Yoga Therapy: A Personalised Approach Within Integrative Oncology
Written by Marcia Mercier, yoga therapist
How Yoga Therapy Can Support You During and After Cancer Treatment
A cancer diagnosis can affect every part of life - physically, emotionally, and mentally. Alongside medical treatment, many people look for evidence-informed ways to manage fatigue, anxiety, sleep disruption, pain and the emotional impact of treatment.
This is where yoga therapy can play an important role to support you both during and after treatment.
While many people are familiar with yoga classes, few understand how yoga therapy can offer personalised support tailored to an individual’s symptoms and wellbeing goals.
Unlike general yoga classes, yoga therapy is designed around the person, not the practice. It adapts to the changing needs of each client and plays a valuable role in integrative cancer care.
I am the lead Yoga Therapist at the Synthesis Clinic working a part of wider multidisciplinary team. In this article I explain the difference between yoga and yoga therapy, what a yoga therapy consultation looks like, and how a personalised treatment plan may support your wellbeing during and after cancer treatment as part of a personalised integrative oncology programme.
Yoga vs. Yoga Therapy: What’s the Difference?
Yoga is widely recognised for its benefits to flexibility, mobility, strength, relaxation, and stress reduction. There are many different styles of yoga offered in gyms and yoga studios and these vary enormously in the demands they place on the physical body. This is an important consideration when you’re looking to use yoga to rehabilitate from a cancer diagnosis. A general yoga class may include movement (of varying levels of demand), breathing practices, and guided relaxation.
However, during cancer treatment or recovery, you may be dealing with:
Cancer-related fatigue
Pain or discomfort
Reduced mobility
Anxiety or overwhelm
Sleep disturbance
Emotional distress
Loss of confidence in the body
A general yoga class would not provide the personalised approach and teaching expertise required to support someone recovering from cancer, nor cater for the pose modifications required to support you as you recover.
Yoga therapy differs because it is delivered by a yoga teacher who has undertaken 600+ hours of specialist training to become a registered yoga therapist. A yoga therapist uses a wide range of yoga tools and techniques in a therapeutic, personalised, and evidence-informed way to support your recovery in a one-to-one consultation.
This makes yoga therapy for cancer patients particularly valuable as part of a person-centred integrative oncology approach.
What Is Integrative Oncology?
Integrative oncology is patient centred and combines conventional cancer care with evidence-informed supportive therapies that improve overall quality of life. The goal of an integrative oncology programme is to support the whole person, helping to reduce symptom burden, improve resilience, and enhance wellbeing during and after treatment.
Within this framework, yoga therapy offers practical tools that can be adapted safely and compassionately to the individual.
How Yoga Therapy Supports Clients in an Integrative Oncology Programme
Cancer and its treatment can affect the body on many levels: unbalancing the nervous system, decreasing energy levels, disturbing sleep, mood, hormone levels and physically impacting strength and mobility.
A yoga therapist may assess the client based on what is known as the Pancha Maya Kosha Model - the five layers of our being. These include the:
Physical Body
Energetic Body
Mental & Emotional Body
Wisdom Body
Bliss Body
This, along with talking to and observing the client, helps to identify any imbalances in the body so that they can be addressed through a bespoke home practice.
Below we discuss a few ways yoga therapy might help support people impacted by cancer during and after treatment.
Yoga Therapy in Supporting Cancer-related Fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common and distressing side effects of treatment.
Research suggests yoga-based interventions may significantly reduce persistent fatigue in cancer survivors [1,2]. Clinical guidelines also recommend integrative approaches, including yoga, as part of fatigue management in adult cancer survivors [3].
Yoga therapy can help clients work with fatigue gently by using manageable practices that support gentle movement with breath, aid circulation and balance energy.
Yoga therapy supports clients to move within their capacity and restore energy gradually. It meets them where they are.
Yoga Therapy in Supporting Emotional Wellbeing During and After Cancer Treatment
Many people experience anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and emotional overwhelm during cancer treatment.
Research suggests yoga-based practices, such as pranayama and Yoga Nidra, may reduce anxiety and depression [4,5,6].
Breathing practices, guided relaxation, and mindfulness can help regulate the nervous system, creating a sense of calm and safety during challenging periods.
These tools can be especially supportive before treatment appointments, during periods of uncertainty, or when sleep is affected by stress.
Yoga Therapy in Supporting Sleep and Rest During and After Cancer Treatment
Sleep disruption is common during and after cancer treatment. Research has shown improvements in sleep outcomes and reduced reliance on sleep medication following yoga interventions [1]].
Yoga therapy may help improve sleep quality through breathing practices that lengthen the exhalation, calming visualisations, and Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) that all help to calm the nervous system [4].
Yoga Therapy in Supporting Strength, Mobility and Balance
Surgery, treatment side effects, inactivity, and stress can all affect muscle strength and joint mobility as well as proprioception (how we sense our body in space). A personalised yoga therapy plan may include gentle movement practices that help improve muscle strength, stimulate circulation to the joints and improve balance [7].
Yoga Therapy in Managing Breast Cancer Treatment-related Pain
Yoga can be beneficial for breast cancer survivors who experience joint and muscle pain due to hormone therapy. Gentle asana, breathwork and meditation have been shown to reduce symptoms [8].
Yoga Therapy - Supporting Your Sense of Agency
One of the most meaningful benefits of yoga therapy is that it gives clients practical tools they can use for themselves at home, clinic or hospital. This sense of agency can be particularly supportive during a time when many aspects of life may feel uncertain or out of personal control.
What Happens During a Yoga Therapy Consultation?
A yoga therapy consultation is the first step in creating a personalised support plan.
This is not a yoga class. It is a one-to-one therapeutic session focused on understanding the client’s needs, challenges, and goals.
The consultation may explore:
Diagnosis, treatment history and other medical conditions
Current symptoms and side effects
Fatigue and energy patterns
Sleep quality
Mobility limitations or pain
Stress and emotional wellbeing
Daily routines and lifestyle factors
Personal wellbeing goals
During the initial consultation, the therapist will discuss the medical and lifestyle information provided on the health intake form and agree priorities for yoga therapy. They will observe the client’s posture, breathing and movement.
This creates a holistic picture of the client’s needs and allows the therapist to design a tailored therapeutic plan.
Importantly, the consultation also creates space for the client to feel heard, supported, and involved in their care.
What a Personalised Yoga Therapy Treatment Plan May Look Like
After the consultation, the yoga therapist creates an individualised yoga therapy treatment plan based on the client’s symptoms, goals, and current capacity.
This plan may include the following aspects:
Gentle Therapeutic Movement
Simple movement practices may be chosen to support mobility, reduce tension, and build strength. These practices are adapted to the client’s energy levels and treatment stage and reviewed at each follow up session.
Breathwork Practices
Breathing exercises may be used to support relaxation, emotional regulation, and energy balance.
These practices can often be integrated easily into daily life.
Guided Relaxation
Relaxation practices help calm the nervous system and support rest. These may be especially useful for clients experiencing fatigue, anxiety, or sleep disruption.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness helps clients become aware of physical sensations, thoughts, and emotional patterns without overwhelm. This awareness can support coping and resilience.
Home Practice Support
Clients are usually offered simple home practices that are realistic, manageable, and sustainable. These practices are designed to fit into daily life and evolve over time.
Why Personalisation Matters in Cancer Care
No two cancer experiences are the same. Symptoms, treatment responses, energy levels, and emotional needs vary from person to person. That is why personalisation matters. Yoga therapy for cancer support offers practices that are designed for the individual’s specific needs. This allows support to be responsive, safe, and compassionate throughout treatment and recovery.
Research Supporting Yoga-Based Practices in Integrative Oncology
Research shows that yoga-based practices can be a beneficial supportive therapy for people living with and beyond cancer.
Studies suggest yoga may improve:
Sleep quality
Fatigue
Anxiety
Depression
Pain
Overall quality of life
A recent study presented at the ASCO (American Society for Clinical Oncology) conference in June 2026, revealed that a 4-week yoga intervention that used 18 gentle hatha and restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises, and mindfulness to improved symptoms of fatigue, insomnia and anxiety in cancer survivors, particularly those with breast cancer [6].
Systematic reviews have also found that yoga improves physical, psychological wellbeing and quality of life across cancer populations [9,10].
These findings support the inclusion of yoga as a therapeutic intervention within integrative oncology programmes, where personalised practices can be tailored to the individual’s needs.
Book a Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
If you are looking for compassionate, personalised support during cancer treatment or recovery, yoga therapy may be a valuable part of your care.
A free 15-minute Discovery Call with our Yoga Therapist, Marcia Mercier, offers an opportunity to explore your current challenges, ask questions, and learn how personalised yoga therapy can support your wellbeing.
This is a gentle first step toward finding the support that feels right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yoga Therapy for Cancer Support
Is yoga therapy safe during cancer treatment?
Yes. Yoga therapy is adapted to the individual’s needs, treatment stage, and current energy levels, making it a safe and supportive option when guided by a qualified and registered Yoga Therapist.
Is yoga therapy part of integrative oncology?
Yes. Yoga therapy is often included in integrative oncology programmes as a supportive therapy that works alongside conventional medical treatment.
Do I need yoga experience?
No. Yoga therapy is personalised and suitable for beginners. No previous yoga experience is needed.
About the Author
Marcia Mercier, yoga therapy for cancer support, Synthesis Clinic
Marcia Mercier is a registered Yoga Therapist and Yoga for Cancer teacher with a personal experience of breast cancer. It was through her own diagnosis of breast cancer that led her to discover the benefits of yoga in supporting her recovery. She has been practising yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2016. She has a special interest in integrating yoga therapy into the healthcare setting to support those at all stages of the cancer care continuum.
Evidence Note
Research evidence currently supports the use of yoga practices offered as a group to improve fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, pain and overall quality of life in people living with cancer.
Yoga therapy draws on these evidence-informed practices and applies them in a personalised and therapeutic way, adapting movement, breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques to the individual’s symptoms, treatment stage, and goals.
This personalised approach allows yoga therapy to bring these evidence-informed practices into a safe, supportive, and individual context.
Research References
Bower JE, Garet D, Sternlieb B, Ganz PA, Irwin MR, Olmstead R, et al. Yoga for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Cancer. 2012;118(15):3766-75.
Mustian KM, Sprod LK, Janelsins M, Peppone LJ, Mohile SG, et al. Multicenter, randomized controlled trial of yoga for sleep quality among cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(26):3233-41.
Bower JE, Lacchetti C, Alici Y, Barton DL, Bruner D, Canin BE, et al. Management of fatigue in adult survivors of cancer: ASCO-Society for Integrative Oncology guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(20):2456-87.
Nuzhath FJ, et al. A randomized controlled trial on pranayama and yoga nidra for anxiety and depression in patients with cervical cancer undergoing standard of care. Cureus. 2024.
Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37582238/
Yoga May Help Cancer Survivors Sleep Better and Reduce Anxiety, Fatigue https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/yoga-may-help-cancer-survivors
Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15347354241313048
The effect of YOCAS©® yoga for musculoskeletal symptoms among breast cancer survivors on hormonal therapy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4467273/
Lin PJ, et al. Health benefits of yoga for cancer survivors: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024.
Danhauer SC, Addington EL, Sohl SJ, Chaoul A, Cohen L. Yoga for symptom management in oncology: a review of the evidence base and future directions for research. Cancer. 2019;125(12):1979-89.