Practicing yoga is good for people recovering from cancer

American researchers have found that cancer survivors sleep better and increase their physical strength after practicing yoga.

Researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine conducted a comparative experiment on about 400 cancer survivors, most of whom had received chemotherapy for breast cancer. Among them, members of one experimental group did mild yoga exercise twice a week, including meditation; members of the other group continued to follow their original lifestyle.

Researchers found that in the group that participated in yoga activities, 22% of people slept better, twice as much as the number of people in the other group who slept better. In addition, 50% of yoga practitioners said they no longer tend to fatigue easily, and some feel that their quality of life has improved.

Research team leader Karin Mastian said this is good news for cancer survivors. Although people can improve their sleep by taking drugs, they inevitably have side effects.

The researchers are preparing to submit the research report to the American Society of Clinical Oncology at its annual meeting in June. (Internship Editor: Li Jianhong)