The Ashta Yoga Program is based on scientific research. The following research papers are randomized controlled trials (the gold standard for evidence-based medicine) that demonstrate the benefits of a classical Yoga practice for cancer patients:

  • Effectiveness of Pranayama on Cancer-related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy:  A Randomized Controlled Trial.  J Chakrabarty, MS Vidyasagar, D Fernandes, G Joisa, P Varghese, S Mayya.  International Journal of Yoga 8 : 47.  January 2015.
  • Functional Genomics in the Study of Mind-Body Therapies.  H Niles, DH Mehta, AA Corrigan, MK Bhasin, JW Denninger.  The Ochsner Journal 14 : 4.  December 2014.
  • Mindfulness-based Cancer Recovery and Supportive-Expressive Therapy Maintain Telomere Length Relative to Controls in Distressed Breast Cancer Survivors.  LE Carlson, et al.  Cancer 10. 1002/cncr. 29063.  September 2014.
  • Yoga's Impact on Inflammation, Mood, and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors:  A Randomized Controlled Trial.  JK Kiecolt-Glaser, et al.  Journal of Clinical Oncology 32 : 1040.  April 1, 2014.
  • Randomized, Controlled Trial of Yoga in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy.  KD Chandwani, et al.  Journal of Clinical Oncology 32 : 1058.  April 1, 2014.
  • Yoga as Treatment for Insomnia Among Cancer Patients and Survivors:  A Systematic Review.  KM Mustian.  European Medical Journal of Oncology 1 : 106.  November 1, 2013.
  • Relaxation Training During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Improves Mental Health and Lessens Adverse Events.  QH Song, et al.  International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine 6 : 979.  October 25, 2013.
  • Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery Versus Supportive Expressive Group Therapy for Distressed Survivors of Breast Cancer (MINDSET). LE Carlson, et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology 31 : 25. September 1, 2013.
  • Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga for Sleep Quality Among Cancer Survivors.  KM Mustian, et al.  Journal of Clinical Oncology 31 : 3233.  September 10, 2013.
  • Relaxation Response Induces Temporal Transcriptome Changes in Energy Metabolism, Insulin Secretion and Inflammatory Pathways.  MK Bhasin, JA Dusek, BH Chang, MG Joseph, JW Denninger, GL Fricchione, H Benson, T Libermann.  PLoS ONE 8 : 5.  May 1, 2013.
  • Rapid Gene Expression Changes in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes upon Practice of a Comprehensive Yoga Program.  S Qu, SM Olafsrud, LA Meza-Zepeda, F Saatcioglu.  PLoS ONE 8 : 4.  April 17, 2013.
  • Comparison of Lymphocyte Apoptotic Index and Qualitative DNA Damage in Yoga Practitioners and Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study.  Ram A, Banerjee B, Hosakote VS, Rao RM, Nagarathna R.  Int J Yoga 2013; 6:20-25.
  • Physical and Psychosocial Benefits of Yoga in Cancer Patients and Survivors, A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.  LM Buffart, et al.  BMC Cancer 12 : 559.  November 27, 2012.
  • Yoga Breathing for Cancer Chemotherapy - Associated Symptoms and Quality of Life:  Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.  A Dhruva, et al.  Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 18 : 473.  May 2012.
  • Longitudinal Impact of Yoga on Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment and Quality of Life in Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer:  A Case Series.  ML Galantino, L Greene, L Daniels, B Dooley, L Muscatello, L O'Donnell.  Explore 8 : 2.  March/April 2012.
  • The Sympathetic Nervous System Induces a Metastatic Switch in Primary Breast Cancer.  EK Sloan, SJ Priceman, BF Cox, S Yu, MA Pimentel, V Tangkanangnukul, JMG Arevalo, K Morizono, BDW Karanikolas, L Wu, AK Sood, SW Cole.  Cancer Research 70: 18.  September 15, 2010.
  • Effects of Yoga on Symptom Management in Breast Cancer Patients:  A Randomized Controlled Trial.  Hosakote VS, Rao MR, Nagendra RH, Raghuram N, Mohan R, Nanjundiah V, Gopinath SK, Srinath BS, Vishweshwara MS, Madhavi YS, Basavalingaiah SA, Bilimagga RS, Rao N.  Int J Yoga 2009; 2 : 73-79.
  • Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga Among a Multiethnic Sample of Breast Cancer Patients:  Effects on Quality of Life.  AB Moadel, C Shah, J Wylie-Rosett, MS Harris, SR Patel, CB Hall, JA Sparano.  Journal of Clinical Oncology 25 : 28.  October 1, 2007.

Additional research references relative to Yoga and cancer cited in the excellent book The Principles and Practices of Yoga in Healthcare, Sat Bir Khalsa, et al, 2016 (alphabetical by principal investigator):

  • Psychologic Intervention Improves Survival for Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
  • Neuroendocrine Influences on Cancer Progression.
  • Effects of an Integrated Yoga Program in Modulating Psychological Stress and Radiation-Induced Genotoxic Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy.
  • Inflammation and Cancer-Related Fatigue: Mechanisms, Contributing Factors, and Treatment Implications.
  • Physical and Psychosocial Benefits of Yoga in Cancer Patients and Survivors, A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
  • Yoga for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer: Results from a Pilot Study.
  • Randomized, Controlled Trial of Yoga in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy.
  • Yoga Improves Quality of Life and Benefit Finding in Women Undergoing Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer.
  • The Concepts of Stress and Stress System Disorders: Overview of Physical and Behavioral Homeostatis.
  • Depressive Symptoms and Cortisol Rhythmicity Predict Survival in Patients with Rena; Cell Carcinoma: Role of Inflammatory Signaling.
  • Psychological Adjustment and Sleep Quality in a Randomized Trial of the Effects of a Tibetan Yoga Intervention in Patients with Lymphoma.
  • Yoga for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
  • Yoga and Cancer Interventions: A Review of the Clinical Significance of Patient Reported Outcomes for Cancer Survivors.
  • Restorative Yoga for Women with Ovarian or Breast Cancer: Finding from a Pilot Study.
  • Yoga Breathing for Cancer Chemotherapy-Associated Symptoms and Quality of Life: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Impact and outcomes of an Iyengar Yoga Program in a Cancer Centre.
  • Accelerated Telomere Shortening in Response to Life Stress.
  • Gender, Symptom Experience, and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practices Among Cancer Survivors in the U.S. Cancer Population.
  • Impact of Yoga on Functional Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors with Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgias.
  • A Qualitative Exploration of the Impact of Yoga on Breast Cancer Survivors with Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgias.
  • Longitudinal Impact of Yoga on Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment and Quality of Life in Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer: A Case Series.
  • Decrease in Depression Symptoms is Associated with Longer Survival in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Secondary Analysis.
  • Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Integrative Therapies as Supportive Care in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer.
  • Randomized Controlled Trials of Yoga Interventions for Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review.
  • Yoga's Impact on Inflammation, Mood, and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Impact of Relaxation Training According to Yoga in Daily Life System on Perceived Stress After Breast Cancer Surgery.
  • Impact of Relaxation Training According to Yoga in Daily Life System on Self-Esteem After Breast Cancer Surgery.
  • Impact of Relaxation Training According to the Yoga in Daily Life System on Anxiety After Breast Cancer Surgery.
  • To Study the Sequence of Seven Pranayama by Swami Ramdev on Gene Expression in Leukaemia Patients and Rapid Interpretation of Gene Expression.
  • Effects of Yoga on Psychological Health, Quality of Life, and Physical Health of Patients with Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.
  • Bio-behavioural Factors and Cancer Progression: Physiological Pathways and Mechanisms.
  • Couple-Based Tibetan Yoga Program for Lung Cancer Patients and their Caregivers.
  • Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga Among a Multi-ethnic Sample of Breast Cancer Patients. Effects on Quality of Life.
  • Intensive Lifestyle Changes May Affect the Progression of Prostate Cancer.
  • Effects of an Integrated Yoga Programme on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Emesis in Breast Cancer Patients.
  • Anxiolytic Effects of a Yoga Program in Early Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Conventional Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Influence of Yoga on Mood States, Distress, Quality of Life, and Immune Outcomes in Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery.
  • Influence of Yoga on Postoperative Outcomes and Wound Healing in Early Operable Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery.
  • Effects of Yoga on Natural Killer Cell Counts in Early Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Conventional Treatment.
  • Depression as a Predictor of Disease Progression and Mortality in Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis.
  • Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm as Predictor of Breast Cancer Survival.
  • Guidelines for Developing Yoga Interventions for Randomized Trials.
  • Feasibility of a Brief Yoga Intervention During Chemotherapy for Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.
  • The Effect of Yoga Exercise on Improving Depression, Anxiety, and Fatigue in Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Chronic Stress Promotes Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in a Mouse Model of Ovarian Carcinoma.
  • Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines, Cancer Risk, and Mortality in the Women's Health Initiative.
  • Effects of a Yoga Program on Cortisol Rhythm and Mood States in Early Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Effects of a Yoga Program on Quality of Life and Affect in Early Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Effects of Yoga on Symptom Management in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Cancer Patients' Experiences with and Perceived Outcomes of Yoga: Results from Focus Groups.
  • A Randomized Trial of Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia. (It's not yoga but it's mind/body!)
  • Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Chronic Inflammation-Associated Cancers.
  • Effect of Iyengar Yoga Practice on Fatigue and Diurnal Salivary Cortisol Concentration in Breast Cancer Survivors.
  • Yoga for Persistent Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results of a Pilot Study.
  • Yoga Reduces Inflammatory Signaling in Fatigued Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Evidence-based Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors: Current Guidelines, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Research Directions.
  • Yoga of Awareness Program for Menopausal Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results from a Randomized Trial.
  • A Pilot Study of Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors: Physical and Psychological Benefits.
  • Yoga and Cancer Interventions: A Review of the Clinical Significance of Patient Reported Outcomes for Cancer Survivors.
  • Predictors of Yoga Use Among Patients with Breast Cancer.
  • Using a Standard Viniyoga Protocol for Lung Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study Examining Effects on Breathing Ease.
  • A Pilot Study of the Feasibility and Outcomes of Yoga for Lung Cancer Survivors.
  • Impact of Yoga on Functional Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors with Aromatase Inhibitor-associated Arthralgias.
  • A Qualitative Exploration of the Impact of Yoga on Breast Cancer Survivors with Aromatase Inhibitor-associated arthralgias.
  • Effects of Yoga on Psychological Health, Quality of Life, and Physical Health of Patients with Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.
  • Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of Yoga in Overweight and Obese Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects on Quality of Life and Anthropometric Measures.
  • Affect and Mindfulness as Predictors of Change in Mood Disturbance, Stress Symptoms, and Quality of Life in a Community-Based Yoga Program for Cancer Survivors.
  • Association Between Attention, Affect, and Cardiac Activity in a Single Yoga Session for Female Cancer Survivors. An Enactive Neurophenomenology-Based Approach.
  • The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies.
  • Examining a Therapeutic Yoga Program for Prostate Cancer Survivors.
  • Effects of Yoga Interventions on Fatigue in Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
  • American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors.
  • Guidelines for Developing Interventions for Randomized Trials.
  • An Evidence-Based Review of Yoga as a Complementary Intervention for Patients with Cancer.
  • Pilot evaluation of an Iyengar Yoga Program for Breast Cancer Survivors.
  • Influence of Hatha Yoga on Physical Activity Constraints, Physical Fitness, and Body Image of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study.
  • Perceived Health Benefits from Yoga Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

We recommend the following books that provide more in-depth information about the benefits of Yoga practice, meditation, and cancer:

  • The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care. Sat Bir Khalsa, Lorenzo Cohen, Timothy McCall, Shirley Telles. Handspring Publishing. June, 2016. (Cancer / Chapters 16 & 17, pp. 339-398).
  • Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery: A Step-by-Step MBSR Approach to Help You Cope with Treatment and Reclaim Your Life. Linda Carlson PhD RPsych, Michael Speca PsyD RPsych. February 3, 2011.
  • Exploring Yoga and Cancer.  Dr. Swami Yogapratap.  Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India.  2010.
  • Yogic Management of Cancer.  Dr. Swami Nirmalananda.  Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India.  2010.
  • The Path of Practice:  The Ayurvedic Book of Healing with Food, Breath, and Sound.  Bri. Maya Tiwari.  Ballantine Publishing Group.  2011.
  • Yoga as Medicine:  The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing.  Timothy McCall, MD.  A Yoga Journal Book / Bantam.  August 2007. (Cancer / Chapter 12, pp. 207-224).
  • The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living.  Amit Sood, MD, MSc.  Da Capo Press (Perseus Book Group), 2013.
  • Yoga for Cancer.  Tari Prinster.  Healing Arts Press.  November 24, 2014.
  • Anticancer:  A New Way of Life.  David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD.  Viking.  2009.
  • The Healing Power of the Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions.  Richard P. Brown, MD and Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD.  Shambala.  2012.