Yoga Medical News Daily

Yoga outdoors in the sun

For many of our readers in the southern hemisphere, it is now a sunny time. And not too far off, many of us in the northern hemisphere will be enjoying spring time, sun and fresh air as well.  

Those of us who focus on health-related trends and ever-changing approaches to what makes us healthier, cannot have help but be aware of resurgence of interest in vitamin D and its importance.  And as regards yoga  —  to consider a way of making a healthy exercise even healthier. There are now yoga-in-the-park and other outdoor yoga events worldwide. But most yoga is still takes place in a studio setting far removed from the sun's rays.

Now may be the time to consider our current yoga lifestyle. For some of us, it consists of the day spent in an office and then going from the office to an indoor yoga studio for exercise. Maybe it's time to think about other routines for a few times a week — yoga on the apartment balcony, yoga in your back yard/garden, or yoga and a picnic in the park. Or do a little cross-training and take an hour walk or jog.

To conclude, here is just one of dozens of recent medical studies that deal with the issue of vitamin D and health. This study found that women who reported spending on average of less than 30 minutes versus more than 2 hours outside in daylight year round at the the study's year 4 follow-up, had a 20% increased risk of breast cancer. The researchers observed that the association "between time spent outside and breast cancer risk support the hypothesis that vitamin D may protect against breast cancer."  Abstract: PubMed. "Incident invasive breast cancer, geographic location of residence, and reported average time spent outside," Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention [2009 Feb;18(2):495-507]  

Balancing lymphedema risk: should breast cancer survivors do yoga, pilates?

The article "Balancing Lymphedema Risk: Exercise Versus Deconditioning for Breast Cancer Survivors," by Kathryn H. Schmitz, in Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews [Volume 38(1), January 2010, pp 17-24], provides an excellent overview on the current state of approaches to dealing with lymphedema risk by breast cancer survivors. 

Article abstract: "Lymphedema, a common and feared negative effect of breast cancer treatment, is generally described by arm swelling and dysfunction. Risk averse clinical recommendations guided survivors to avoid the use of the affected arm. This may lead to deconditioning and, ironically, the very outcome women seek to avoid. Recently published studies run counter to these guidelines."

The author concludes after a lengthy review of current research, that "the results of completed studies support the safety of upper-body exercise among breast cancer survivors with and at risk for lymphedema.  . . . specifics of all types of upper-body exercise are not yet tested, but several general premises of progressive exercise training seem to hold with this population. Training should start supervised at a low dose and increase according to symptom response and is likely to increase maximal and functional capacity of the affected arm. Future research should include assessment of efficacy and safety of additional modes of exercise popular with breast cancer survivors (e.g., yoga, Pilates) as well as assessment of the timing to start exercise after surgery."  

Effects of Tibetan Yoga on Fatigue and Sleep in Cancer

Clinical trial currently seeking participants. Location: U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Recruiting, Houston, Texas. Purpose: The proposed study will assess the physical and psychological benefits of a Tibetan yoga (TY) program for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Patients with breast cancer who are scheduled to undergo neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy will be randomly assigned to a TY group, stretching group (SG) or a usual care (UC) group. Outcomes: To learn if participating in a Tibetan yoga program helps to improve quality of life for women during treatment for or recovery from breast cancer; and To find whether the yoga program helps to improve sleep, lung function, and physical therapy, based on outcomes. Inclusion Criteria: Women with stage I-III breast cancer who are undergoing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy weekly for 12 weeks followed by four cycles of an anthracycline-based treatment every 21 days or six to eight cycles of chemotherapy every 21 days; 18 years of age or older; Able to read, write and speak English;. Able to come to UTMDACC for intervention and assessment sessions. Details: ClinicalTrials,gov.

Integrative tumor board: a case report and discussion from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Published in Integrative Cancer Therapies [Sept 2009; 8 (3): 235-41], this case report describes a "34-year-old woman carrying a BRCA1 gene and a significant family history was diagnosed with T1c, N1 breast cancer." Traditional medical treatment was administered to the patient as well as "integrative therapies, including integrative nutrition, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, and yoga." Conclusion: "Each modality contributed unique benefit in her care that led to a satisfactory outcome for the patient. A detailed discussion regarding her care from each modality is presented.The case elucidates the need for integrative approaches for cancer patients in a conventional medical setting."  Abstract: PubMed.

Restorative yoga for women with breast cancer

Published in Psycho-Oncology (2009, April; 18 (4): 360-8). "Study goals were: to determine the feasibility of implementing a RY intervention for women with breast cancer; and to examine group differences in self-reported emotional, health-related quality of life, and symptom outcomes."  Intervention included 10 weekly 75-minute RY classes.  Outcomes included "Women with higher negative affect and lower emotional well-being at baseline" deriving "greater benefit from the yoga intervention compared to those with similar values at baseline in the control group."  Abstract: PubMed.

Yoga of Awareness program for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: results from a randomized trial

The aim of this study appearing in the [2009 October 17 (10): 1301-9] issue of Supportive Care in Cancer,  "was to evaluate the effects of a yoga intervention on menopausal symptoms in a sample of survivors of early-stage breast cancer (stages IA-IIB)." The conclusions were that the "pilot study provides promising support for the beneficial effects of a comprehensive yoga program for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms in early-stage breast cancer survivors." Abstract at: PubMed.