Yoga Oncology© – Cancer Care Yoga©
Yoga ( yuj, means to yoke, or join), and Oncology (ongkos – meaning burden, volume, mass or barb, and logos means study); so, Yoga Oncology© is the study and interpretation of cancers according to Yoga philosophy and application of Yogic techniques to provide help in such cases. Or, in simple words, it is Yoga as applied to cancer care, or Cancer Care Yoga©. Yoga Oncology©, or Cancer Care Yoga© in layman’s terms, is the new subject or super-specialization of Yoga Therapy within the scope of Yoga which was conceived, raised, nurtured and introduced by Dr Jitender K Sahdev; this is to provide specialized Yoga care for all types of cancers.
We have introduced this Super-Specialization of Yoga Therapy under the able and qualified guidance of Dr Jitender K Sahdev, the first Yoga Oncologist© (Cancer Care Yoga© Specialist) in the world and the pioneer of this field. The idea of Yoga Oncology has been evolving over a long time – since 1988 when he was doing his residency in Surgical Oncology. Later, in 1993, when he started his own surgery clinic in India, he also launched Combined Approach Treatment Clinic – combining Modern Medicine with help from alternative modalities, mainly Yoga, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Acupuncture and so on, for treatment of patients of chronic and intractable diseases. The results were very convincing and encouraging, and the experience and evidence kept him motivated. All that work combined with all the ongoing research led to the development of Yoga Oncology.
SAVY has launched many Cancer Care Yoga programs over the last decade under his able guidance. The experiential knowledge of Yoga supported by present day research shows that many of the Yogic techniques can play a significant role in the management of cancers. In the last few decades, research has proven usefulness of a number of Yogic techniques and many aspects of Yogic lifestyle, including but not limited to, sattwik diet or predominantly plant-based diet, upvas or fasting, vrata or vow, asanas, the Yoga postures, pranayama, the breathing practices, dhyana, the mediation techniques, Yoga Nidra or relaxation techniques, Surya Tratak or Sun Gazing, Nada Yoga, Neti or nasal irrigation etc., – all of these have been investigated scientifically, only to confirm the age-old claims of Indian Yogis about their beneficial effects and healing potential. Even the original language used to describe this knowledge is acknowledged to be the most scientific. Whereas some of these techniques are being assimilated into Modern Medicine in piece-meal fashion, the original science is more appealing because of its originality, simplicity, depth, comprehensivity and wholesomeness. Creation of this new subject of Yoga Oncology within the scope of Yoga is an attempt to systematize all that knowledge in its original form, and to make it more understandable, tenable, practicable and accessible to those who really need it.
The eternal knowledge of Yoga has always been a very advanced science, so advanced that in the present era we are just beginning to understand its full depth, scope and capability. Yoga is one of the six darshanas of Vedic philosophy: Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta. Traditional Yoga, or Ashtanga Yoga includes eight steps – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayam, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyan, Samadhi. Yoga also includes Nada Yoga, Swara Yoga, Laya Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra, Mantra, Mudra Vigyan, Sukshma Yoga, Nutrition, Marma Therapy and a lot more than that! Though a lot of information has been lost over the last few centuries, yet every single word of the available literature in the scriptures is important from the therapeutic as well as the spiritual advancement point of view. There is nothing which is unimportant or superfluous. Traditionally, Yoga was directed mainly at spiritual advancement whereas its sibling, Ayurveda – the science of life, the Indian system of medicine, was meant for healing. But even historically, Yoga has been used for healing also. One example that can be quoted from Mahabharata is that of Bhishma Pitamaha keeping himself alive on the bed of arrows with his knowledge of Mantra Yoga and Pranayama for 58 days while waiting for Uttarayana. Ayurveda is the oldest healing system in the world. Ayurveda comes from Atharva Veda, the fourth Veda; some scholars even refer to Ayurveda as the fifth Veda. The earliest written Vedas, according to western scholars, date back to 1800 BC, whereas, traditionally they are believed to have been available much earlier than that. It is claimed that almost all systems of healing in the world were influenced by Ayurveda entirely or in some or the other way. Ayurveda and Yoga share the basic philosophy and concepts.
For thousands of years, all this knowledge and understanding of Vedas and Yogic practices was handed down through oral tradition from one generation to the next, from Guru to disciple. Vedas are, in fact, the textbooks of science – ‘apara’ as well ‘para’, and so are Yoga, Upanishads and other derivatives. Schrodinger, the co-creator of Quantum Mechanics, admitted to have been inspired by Vedic texts. Niels Bohr, the Danish nuclear physicist, once wrote,” I go into Upanishads to ask questions.”. Oppenheimer, the father of the first atomic bomb, described his experience of witnessing the first explosion by quoting verses from Gita; at another time, he stated,” The Vedas are the greatest privilege of this century.” Carl Sagan and Count Maurice Maeterlinck acknowledged the accuracy of the timescales of Vedic Cosmology. Many other scholars and philosophers in the west have been associated with Vedanta. Sir William Hunter, a British Historian observed, “Arabic medicine was founded on the translations from the Sanskrit treatise, made by command of the Kaliphs of Baghdad, 750-960 AD. European medicine, down to the 17th Century, was based upon the Arabic; and the name of the Indian physician Charaka repeatedly occurs in the Latin translations.”
Over the last few decades, Modern Medicine also seems to be catching up. Research has shown that Yoga can have positive impact in cancer. Yoga has been proven to have deep and immense therapeutic effect. It is a safe and reliable detoxifying and healing science with a great potential to heal. In the last few decades, Yoga has made deep inroads into Western Medicine. Many aspects of Yoga and Yoga Lifestyle have been investigated scientifically and have shown Yoga to be quite capable of profound beneficial effects:
- Improvement in cellular health, lymphatic circulation, natural anti-oxidant levels and immunomodulation,
- Better hormonal balance, autophagy and repair mechanisms,
- Modulation of gene expression,
- Stem cell regeneration,
- Reduction in stress and inflammation, and so on….
All this research has led to a better scientific understanding of disease and healing processes. It has influenced adaptation of newer healing modalities in mainstream medicine.
SAVY offers specialized Yoga Oncology services under one of the Most Qualified Faculty in the World.
Please learn more about our Yoga Therapy services here.
The Head of Faculty – the first Yoga Oncology© in the world, Dr Jitender K Sahdev completed his M.B.,B.S. degree in Modern Medicine in 1987 in India and is a registered Physician in India. He got training in General Surgery, Ambulatory Surgery, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Endoscopic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Surgical Oncology, and many other branches of surgery. He started learning Yoga at a very early age. He also pursued his interest in other healing modalities & received advanced training in Yoga, esp. advanced pranayama & meditation techniques, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic abhyanga, gharshan, foot massage (Kerala massage), marm bindu chikitsa, panchakarma, shatkarma and many other Yogic and Ayurvedic procedures at various schools and ashrams in India & completed doctorates in Alternative Medicine. With over four decades of experience in Yoga & Ayurveda and more than three decades of experience in Modern Medicine, he has a wealth of experience in healing sciences. He has practiced as an advanced registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, Yoga Oncologist, Meditation Teacher and Ayurveda consultant in Canada since 2010. He also specializes in Pre-Natal Yoga & Children’s Yoga.
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Note : DSBH Therapy©, MBH Therapy© TRY©, Vedic Meditation©, BeCCY©, Yoga4Wellness© , Tranquility Breath© ,Yoga Oncology© or any other Yoga Wellness program has not been evaluated by Health Canada, US Food & Drug Administration or the American Medical Association. This technology does not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medical advice must only be obtained from a physician or qualified health practitioner. Results may vary between individuals. There are no guarantees, expressed, or implied.
You should check with your health care professional before starting this or any new therapy or exercise program or breathing routine. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, migraines or heart or lung ailments. Women who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant should consult their physician before performing any of the breathing or physical exercises or undertaking any therapy program.
The information contained in the program is not intended to serve as a replacement for professional medical advice. Any use of the information in these programs/ workshops is at the reader’s discretion, risk and responsibility. The studio, author and the publisher specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of any information contained herein. A health care professional should be consulted regarding your specific situation.
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