Laura Venecia Rodriguez in the child pose
GUEST POST
Today I am sharing a post written by Faith Franz, writer for the Mesothelioma Center at http://www.Asbestos.com. Thank you, Faith!
Yoga Practice at Home for Someone with Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. This cancer affects the thin, protective membrane surrounding the heart, lungs and abdominal cavity. There are three locations that mesothelioma commonly originates, and these locations are used to classify the cancer into three subtypes:
- Pleural mesothelioma (develops in the lining of the lungs)
- Peritoneal mesothelioma (develops in the lining of the stomach)
- Pericardial mesothelioma (develops in the lining of the heart)
Yoga’s benefits are physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual for some practitioners who wish to connect with their personal faith during practice. Yoga can help patients sleep better and feel more energetic when treatments such as radiation therapy cause fatigue. Additionally it is a great way for individuals going through treatments to exercise and increase their appetite.
While yoga can be practiced in a studio with a trained instructor, yoga can also be practiced in the comfort of a home.
For mesothelioma patients, at-home yoga may be more convenient. Instead of worrying about driving across town and meeting a studio’s schedule, patients can enjoy their practice on their own time, whenever they have a burst of energy. Practicing yoga at home is also cheaper than attending a studio. Individual yoga classes at a studio can cost between $10 and $20 each (depending on where you live), while materials to practice at home can be purchased once and reused as long as desired.
The only things required to set up an at-home yoga space are:
- A space at least two feet wide by six feet long (outside works well!)
- A yoga mat
- Optional: candles, instructional yoga DVDs and/or a CD of relaxing music
Once they have created a space for their practice, yoga students can flow through their favorite poses at their own pace or follow along with an instructional material. Countless yoga DVDs, podcasts, YouTube videos and instructional books are available for those wishing to take their practice to their home.
People who are just beginning their yoga practice may wish to take a few introductory classes at a yoga studio before practicing at home, or ask a yoga teacher for a private session at the patient’s home. This allows patients to learn some of the traditional poses and ensure they are practicing safely. After their initial sessions, patients may feel more comfortable flowing through the postures at home.
Simple Yoga Routine for an At-Home Yoga Practice
Several simple yoga postures can be practiced at home for a balanced practice. These include:
- Child’s pose
- Mountain pose
- Cat/Cow stretches
- Downward dog
- Forward bend
- Warrior I and II
Yogis can end their sessions with a few minutes in Savasana (lying down) for quiet reflection. Using this time for meditation can help mesothelioma patients leave their practice feeling less anxious and stressed about their medical condition.
Author bio: Faith Franz is a writer for the Mesothelioma Center. She combines her interests in whole-body health and medical research to educate the mesothelioma community about the newest developments in cancer care.
Yours for improving your health with yoga,
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach
Tao Porchon Lynch is one of my favorite instructors, a living legend. Waiting for your new post about the time you spent with this legend.
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