Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Mesothelioma Patients Can Turn to Yoga for Mind/Body Therapy

Yoga Bear, a non-profit organization started in 2006, supports the belief that "cancer patients and survivors can benefit from yoga as a complementary treatment in cancer recovery." The MD Anderson Cancer Center, known for their mesothelioma treatment center, also agrees with this approach offering yoga classes for patients in their cancer center.

Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, is responsible for approximately 3,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation, accompanied by holistic therapy.

Holistic therapy and yoga offers students a mind/body approach to coping with mesothelioma and other cancers. One study conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that yoga offers beneficial effects on social functioning among breast cancer survivors. Also, yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood.

The team at Yoga Bear is dedicated to offering both patients and survivors with opportunities for wellness and healing and matches them with free local yoga classes. Yoga Bear also provides on-site yoga classes in hospitals across the country including George Washington University Hospital, Kaiser, Maimonides, and Mt. Sinai, cancer centers, and through support groups such as The American Cancer Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Yoga is the primary activity that can "massage" all internal glands, organs and joints of the body that rarely, or never, get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. This stimulation and massage benefits the health of mesothelioma patients by improving flexibility and mobility.

Before undertaking yoga, or any exercise regimen, check with your physician.

MesotheliomaHelp.Net

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