.

2008-11-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

How can yoga help people with cancer?

Cancer is a broad complex of illnesses in which a weakened immune system cannot cope with the proliferation of damaged cells. Of course yoga is not a "cure" for cancer but it can help to strengthen the immune system and encourage our inner healing forces. It works in various ways:

relaxation - calms the nervous system and alleviates the stress and anxiety which lower immune functioning and hinder healing
breathing exercises - improves respiration, releases tension and restores balance and calm
meditation - develops the detachment and clarity that enables us to acknowledge and accept the realities of our situation and to cope with our fears
physical posture - clears toxins, increases energy levels and enhances the functioning of our internal organs and systems

The simplest of yoga breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques can also help us to deal with the overwhelming emotions that come with the diagnosis of a life-changing illness: shock, anger, fear, guilt to name the most obvious ones. And they can be of help in managing the stress, anxiety and pain of cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Yoga offers practical tools with which you can help yourself and mobilise your own inner resources. Yoga is empowering because you are doing something for yourself: no-one is doing it for you.

http://www.anac.org.uk/

2008-11-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture, yoga for U.S. troops? Perhaps

BY GREGG ZOROYA • USA TODAY • October 9, 2008

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is seeking new ways to treat troops suffering from combat stress or brain damage by researching such alternative methods as acupuncture, meditation, yoga and the use of animals as therapy, military officials said.

"This new theme is a big departure for our cautious culture," said Dr. S. Ward Casscells, the Pentagon's assistant secretary for health affairs.

Casscells said he pushed hard for the new research, because "we are struggling with" post-traumatic stress disorder "as we are with suicide, and we are increasingly willing to take a hard look at even soft therapies."

So far this year, the Pentagon is spending $5 million to study the therapies. In the previous two years, the Pentagon had not spent any money on similar research, records show.

About 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from PTSD or major depression, while about 320,000 may have experienced at least a mild concussion or brain injury in combat, according to a RAND Corp. study released earlier this year.

Some military hospitals and installations already use alternative therapies, such as acupuncture as stress relievers. The research will see whether the alternatives work so the Pentagon can see if it should use them more, said Army Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, head of the Defense Centers for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Her office issued a request for research proposals this year on therapies ranging from art and dance to the ancient Chinese healing art of qigong to a touch therapy known as Reiki.

2008-11-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Exploring the physiological, psychological, and biochemical benefits of practicing Yoga.

Physiological Benefits of Yoga

Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
Pulse rate decreases
Respiratory rate decreases
Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors)
Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
EMG activity decreases
Cardiovascular efficiency increases
Respiratory efficiency increases
Gastrointestinal function normalizes
Endocrine function normalizes
Excretory functions improve
Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
Breath-holding time increases
Joint range of motion increase
Grip strength increases
Eye-hand coordination improves
Dexterity skills improve
Reaction time improves
Posture improves
Strength and resiliency increase
Endurance increases
Energy level increases
Weight normalizes
Sleep improves
Immunity increases
Pain decreases
Steadiness improves
Depth perception improves
Balance improves
Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
Social adjustment increases
Anxiety and Depression decrease
Hostility decreases
Concentration improves
Memory improves
Attention improves
Learning efficiency improves
Mood improves
Self-actualization increase
Social skills increases
Well-being increases
Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
Self-acceptance increase
Attention improves
Concentration improves
Memory improves
Learning efficiency improves
Symbol coding improves
Depth perception improves
Flicker fusion frequency improves

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga

Glucose decreases
Sodium decreases
Total cholesterol decreases
Triglycerides decrease
HDL cholesterolincreases
LDL cholesterol decreases
VLDL cholesterol decreases
Cholinesterase increases
Catecholamines decrease
ATPase increases
Hematocrit increases
Hemoglobin increases
Lymphocyte count increases
Total white blood cell count decreases
Thyroxin increases
Vitamin C increases
Total serum protein increases

contributed by: www.cyberastro.com and www.movingintostillness.com