HealthLinksSC.com | 49 mind cannot exist in a relaxed body. When I see patients focusing on their breathing, I know that they are not going to focus on anything else during those moments.” Mindfulness practice is considered a mind-body approach to care, like meditation, relaxation, deep breathing and yoga. Other approaches include body-based practices: massage; energy force therapies such as tai chi and reiki; and expressive therapies such as journaling and art therapy. Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian provides inspiration and instruction surrounding breathing practices. He is an associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, a cell biology researcher and a certified yoga therapist, working with patients and faculty at the Hollings Cancer Center and the MUSC Health & Wellness Institute. In his research, Dr. Balasubramanian explores the effects of yoga breath work and is studying its role in improved health benefits and treatment outcomes. He grew up in India and was familiar with yoga practices there, and he enjoys sharing his expertise. “These practices are not focused in one religion or belief system. They can benefit individuals from many backgrounds and cultures,” he said. At the Hollings Cancer Center, his focus is on yogic breathing for cancer patients. He is involved with MUSC’s Survivors’ Fit Club, a 10-week exercise, nutrition and behavior change program for breast cancer survivors. He teaches breathing exercises that can not only improve how patients feel emotionally but can also encourage physical improvements in health. “Breathe a bit better!” is the title of Dr. Balasubramanian’s upcoming book, and that brief phrase encapsulates his belief that the lessons he teaches are not complicated and that anyone can learn how to practice the breathing exercises.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1