Yoga for Brest Cancer Baltimore MD

Come Into Clarity

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Yoga offers powerful self-healing tools for women with breast cancer—from diagnosis and treatment through recovery. How you practice yoga is as important as what you practice, so be sure to:

Balance effort with relaxation.
Treat yourself kindly.
Challenge yourself—but never strain in a pose.
Consult your physician if you have any questions about the appropriateness of any of these postures.
Incorporate any or all of these poses into your daily healing routine, in any order that makes sense to your body and emotions at that moment.

Legs on the Chair Pose (viparita karani)
Lie on your back, and put your legs on a chair in front of you. The chair height should allow your but- tocks and lower back to rest comfortably on the floor. Stay here with your arms outstretched or on your belly for as long as you like, breathing normally (or try the three-part yoga breath below).
Option: Lie on the floor with your legs up the wall instead.
Benefits: Great for insomnia, worry, and nausea.

Fish Pose (matsyasana)
Place two foam blocks on your mat a few inches apart. Rest your head on one, and place the other between your shoulder blades. Open your arms out to the sides, and relax completely, breathing normally (or try the three-part yoga breath below.)
Benefits: Releases tension postmastectomy by stretching the front of the shoulders and chest, and lifting the spirits.

Cow Face Pose (gomukhasana)
Reach your right hand behind your back with palm facing outward, and bend your elbow so your hand is between your shoulder blades. Now, lie down on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Gently roll the shoulder down toward the floor—a very big stretch for those with tight shoulders. If this is too intense, slide your hand down toward the small of your back.
Benefits: Stretches the front of the chest, opens the shoulder, and lifts the spirits.

Eagle Pose (garudasana)
Sit on your heels (or stand up). Bring your right arm underneath your left, and wrap your forearms around each other. You may or may not be able to touch your hands together. Inhale your hands away from your face; exhale your hands toward your face. Do this several times, and reverse arm position (left arm underneath).
Option: Too much of a stretch? Wrap your arms around your chest, and give yourself a hug. Extend your arms out to the side as you inhale; now exhale and give yourself another hug. Reverse arms. Do this several times, adding a smile to your face.
Benefits: Excellent for external rotation of the shoulder, which helps post-surgery. Also helps you honor and love yourself just the way you are.

Arms Overhead (urdhva hastasana)
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Lengthen your spine so that your shoulders are over your hips, ears are over your shoulders, and chin is parallel to the ground. Release your tailbone toward your heels. Inhale, raise your arms up toward the sky, keeping your shoulders relaxed. Exhale, bring your arms back down. Re...

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