results. You can’t do yoga for a day or two and say that it’s not helping. Even medication takes time to show results and so does yoga. Read more about yoga asanas to beat stress.
Here are a few asanas that are every effective to help battle cancer.
Yastikasana – The stick pose:
Steps to do this asana: Lie down on your back. While inhaling, raise your hands overhead and stretch as much as possible. Simultaneously stretch your legs fully, toes pointing down and front to deepen the stretch. Remember to continue breathing. Hold the pose for 10 seconds and relax. Repeat the asana three times.
Lying down Bhadrasana – Lying down butterfly pose:
Steps to do this asana: Sit in on the floor or on your yoga mat and stretch out both your legs in front of you. Now, bend your legs at the knee and bring your feet towards your body. The knees should be pointed outwards the ceiling. Join the soles of your feet with the toes and try to keep your heels close together. Now maintaining this posture lie down backwards and keep your hands by your side. Stay in the asana for as long as you are comfortable and then relax your feet and lie down on your back.
Yogendra Pranayama No. IV – Yogendra breathing technique 4:
Steps to do this asana: Lie down on your back and bend your feet at the knees. Keep your feet together, comfortably close to your body. Now, gently place your hand on your navel and observe your breath. Make your abdomen rise up as you inhale for 3 seconds and make it fall as you exhale for 3 seconds. Ensure there is no movement of the chest. Repeat this 10 times
Yogendra Nishpandhbhava – The no-movement pose:
Steps to do this asana: Lean against a wall, touching your head to the wall and sit in a relaxed manner with your legs stretched out in front of you. Keep a distance of 2-3 feet between your legs and place your hands gently on your upper thighs with your palms facing upwards. Sit in this posture for 5 minutes and focus on any distant sound
Parvatasana – The mountain pose:
Steps to do this asana : Sit on the floor with your legs crossed and raise your hands towards sky, keeping your palms facing each other. Catch hold of the fist
of one hand with the other and stretch your hand upward as if you are raising your body. You should notice a stretched in your abdominal muscles. Maintaining the pose for 10-15 seconds and then relax. Repeat the asana 3 times
Sukhasana – The happy pose:
Steps to do this asana: Sit down crossed legged and place your palms on your knees palms facing up. Now, join the tip of your index finger and you thumb, close your eyes and relax. Concentrate on your breath while you do so. Stay in the asana for 5 mins
What lifestyle changes should a person make to avoid cancer?
I would suggest the four pillar approach – ahar, vihar, achar and vichar.
– Ahar (food and wellness) is about what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, how much to eat and what foods you should avoid.
– Vihar (recreation and wellness) comprises of three sections – relaxation, recreation and relationships.
– Achar (routines and patterns) is how to set and follow routines to improve your lifestyle.
– Vichar (positive thought patterns) allows us to be in a conductive frame of mind always.
Source: The Health Site
Published: 26 Feb 2014
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
