Yoga, Breast Health, and Breast Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of this occasion, I'd like to focus on breast health and the role that yoga plays in the lives of those who are dealing with and/or have survived breast cancer. These days so much attention is paid to the size of a woman's breasts and very little to the true value of the breasts -- to nourish (this goes beyond feeding a baby), to open a woman to pleasure, to connect a woman with her sensuality and inner goddess. The list goes on and on. It's so sad to me that we tend to treat the breasts as objects, with our attention focused shallowly on looking sexy.

Today many women are taught to feel self-conscious about their breast size, shape, and orientation. Frankly, I'm so damned glad to have healthy breasts that I wouldn't even think of altering them in any way. I appreciate my breasts and wouldn't change them for the world, yet I understand how many women feel pressured to alter their breasts in some way to meet a standard set by society.

Get Educated About Your Breasts
If you're wanting to go beyond the sex symbol view of breasts and explore breast health, I highly recommend this article. 

Breasts as the Gateway to Pleasure
The ironic thing about the association between a woman's sexiness and the appearance of her breasts is that the sensuality of the breasts gets overlooked. The world of Tantra believes that the breasts have a direct connection with the heart and the yoni (vagina in Sanskrit). Not only does breast stimulation contribute to the health of your breasts, but it also can also induce serious pleasure. Click here to learn more about Tantric breast massage and for a how-to (ladies, you don't need to have a partner to enjoy a Tantric breast massage -- you can give one to yourself). 

Yoga Resources for Breast Health and Breast Cancer Survivors
Since breast cancer is the most common cancer in woman in the United States, it's good to know that yoga can help the women dealing with breast cancer and breast cancer treatment and recovery. Here are some resources:

• Poses for breast cancer survivors -- this article offers yoga postures to help return flexibility and mobility to the upper body post breast cancer treatment. 
• Lymph refreshing/restoring Kundalini Kriyas -- these two Kundalini practices facilitate lymph flow and drainage. Click here for a Kundalini practice to help you refresh your lymph system and click here for a PDF document outlining a Kundalini kriya especially for the lymph system.  
• For cancer survivors looking for a local yoga class -- one of my favorite organizations, YogaBear, offers programs and resources for cancer survivors who want to incorporate yoga into their wellness regimes. If you're a yoga studio that wants to contribute and reach out to those in your community dealing with the disease, click here. 

Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer
If you'd like to show your support for those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer, MatsMatsMats.com sells a pink yoga mat from which the sales proceeds go to help fight breast cancer.

And for those of us who have healthy breasts -- let's appreciate rather than berate them, shall we?

Namaste!

Comments

[Sarah]

Hi, i like your blog, thank you so much for sharing valuable information.
breast health

[disease management]

Yoga has got it's multiple uses and cures a body from the inside.

[hope west]

i have heard the same thing about bamboo. what do you think?

[Emma]

hi,

i linked to you on my blogroll, i hope that's okay... if not, let me know.

thanks,
emma
www.thejoyofyoga.blogspot.com

[Gayle]

Yoga is great for breast cancer survivors and also for preventative measures. Stress causes many problems and yoga can help to reduce stress and improve your sttitudes.

[Bob Weisenberg]

I was about to add a link to Yoga Bear, the excellent Yoga for Cancer Survivors site, but I see you've already got it in your blog.

Thanks for an important and informative blog.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

[Christine Carlisle]

Any idea if bamboo fabrics are better for yoga? I've been trying to find something which breathes and stretches without the synthetics or polyster. Something like these bamboo yoga tops and pants? I've read that some of the synthetics can be toxic and don't breathe as well as organic materials.