Pranayama for Liver Cancer

CPF October Focus

Types of Cancer: Breast and Liver

Theme: Balance and Breath

Focus: Mind Body connection, Balance & Calm

Liver Cancer

The liver is a football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath your diaphragm and above your stomach. As noted in the last blog post about Liver cancer, the options to treat liver cancer depend on the type and stage and vary from localized treatments such as heating or freezing cancer cells; to radiation therapy / drug therapy / immunotherapy / chemotherapy; to surgeries to remove tumors or transplant a liver.

Precautions

When working with Pranayama be aware of the liver’s location and the potential treatments your student may have had for their cancer.

Pranayama Evaluation

Instead of guiding your students through a vigorous or deep pranayama practice, ask them to focus on their breath and notice the qualities without making any adjustments.

Ask them the following questions, pausing to give them time to think about the answer:

1. How long does each inhale take?

2. How long does each exhale take?

3. How deep is the breath / where do you feel it?

4. What is the temperature of the air as it comes into the body and when it is released?

Have them continue breathing, as their body would like, simply noticing each inhale and exhale. After 30 seconds or more, ask them if there have been any changes in their breath; give them time to think through any changes. Assure them that there are no right answers, only observations. After another 30 seconds ask them the same 4 questions again, pausing after each so they can ponder the answer.

Calm The Mind

When we intentionally bring the mind to focus on one thing, such as the breath it can help to focus and calm the mind. Over a few minutes this can lead to a feeling of greater stability and calm and even begin to relax the body. Remind your students, they can bring their attention to their breath any time they want, it can help to calm and center them.