A new study has made a groundbreaking discovery about the benefits of yoga for people living with cancer. The first clinical trial of its kind, involving 410 cancer survivors in the US, has found that yoga can significantly reduce anxiety, insomnia, and distress in this group of individuals.
According to the study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the yoga programme resulted in a 34% reduction in anxiety, a 42% reduction in insomnia, and a 21% reduction in distress compared to those who did not participate in the programme.
The researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center conducted the study, which is set to be published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The team used a randomised controlled trial design to compare the effects of a 6-week yoga programme with a control group.
Lead author Dr Lorenzo Cohen from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center said: 'These findings are significant because they show that yoga can be a useful adjunctive therapy for people with cancer, which can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.'
With over 2.3 million people living with cancer in the UK, the potential benefits of yoga for this group are significant. While the study was conducted in the US, the findings could have implications for cancer care in the UK. The NHS has already started to explore the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for patients, and yoga may be the next step in this journey.