This chapter reviews the preventive healthcare potential of Yoga and Pranayama for older adults. It argues that regular practice of these techniques can enhance flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular efficiency, respiratory health, balance, and mobility in elderly individuals. Pranayama and meditation may help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and age-related cognitive decline. The authors propose that yogic practices support healthy aging through mechanisms such as autonomic nervous system regulation, improved circulation, hormonal balance, enhanced pulmonary function, and reduced oxidative stress. They contend that integrating Yoga and Pranayama into preventive healthcare programs could reduce disease burden and improve functional independence among seniors.
This chapter reviews mind-body practices—yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises—as integrative oncology interventions. It argues that these techniques, rooted in Ayurvedic traditions, modulate neuroendocrine stress pathways, autonomic balance, inflammation, immune function, and gene expression. Citing clinical trials and systematic reviews, it indicates that yoga and meditation can reduce cancer-related fatigue and distress, improve sleep, lower pain perception, and enhance quality of life across cancer types and treatment stages. Breathing exercises help restore autonomic nervous system function and stress response. The authors propose that these practices, blending Ayurvedic concepts with biomedical evidence, are fundamental to comprehensive integrative oncology care.