May 28, 2004 – Tibetan yoga reportedly alleviates insomnia problems associated with cancer treatments. These are the results of a study1 small scale performed in Houston, United States.
Researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center divided 39 patients into two groups. Half were in a Tibetan yoga class for seven weeks. The other did not follow.
The researchers found that the patients attending the yoga classes had an easier time falling asleep, slept better and for longer periods of time, and used fewer sleeping pills than the other half of the group. However, no significant difference was observed in terms of anxiety, depression or fatigue.
Tibetan yoga teaches stress reduction techniques like mindful breathing, visualization, and meditation. It also includes stretching and posture exercises. According to research team member Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, Tibetan yoga is particularly suitable for cancer treatments because it involves “lighter” exercises and does not involve inverted postures.
Diep Truong – HealthPassport.net
According to the review Cancer and Yahoo! News
1. Cohen, L et al. Psychological Adjustment and Sleep Quality in a Randomized Trial of the Effects of a Tibetan Yoga Intervention in Patients with Lymphoma, Cancer, 2004, 100 (10), 2253-60.
