Yoga as a Remedy for Cancer-Related Fatigue

Cancer-related fatigue is a deep, persistent tiredness that many people experience during and after cancer treatment. Unlike ordinary tiredness, this kind of fatigue doesn’t go away with rest and can interfere with daily life long after treatment ends. Many cancer survivors also have trouble sleeping, and research has shown that poor sleep can make fatigue even worse. A large study explored whether yoga could help reduce this ongoing exhaustion by improving both sleep and daytime alertness.

In this study, cancer survivors were invited to participate in a gentle yoga practice several times per week for one month. Those who practiced yoga reported feeling significantly less fatigued compared to those who did not. They also reported sleeping better at night and feeling more awake during the day. The researchers found that these sleep improvements were closely linked to the drop in fatigue. In fact, more than half of yoga’s effect on reducing fatigue came from better sleep and less daytime sleepiness.

Importantly, this study also showed that yoga was safe and easy to stick with. Participants found it manageable, even if they had low energy to begin with, and no serious side effects were reported. This makes yoga a promising option for cancer survivors looking to gently support their recovery and improve their overall quality of life.

While yoga isn’t a substitute for medical treatment, it can be a powerful complement. If you’re a cancer survivor dealing with fatigue, adding a gentle yoga practice to your routine might help you feel more rested, more energized, and more in control of your day.

References

Lin PJ, Kleckner IR, Loh KP, et al. Influence of Yoga on Cancer‑Related Fatigue and on Mediational Relationships Between Changes in Sleep and Cancer‑Related Fatigue: A Nationwide, Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga in Cancer Survivors. Integr Cancer Ther. 2019;18:1534735419855134.

By Dr. Sydney Moffat, ND and Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO(USA)