Over 30 million men develop a prostate condition, including prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate, or prostate inflammation called prostatitis. However, yoga might improve symptoms. Check with your doctor before starting a yoga program and before using yoga as a possible treatment method for prostate problems. Find a certified yoga instructor to teach you the proper way to perform yoga.
Prostate Gland
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse notes that health experts are uncertain about everything the prostate does, but they do know it assists semen production and urination. The prostate grows throughout a man's life. It is normal for older men to experience problems, such as trouble urinating, because of an enlarged prostate, which is a condition referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.
Yoga for Prostate
Yoga is thought to help the prostate by increasing flexibility in the pelvic area and encouraging circulation to the prostate. Further, yoga brings awareness to your relationship with your body. Yoga can help you become more conscious of how you are able to control the muscles in your pelvis, which might help your prostate. Yoga can also help you strengthen those muscles.
Prostate Cancer
Dr. Ornish, the doctor famous for the idea that diet has an effect on cancer, believes that yoga and other lifestyle changes might prevent prostate cancer. Although this is only a theory at this point, yoga seems to ease the symptoms of people who already have prostate cancer. In a 2003 study in "Psychosomatic Medicine," participants practiced yoga poses, meditation and relaxation for eight weeks and found they had a better quality of life and less stress, depression and anxiety related to the cancer diagnosis. Participants slept better and the yoga seemed to improve their immune health. However, more research is needed to confirm the idea that yoga can improve symptoms of prostate cancer.
Yoga Poses
Boat pose, hero pose, widespread plow pose, shoulderstand and bow pose are particularly useful for prostate health as they strengthen the muscles in the pelvis and relax the area. Frog pose strengthens the urogenital tract. Warrior I, warrior II, triangle and inverted poses like shoulderstand and headstand are thought to stimulate the prostate.
References
- Men's Health Network: Prostate Health
- The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- "Yoga Journal"; Get Hip About Prostate Health; Jim Karpen
- "Psychosomatic Medicine"; Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients; Linda E. Carlson et al.; 2003
