Research Study on Yoga to Support Sleep in Cancer Survivors

This study is a fairly large study, taking place at 24 locations, and intended to include 300 participants. The three-year study is being funded by the National Cancer Institute. The study called YOCAS (Yoga for Cancer Survivors) is a randomized controlled trial. The objective is to provide a standard for clinical care.

The yoga will include gentle Hatha yoga sessions twice each week for four weeks. Sessions are designed to "teach participants release and relaxation techniques to reduce mental activity and provide a physiologic basis for deep relaxation and transition to sleep."

Karen Mustian, the principal investigator on this study works out of the Center for Future Health, at the University of Rochester. This sounds like a excellent group, working to build the distinction they are calling Proactive Health Systems which "alerts individuals when their health status trends away from normal, and helps them return to health."