Can yoga do more than improve flexibility?
On International Yoga Day, we have leading doctors - oncologists, a cardiologist, and a psychiatrist – who explain why they increasingly recommend yoga as a complementary therapy alongside medical treatment. In this live chat, experts answer common questions about its role in cancer care, heart health, stress management, mental well-being, and overall quality of life.
“Patients suffering from cancer are frequently advised to take part in Yoga as an effective method of maintaining both their psychological and physiological health before and after undergoing treatment procedures for the disease. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical treatments can be exhausting experiences that often lead to fatigue, pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, and decreased mobility on the part of patients. Yoga can assist in decreasing tension through breathing exercises, pranayama, and meditation, and even lead to improvement in the areas of balance and muscle strength,” said Dr. Kommineni.
Dr. Samar added, "Yoga is recommended as a complementary therapy because it helps address many of the physical and emotional challenges faced by cancer patients. Cancer treatment can lead to fatigue, anxiety, stress, reduced mobility, and a decline in overall quality of life. Yoga combines gentle physical activity, breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques that can help improve flexibility, strength, emotional well-being, and stress management. While yoga is not a treatment for cancer itself, it can support patients in coping better with the disease and its treatment-related side effects.”
“Yoga is useful for improving the awareness of one’s own body and adopting healthier behavior patterns. Yoga improves the blood flow, decreases stiffness, and assists with recovery from treatments through proper exercise. At the same time, all yoga classes for cancer patients must be customized to the needs of individuals depending on their condition,” said Dr. Kommineni.
“Yes, receiving a diagnosis of cancer may result in emotional problems, depression, and fear. Yoga helps patients relax mentally by practicing mindfulness and deep breathing techniques, which will help patients deal with their emotions and remain positive. A lot of research has also proven that yoga improves the quality of sleep, as well as reduces stress and anxiety levels of cancer patients,” said Dr. Kommineni.
“Yoga works on the heart from a few different angles at once. reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing circulation. There's physical movement itself, the breathing, and the stress relief, and all three matter for cardiovascular health. With regular practice, the nervous system tends to shift toward a calmer state, leaning more on the parasympathetic side and less on the fight-or-flight response that puts extra strain on the heart over time,” said Dr. Mishra.
“It can, yes, particularly when it's part of a bigger picture that includes eating well, staying on top of medication, and getting regular exercise. The slower movements and stretching in yoga, paired with breathwork, seem to ease vascular resistance and bring on a kind of relaxation response that's good for blood pressure. Bhramari (Humming Bee Breath) is deeply calming, reduces anxiety, and helps lower blood pressure. Things like diaphragmatic breathing and meditation play into this too, since they cut down on the stress hormones that often drive hypertension in the first place,” said Dr. Mishra.
“Breathing exercises and meditation matter more for heart health than people often expect, mostly because of how they affect the nervous system. Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing) stabilizes heart rate and balances the mind. Slow, deep breathing strengthens vagal tone and improves heart rate variability, both signs that the body is regulating well and that the heart is more resilient under stress,” said Dr. Mishra.
Dr. Kommineni opines, “It is important for people undergoing cancer treatment to engage in yoga exercises under the supervision of experienced yoga practitioners. Yoga exercises would have to be adjusted according to their type of cancer, the stage of their treatment, surgery, or other illnesses.”
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