Yoga can help women recover from mastectomies

Women suffering from breast cancer may have to accept the painful news that they will lose one or more of their breasts, and that’s not something that’s easily digestible. Although there are many types of mastectomies, it is, no doubt, a life-changing experience, both physically and emotionally, so it’s important to take good care of yourself.  

If you already practice yoga regularly, you know it can offer calmness and clarity during difficult situations, and you’ll probably be eager to get back on the mat to start the healing process.  But engaging in a vigorous practice after undergoing a mastectomy may not be in your best interests.  First, you must be careful not to put pressure on your arms and upper body area too soon, as your range of motion will be compromised and you’ll experience weakness in one or more muscles near the affected tissue.  You may also experience a condition called “lymphadema” which occurs because the body isn’t draining fluids normally like it did before surgery, so you’ll need to stay away from arm balances and other strengthening poses that affect the upper body until you feel better.

So, take it slow and easy, and if you can, find a teacher who is trained in yoga therapy for breast cancer patients and who can sensitively and knowledgeably ease you along your path to recovery.  Another way to help your recovery is to practice some restorative yoga poses, such as reclining bound angle pose, corpse pose, and legs-up-the-wall pose, which promote deep breathing and relaxation to guide you back to emotional health.

“The first thing postoperative patients should do before trying yoga is to ask their surgeon what he or she recommends,” says Dr. Vivien D’Andrea of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, quoted in an article “Gentle yoga may speed recovery after surgery,” (Las Altos Town Crier, by Pam Walatka (June 17, 2009).  “Starting yoga right after surgery, if you have not done yoga before, would be a terrible idea. Yoga students learn to listen to their bodies and know when to stop. If you were to jump into postoperative yoga without experience, you could hurt yourself,” notes Pam.

Having any type of cancer is not an easy thing to accept, but yoga can help you manage it more effectively. Although it’s not a quick fix, an ongoing practice will reward you with a more meaningful and radiant life, regardless of the challenges we face.