Cancer survivors saw major improvements in sleep and well-being with one weekly practice

Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.CANCER SURVIVORS MAY SEE SURPRISING BENEFITS FROM ONE SPECIFIC EXERCISE, STUDY SAYS The study was conducted across multiple U.S.community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age.

Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors.(iStock)The participants were randomly assigned to two groups.

Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LINKED TO SURPRISING EFFECT ON SLEEPBased on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced "moderate-to-large" reductions in overall mood disturbance, "small-to-medium" reductions in anxiety and "medium-to-large" reductions in fatigue, the study found.The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga's beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instr...