Yoga for Prostate Cancer

CPF September Focus

Type of Cancer: Uterine, Leukemia, Ovarian, Prostate, and Thyroid Cancer

Theme: Grounding & Gratitude

Focus: Stability, Calm, and Reflection

Per the Mayo Clinic, Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer; it is usually found early, grows slowly, and has an extremely high cure rate. Treatments may include surgery and radiation therapy. Sometimes, a wait and see approach is taken. The options can seem overwhelming at times.

Focus on asanas that ground the individual and use language that focus on stability and grounding. Eagle pose is a asana that achieves both.

Standing Eagle Pose

Eagle Pose- Standing

Begin in Mountain pose. Bend the knees, sitting back slightly. Shift the weight to one leg. Cross the other knee on top of the stabilizing leg. Options include gently resting the toes on a block or wrapping the toes around the stabilizing leg.

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

Once the lower half of the body is balanced and stable; bring the arms to right angles and cross one elbow on top of the other. Keep the forearms parallel or bring the palms to face one another. Other options for the arms include crossing arms across chest grabbing onto the opposite shoulder or bringing arms in front of chest at 90 degrees and gently bringing them as close together as possible.

Seated Eagle pose

Modified Eagle pose-Seated

Seated in chair, knees bent, feet firmly on the ground.

Options for the lower half of the body: Cross one knee over the other knee, cross one ankle over the other ankle, or extend legs and cross the ankles

Options for the upper half of the body: Bring the arms to right angles and cross one elbow on top of the other. Keep the forearms parallel or bring the palms to face one another. Other options include crossing arms across chest grabbing onto the opposite shoulder or bringing arms in front of chest at 90 degrees and gently bringing them as close together as possible

Eagle can also be done fully reclined