Yoga in Cancer Care

In the article "Yoga in Oncologic Care: An Evidence-Based Treatment to Improve Outcomes," published in The ASCO Post, authors Lorenzo Cohen and Santosshi Narayanan examine the growing importance of yoga as a nonpharmacologic intervention in contemporary cancer care. As patients increasingly seek comprehensive approaches to symptom management, yoga has emerged as a time-honored mind-body practice that synchronizes movement, breath, and mind to improve both physical and psychological well-being. The authors argue that yoga is particularly relevant in oncology due to its ability to mitigate the deleterious effects of chronic stress, which can activate biological processes that promote tumor growth and increase mortality. The authors synthesize extensive clinical evidence demonstrating that low-intensity forms of yoga, such as Hatha and restorative yoga, are safe and effective for reducing a wide range of cancer-related symptoms, including distress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and nausea. Notably, yoga is now recommended by several prominent medical bodies: the joint Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO guidelines suggest its use for breast cancer patients, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) includes it as an effective intervention for cancer-related fatigue and anticipatory nausea. Beyond the patient, research also indicates that yoga can improve the spiritual well-being and quality of life for caregivers. The authors conclude that given its strong safety profile and proven efficacy, healthcare systems should prioritize the dissemination and implementation of yoga therapy—ideally delivered by trained oncology yoga therapists—to ensure this evidence-based treatment is accessible to the broader community of individuals impacted by cancer.