Yoga: A Healer

Yoga has long been known for its healing characteristics. It is a practice that has been around for thousands of years and has long been known to calm and uplift the soul beyond its normal capacity. The traditional purpose of yoga is to achieve a profound transformation through the transcendence of the ego. There are many benefits for the body and mind through the practicing of yoga for healing and there are many kinds for any individual's needs.

This is a guest post by Kyle Blackhurst, a freelance journalist and yoga enthusiast. We hope that you find it enjoyable and informative.

How yoga helps the body and mind

By no means is yoga the only treatment that an individual with cancer should go about to fight their disease. Soothing practices, such as yoga, are great activities that individuals can engage in on the side of traditional medicine (if medicine is needed) to help through various ailments and sufferings. It can even help in ways that wouldn’t be imagined. Yoga can help to ease side effects of cancer and make life more bearable. It can help cancer patients improve the quality of relaxation and sleep, provide relief from physical pain, anxiety, fatigue, and nausea induced by the disease and the medical treatment. Ultimately, yoga has the ability to help individuals build an ability to remain calm, find focus, add balance, and relax.

On top of easing the side effects of cancer and medical treatment, yoga also helps to fight cancer by boosting the lymphatic system. Yoga helps boost the lymphatic system through draining the lymph (a fluid rich in immune cells) through the process of contracting and stretching muscles throughout the body, moving organs around, and coming in-and-out of yoga poses. The releasing of lymph drainage helps the body to fight infections, destroy cancerous cells, and get rid of toxic byproducts of naturally occurring cell functioning.

How do I choose what kind of yoga is right for me

Fortunately, there are many different styles of yoga so there is room to breathe for every need a person might have. There are more intense yoga classes that act as a power workout as well and there are also less intense classes that individuals suffering from fatigue might enjoy. For those who are seeking a more rigorous path in yoga, Ashtanga, or power yoga, might be the right choice. This approach to yoga requires a constant flow of motion through the body. Ashtanga yoga emphasizes flexibility, strength, and endurance. This type of yoga is physically demanding but rewards both physically and spiritually.

For those who need a more relaxing yoga, restorative yoga is the right fit. Restorative yoga can be more rejuvenating than a nap. This type of yoga props students into passive poses with bolsters, blankets, and blocks, allowing the student to receive the benefits of the poses without having to exert any effort or energy. The student is then able to receive the peace and tranquility that is learned through the practicing of yoga.

A form of yoga that applies to all aspects of life is called Kundalini yoga. Kundalini yoga seeks to awaken Kundalini, the creative energy stored in the base of the human spine. This practice attempts to activate this stored energy through breathing, posing, chanting, and meditating. Through several forms of breathing techniques, those engaging in Kundalini yoga attempt to clear the system and allow energy to flow into the different chakras.

Yoga overall

Overall, practicing yoga can be one of the healthiest, most natural things a person can do for themselves. Yoga can help relieve stress and anxiety, calm an individual's worrying mind, and release chemicals in your body that help to fight cancer, battle infections, and boost your immune system. There are types of yoga for the needs of every individual whether it be something peaceful without using much energy or a physically challenging type of yoga. With all the benefits of yoga, what’s stopping you from engaging in this beneficial practice?

About the Author

Kyle Blackhurst is a freelance journalist living in Boise, Idaho. He covers everything from sharing business tips to how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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