CancerStressYoga

Scientific basis for yoga

Dr. Timothy McCall, writing at YogaJournal.com, makes the case for yoga.

Here’s what we know.

Stress

  • Yoga is arguably the most comprehensive approach to fighting stress.
  • Yoga improves the quality of life.
  • It also appears to diminish the side effects of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other treatments, and may increase the odds of survival.
  • Many yoga practices, including quiet asana, slow breathing, meditation, and guided imagery, increase activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and lead to mental relaxation.
    • The parasympathetic nervous system slows the heart and lowers blood pressure, allowing recovery after a stressful event

More effects of yoga are discussed in the article.

11/9/11 21:52 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.