"In fact there are a number of yogic practices which may be helpful for people with cancer in reducing stress and managing side effects, both during chemotherapy and medical procedures and after. Although people being treated for cancer usually do not have enough strength to do a vigorous asana practice, the poses can be adapted to meet almost anyone's needs. Restorative postures and simple pranayama exercises can be both energizing and relaxing, and require almost no physical effort. Meditation and guided imagery (such as found in Yoga Nidra) can be deeply relaxing and reduce anxiety. Other yogic tools can help with pain, a frequent cancer symptom, particularly in its later stages, including relaxation, meditation, and breathing practices. The slower, deeper, more regular breathing that yoga facilitates can help you feel calmer and more energetic during the stressful period of being diagnosed with cancer and enduring treatment for it. Yoga philosophy has very practical implications for people with cancer. Yoga encourages you to listen to messages from your body (physical, emotional, and otherwise) and adjust your practice accordingly." - Reproduced with permission from his book, YOGA AS MEDICINE - THE YOGIC PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH AND HEALING by Timothy McCall, MD http://www.drmccall.com