Benefits of Yoga for People with Cancer and Chair Yoga Basics

Yoga is a mind-body practice. It combines movement, stretching, breathing, and relaxation. Research shows yoga can support physical and emotional health for people with cancer. Making modifications to yoga practice, such as doing the exercises in a chair or other adaptive techniques, can make the movement easier.

This article covers what the latest research says about the benefits of yoga for people living with cancer. It also covers how to do chair yoga from a recent HealthTree event.

How yoga supports people with cancer 

Several large studies found that yoga can help lower stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep problems in people with cancer. Researchers also reported better balance, flexibility, physical function, and quality of life. 

Yoga benefits can vary between people. The type of yoga, session length, and a person’s physical condition may affect results. Even short or gentle sessions may still help over time. 

Cancer care guidelines now include yoga

Several medical groups now recommend yoga as part of supportive cancer care. Guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society for Integrative Oncology state that yoga may help with stress, mood, sleep, fatigue, and quality of life.

This support shows that yoga is becoming more accepted in cancer care. Many cancer programs now use yoga alongside standard treatment to support overall well-being.

What is chair yoga?

HealthTree recently hosted a webinar called Finding Strength and Serenity through Chair Yoga for Cancer Patients. During this webinar, yoga instructor Jeff Abram taught a free chair yoga class.  Watch the recording to follow along. 

The event focused on gentle stretching, breathing, balance, and mindful movement. The exercises are designed for people of all mobility levels. Abram shared that chair yoga helped improve his own energy and emotional well-being over time.

Chair yoga exercises may feel safer and more approachable for people managing fatigue, stiffness, balance concerns, or treatment side effects. A chair can also provide extra support during movement. 

Simple ways to practice chair yoga at home

You can begin with gentle breathing and stretching exercises. Sit comfortably and relax your shoulders before moving. Some chair yoga movements include:

• Sit tall with both feet flat on the floor
• Slowly reach the arms overhead while breathing deeply
• Gentle seated twists to improve flexibility
• Forward bends to stretch the back and hips
• Supported downward dog using a chair against a wall
• Slow neck and shoulder stretches to ease tension

Remember to breathe during each movement. Also, stop if anything causes pain.

Practice chair yoga two to three times each week. Short movement sessions may feel easier to maintain than longer exercise routines. 

Over time, regular movement may help support balance, flexibility, and stress management.

Key takeaways

Yoga may offer a gentle way to support physical and emotional health for people with cancer. Research shows it can help improve stress, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life.

Chair yoga may be a helpful option for people looking for safe and accessible movement. Even small amounts of movement and breathing practice may provide support over time.

Continue learning about supportive movements for people with cancer: 

• HealthTree University: Physical Activity
• How Integrative Oncology Supports Your Health
• Improve Well-Being with Tai Chi and Qigong While Living with Cancer
• Pilates for Strength and Mobility: What People With Cancer Need to Know
• Strength Training for People with Cancer
• How Nutrition, Movement, and Stress Management Can Support Your Myeloma Treatment
• How Exercise Can Help Improve Fatigue for People with Lymphoma

Sources: 

• Physical and Mental Benefits of Chair Yoga for Older Adults: A Case Series
• Yoga as a Therapeutic Intervention in Cancer Care: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
• Health benefits of yoga for cancer survivors: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
• Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Cancer Patients: From Clinical Observations to Biochemical Mechanisms
• Yoga for Symptom Management in Oncology: A Review of the Evidence Base and Future Directions for Research
• Integrating Yoga into Comprehensive Cancer Care: Starting Somewhere