On the Alignment of Yoga Therapy with Palliative Care (original) (raw)

2020, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

T he International Association of Yoga Therapists defines yoga therapy as a ''process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and wellbeing through the application of yoga [delivered via] a therapeutic plan appropriate to the client's needs.'' 1 Yoga therapy emphasizes a biopsychosocial perspective incorporating a broad spectrum of practices that includes physical poses, breath work, mindfulness, guided meditations, and the study of philosophy. A single yoga therapy session may incorporate any of these practices depending upon the client's needs. Palliative care is defined by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization as ''patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care [.] involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs'' and is provided through an interdisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers, and occasionally, physical and occupational therapists. 2 Palliative care encompasses hospice, occurring throughout the trajectory of an illness, not explicitly at the end of life. Both yoga therapy and palliative care rely on an interdisciplinary and patient-centered approach to address suffering, empowerment, and quality of life. Although the body of literature evaluating the effects of yoga on palliative care is limited, some small studies yield promising results. 3-5 Although large rigorous studies are lacking on this specific question, there is more extensive literature on the use of yoga for common symptoms experienced by palliative care patients that may yield insight into the potential benefits of yoga therapy for palliative care populations. Related systematic reviews indicate yoga therapy can ease common symptoms palliative care patients experience, including chronic pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. 6 There is established evidence for the effectiveness of yoga in pain management-a key function of palliative care. 7,8 Yoga therapy encompasses meditation and relaxation techniques, which have shown promise for anxiety, depression, and fatigue. 9,10 Patients specifically at the end of life report additional mental health symptoms related to dignity, coping, and the need to maintain control. 11 Yoga may provide benefits