Jimmy Kwok - Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors and Patients

Copyright Jimmy Kwok, 2017

Published by I_AM Self-Publishing, 2017.

The right of Jimmy Kwok to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-911079-45-3

This book is sold subject to the condition it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be circulated in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise without the publishers prior consent.

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Yoga for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors

The Practice Manual

• With guided sequences of three levels of difficulties, helping you to progress through your journey into your recovery
• Suitable as a tool for a home-based practice

Medical information provided by Dr Yoga must be considered as an educational service only. This book is not designed to replace a doctors independent judgement about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or therapy for a given patient. Dr Yoga aims to provide you with information to make your own decisions to support your recovery.

The information provided in this book are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of writing and readers who fail to consult appropriate medical advice from appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries, accidents or death. The author, editors and publishers are not responsible for errors and disclaim any liabilities or loss in connection with the exercise and advice herein.

About Dr Yoga

D r Yoga was founded by Dr Jimmy Kwok, in 2016 to promote the benefits that yoga could bring for cancer patients and recovering survivors. Jimmy gained his MA in Natural Sciences from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge and his doctorate degree in Clinical Oncology (Breast Cancer) at Imperial College, London. Jimmy has also interned at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and the Oncology Department at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. He has practised Ashtanga yoga for over a decade and he is also a registered Yoga Alliance UK RYT200 yoga instructor. Furthermore, he has developed extensive experience in promoting and teaching yoga classes at Maggies Cancer Centre, West London, within the NHS Charing Cross Hospital Campus.

He has recognised that the psychological, emotional and physical support for cancer patients is often overlooked, and has developed a series of home-based materials in supporting the recovery for cancer patients and survivors.

Visit Dr Yogas website at www.dryoga.co.uk for further information.

Foreword

Y oga (a Sanskrit word) is a commonly-known generic term for physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines, which originated in ancient India. The literal meaning is translated as yoke and it is generally interpreted as a practice or path that can lead to the perfection of stillness, both physically and mentally. Specifically, yoga belongs to one of the six (orthodox) schools of Hindu philosophy, based on the Yoga Stras of Patajali . Various traditions of yoga can also be found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Someone who follows the yogic practices is often called a Yogi (male) or Yogini (female).

In essence, yoga involves the practice of physical asanas (postures) and pranayama (breath control) to create pratyahara (sense withdrawal), which increases the mental focus, or known as dharana (concentration) of the yogi or yogini . The increased concentration forms the foundation for dhyana (meditation) in achieving