Yoga Therapy

When you think about cancer, you think about the different types such as lymphoma, breast cancer, lung and mesothelioma; just to name a few. Most types of cancer rely on the same treatment methods, with varying medications. Whether it is chemotherapy or radiation, these treatments wear cancer patients down both physically and mentally. Most individuals with cancer talk about the side effects of the treatments being worse than the disease itself. To deal with these side effects, many cancer patients are turning to yoga for help.

One of the greatest things about cancer patients using yoga as complementary therapy is that there are many different types of yoga classes that can range from restorative to more advanced styles. No matter what physical restrictions individuals may have, there will always be a type of yoga or pose modification will bring the same positive benefits to the person’s well being. This adds stress to an already stressful situation. Being able to use yoga to not only benefit them physically, but also mentally by decreasing stress levels is a definite plus.

The way yoga works to ease these treatment side effects is that it lessens the nausea and dizziness that often comes with chemotherapy. It has also been proven to reduce body pain and improve flexibility. Since it has been proven that stress causes a progression in immune-based disease, getting rid of that stress through yoga helps patients boost their immune systems. Mentally, yoga allows the patients to meditate and find that peace of mind that most are searching for. Meditation techniques taught in class also teach the individual to become aware of their negative thoughts so that they are able to replace them with positive ones. For those patients that have a lower life expectancy, like most mesothelioma prognosis indicate, that peace of mind is very important when dealing with high levels of fear for the future.

One doctor, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, found that cancer patients who did practice yoga seemed to have better emotional well-being than those who did not. Although yoga has not been scientifically proven to be a treatment for cancer, by relieving stress and anxiety, it has been proven to enhance a patient's quality of life when used in conjunction with conventional treatments.

Written By - Jillian Mckee

We are currently offering free yoga classes to anyone who is unfortunate and cannot afford a normal yoga class. The classes will be held in my yoga studio on sundays at 6:30pm.Only keen and sincere students are welcome! To find out more click the link below & contact me. Thank you

http://yoga4seeker.webs.com/contactme.htm

We all desire to have the best!! How do we know we are in the best yoga class?? Everyone will differ as to which yoga class is the best as it’s only a matter of perception. To truly understand which is the best yoga class for you, you must identify what are your expectations from yoga. At Yoga Class Kuala Lumpur we listen carefully to your expectation and goals & we design programs suited for you to achieve your desired goal. It is not about what we want to teach but rather what you want to learn. We only develop programs that consider modern day demands without polluting the important tenets of yoga.

Yoga is a vast knowledge and it can provide anything you require in regards to the body, mind and spirit. To cover everything would be difficult unless you dedicate your life in understanding the art till it becomes a way of life. It is not everyone’s aspiration to reach the ultimate goal of yoga which is self realization. Many prefer to focus on the physical side to maintain general health. There are also people who enjoy the breathing techniques as it relaxes the mind and rejuvenates every cell in the body leaving the practitioner calm & peaceful.

To be in the best yoga class you need to identify for certain what is it YOU want & allow us to fill in the gaps to help you achieve the best yoga class.

Science has enabled men to perform miracles. The deepest layers of the ocean are now easily accessible. The flight in the air is almost a common experience-man now leaves the earth. But not for good, he comes back again intact in mortal frame. Soon men will set foot on the moon and on other planets. But it is a pity and painful fact that with these miracles-powers, man is still helpless in the hands of death and diseases, often he pays an ultimate toll to death.

Medicine can relieve us for the time being, but there is no tablet to prevent premature death. Man should be a master of his destiny. Man should have power to cure his disease and to control his premature death. Indian yoga-sciences are definite aids to this end.

As per yoga scriptures the human body consist of two central parts called the trunk and the head. Attached to the trunk at its upper corners are the arms and at its lower corners are the legs. The arms are termed the upper extremities and the legs are known as the lower extremities.

The abdomen and the spinal column are the main parts of the body. It consists of cavity containing the various abdominal organs, such as heart, stomach, liver, lungs, spleen, pancreas, gall-bladder, large and small intestines, kidneys, hip-joints, bladder, the rectum, the ascending transverse and descending colon etc-etc.

By the practise of agnisara, uddiyyana bandha and nauli all the internal organs, glands, and nerves-system are stimulated and strengthened, it eradicates constipation, dissolves the extra fat of the abdominal wall. It also improves the circulation of blood to the organs of the digestive system and removes unpleasant sensations; it also tones up the nerves serving the organs of sight, hearing, smell and taste. It helps to improve the circulation of blood to the brain and thereby contributing to intelligence and alertness.

Stress is becoming prominent amongst us in this fast pace life. Everyone is moving forward seeking wealth & meeting deadlines to make ends meet. This pressure from the outside world builds up which causes emotional & physical strain in turn producing stress. This takes a toll on a lot of people affecting the body in many negative ways. Chronic fatigue, digestive upsets, back & neck pains are soon experienced by those who suffer from immense stress. In reality stress is something not all that bad if a person knows how to manage it & use it to their advantage. Stress is important as it allows you to live up to your full potential and it makes life more interesting. Too much of it though causes health & mental problems.

Having a hectic lifestyle is not the cause of stress rather it is a reaction created by an inappropriate response to the emotional & physical strain. To manage stress a person must first indentify the cause of stress in his life. This is a very crucial step. It can range from having to paying the bills or overloaded with work. Once identified you must create a strategy to cope with the situation to alter the stressful situation. A good way to start is to learn to set your limits and to say “No” when necessary. Do not overload yourself to the demands of your superiors or family members. Do not spend more than you can afford. These are all one of many ways to effectively manage your stress. If you are caught in a situation that is very stressful, stop whatever it is your doing and isolate your mind from the problem for some time. Think of a place that brings peace to you and start breathing deeply. Sounds easy? Well yes but it is easier said than done. This has proved to be a very efficient way to release your stress

The best way to relieve stress trapped in the body is through yoga. When stress gets trapped in the body it creates bodily aches and pains. Mostly these builds up are found in the neck and shoulder region. I have listed a few postures below that can be safely performed by anyone.

The first step would be is to perform sun salutation. Sun salutation compromises of 12 postures combined into one sequence. The sun salutation promotes and regulates the blood flow around the body and it relieves the tension caused by stress. There are many sites that explain the sun salutation in detail therefore I’m going to skip the explanation and move to the postures that have limited or no explanatory on the internet.

The half headstand is a simple but very effective posture to alleviate stress from the body and mind. It helps to relieve tension around the neck and shoulder region and increases the blood flow to the head leaving you calm and light headed. To do this kneel on the floor, interlock your fingers and bend forward and place the formed hands on the floor. Rest your mid head on the floor with your hands supporting your head. Breath in & out normally for about two minutes in this position. Once completed very slowly raise yourself up to a resting position. You might feel a little dizzy and if you do just relax and it will disappear within couple of seconds. Do this exercise in intervals with half a minute break. Repeat it three times

Nasal Cleansing is another good way to release stress. Nasal Cleansing improves the nervous system and it plays a key role in eliminating stress build up around the neck and frontal area. To perform the nasal cleansing you will need to find a well ventilated area. You should never perform this posture by the sea, in an air condition room as well as polluted areas. To perform the nasal cleansing place your right thumb on your right nostril and close it. Raise your left hand with your elbows a little about your shoulders, with your palms facing upwards. Now breathe in and out vigorously through your left nostril. You should hear a snorting sound. Repeat the same with the left nostril. Complete a cycle of 3 rounds on each nostril. Each round should be around 20-30 seconds. After completing 3 rounds with each nostril, raise both hands with palms facing upwards and breathe in and out vigoursly through both nostrils. You should hear the same snorting sound. This is also to be done for 3 rounds.