Undergoing treatment for lung cancer? Strike these yoga poses

Veteran Marathi actor Ramesh Bhatkar died of lung cancer yesterday at the age of 70. Read on to know about yoga poses that will help you beat the side effects of lung cancer treatment.

Written By: Juhi Kumari | Published : February 5, 2019 7:54 PM IST

Veteran Marathi actor, Ramesh Bhatkar died of lung canceron Monday. The 70-year-old actor was suffering from this deadly disease from the past one and a half years and was in the ICU for the last 15 days. This actor, well-known for films like AAi Tuza Ashirwad, Maherchi Sadi, Bharat Aala Parat and Mumbai Time was in extreme pain through the last month.

Lung cancer is a disease that hits you when a group of abnormal cells grow in this organ in an uncontrolled manner and destroy the nearby tissues. If you are suffering from this life-threatening condition, symptoms like chronic cough, wheezing, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and repeated lung infections will persist. Though fatal, early detection can help you and your oncologist manage the condition better and the good news is that now the condition can be diagnosed at the initial stage with the help of a newly-developed technology that can spot the most common lung cancer biomarkers. The treatment regimen of lung cancer includes methods like immunotherapy and chemotherapy among others. These therapies come with side effects like anxiety, stress, fatigue, nausea, etc. Yoga can help you deal with these symptoms. A study published in the Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal, yoga can be effective in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea, while another research carried out by the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that yoga was beneficial for lung cancer patients (in advance stage) receiving radiation therapy. Here are 4 yoga asanas poses that you can practise if you are undergoing lung cancer treatment and experiencing the associated symptoms.

Trikonasana

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It includes stretching of muscles and thus improves the regular bodily functions. Shutterstock

Also known as Triangle Pose due to its resemblance to a triangle, Trikonasana cleans the air passage for better breathing and amps up the function of your nervous system. It includes stretching of muscles and thus improves the regular bodily functions. Moreover, it reduces stress, anxiety, cures indigestion, keeps the mind calm, and makes groins, hamstrings, and hips flexible.

How to do it

Standing straight, maintain a wide gap between your feet.
Extend your arms and keep them at your shoulder level.
Now inhale and bring your right arm by the side of your head.
While exhaling, bend your right arms with towards the left side and make sure your body weight is equally on both the feet.
With normal breathing, maintain this position till you are comfortable and then come to the original position by inhaling.
Continue the same procedure with the left arm up to three to five rounds.

Shashankasana

It tones the pelvic muscles and stimulates the abdomen organs. Shutterstock

Also known as Hare Pose, Shashankasana reduces stress, relaxes the body, and relieves depression. Very easy to perform, it can be done by anyone regardless of age. Shashankasana tones the pelvic muscles, stimulates the abdomen organs, and gives a good relaxing stretch to the spine.

How to do it

Firstly, you need to sit in Vajrasana. To do that, kneel and keep your right foot big toe on your left foot big toe.
Now, bring your palms on your thighs.
Stretch your hand straight upwards and inhale.
Now exhale and try to bend forward touching your chin and nose to the ground.
Be in this posture till you are comfortable and them resume the initial position.
Repeat this process 5 to 10 times.

Naukasana

Naukasana improves your inhalation capacity and blood circulation. Shutterstock

It improves your inhalation capacity by letting you expand your chest. Also known as Boat Pose, it improves blood circulation, digestion, eliminates fatigue, and controls the functioning of the pancreas, liver, and lungs.

How to do it

Lie down with your feet together and keeping arms on the sides.
Now, inhale and exhale stretching your arms towards your feet.
As the abdominal muscles contract, feel the tension in the navel area.
Maintaining the posture, keep breathing deeply.
Come back to the ground slowly as you exhale.

Padma Sarvangasana

It stimulates your breath and blood circulation. Shutterstock

Also known as the Lotus Shoulder Stand Pose, Padma relaxes your brain and stimulates your breath and blood circulation. Moreover, this yoga asana eliminates fatigue and depression.

How to do it

Start with lying on the floor and then raise your legs to 90 degrees.
Now, pressing the floor with your palms, lift the torso and bring the legs forward.
While in this position, make sure your entire body and legs stand vertically to the floor and are in a straight line.
Maintain this posture till you can looking at the toe nails and making sure your legs do not move.
Then, resume the former pose by lowering your legs and taking the hands away from the back.

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