Yoga for Liver Cancer

CPF October Focus

Types of Cancer: Breast and Liver

Theme: Balance and Breath

Focus: Mind Body connection, Balance & Calm

The Mayo Clinic states that Liver is a cancer that begins in the cells of your liver, the most common type being hepatocellular carcinoma which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). The other types are far less common. Beyond that, cancer can spread to the liver when it metastasizes from another area of the body such as colon, lung, or breast. This is not liver cancer, rather it is metastatic cancer of the originating organ.

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.

For those who are impacted by Liver Cancer and their supporters try bringing in Dancer Pose which can improve balance and bring a mind body connection.

Dancer Pose

Standing Dancer Variations:

Begin in Mountain pose. Bend the right knee deeply, bring the foot toward the backside. Feel free to add any of the following if they are comfortable in the body:

· Reach the right arm back and touch the right thigh

· Reach the right arm back and gently clasp the inside of the foot (a strap can be used looped around the foot if it is not comfortable to reach back with the right arm)

· Reach the left arm forward and up

· Press the foot into the hand and the hand into as the upper body slowly hinges forward

Note: All of the above can be done while holding onto the back of a chair for a standing chair assisted variation of dancer.

Seated Dancer Variations

Begin sitting sideways in chair, knees bent, feet firmly on the ground. Let the front knee descend towards the ground, ensuring the knee continues to face the same direction as your body. It may be more comfortable to place a block under the knee for support. Feel free to add any of the following if they are comfortable in the body:

· Scoot the front leg back a few inches keeping the knee on the block (you may need to adjust the location of the block)

· Bend the knee of the front leg further bringing the foot off the ground

· Reach the front arm back and tough the right thigh

· Reach the front arm back and gently clasp the inside of the foot (a strap can be used looped around the foot if it is not comfortable to reach back with the front arm)

· Reach the back arm forward and up

Dancer can also be done on the belly if standing and sitting aren’t options.

Once you have found a variation of Dancer that works for you, find a focal point in front of you and take a few slow deep breaths and enjoy the strength, the challenge, and what you are able to accomplish.