Yoga for Breast Care

Book excerpt: Breast health is a sensitive subject, and breast problems can leave women feeling vulnerable on many levels. In Yoga for Breast Care, senior Iyengar yoga teacher Bobby Clennell offers a comprehensive program of asana (poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques) to support breast health. Divided into five parts, this book is designed for beginning and seasoned practioners: Part 1: About the Breasts discusses breast development and structure and lymphatic and hormonal systems, and gives an ovreview of yoga poses and how they affect breast health. Part 2: Breast Problems describes various breast conditions, including pain, fibrocystic breasts, dense breasts, PMS, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and breast cancer. Part 3: Yoga Poses for Breast Care outlines a variety of asana and pranayama to help women care for their breasts. Yoga poses are divided into categories: standing, sitting, twisting, inverting, bending forward or backward, and lying down. Part 4: Practicing Yoga answers FAQ and offers active and restorative sequences for immunity, energy, PMS and noncyclic breast pain, cysts, pregnancy, nursing mothers, and breast cancer. Part 5: Everyday Breast Care makes lifestyle suggestions. Whether readers have experienced problems with their breasts or not, this book provides positive and practical methods for raising awareness and regaining confidence in the body.