Background: Cancer patients often experience significant psychological distress. Complementary approaches such as yoga and mindfulness have shown promise in enhancing emotional well-being. Yin yoga is a gentle, slow-paced style of yoga that emphasizes long-held, passive stretches, primarily targeting the deep connective tissues and promoting relaxation.This study explored the psychological effects of a six-week Yin Yoga and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group intervention in adult female cancer patients.
Methods:
Using purposive sampling, 8–10 adult female cancer patients receiving treatment at a medical center between January and June 2024 were recruited. The program was delivered by a licensed psychologist who is also a certified yoga instructor. It consisted of six 80-minute group sessions integrating psychological principles and yoga-based practices. The intervention incorporated Yin Yoga postures and mindfulness-based self-care practices. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Quantitative outcomes were measured using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003)and the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5), administered before and after each session. Data were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests in SPSS 20. After the intervention, individual 60-minute qualitative interviews were conducted to explore participants' psychological experiences.
Results:
Statistically significant improvements were found on both the SCS and BSRS-5 following the intervention (p < .05). Qualitative analysis revealed enhanced emotional regulation, increased body awareness, and greater motivation to integrate Yin yoga and mindfulness into daily self-care routines.
Conclusion:
This pilot study suggests that Yin Yoga combined with mindfulness-based self-care can positively impact the psychological well-being of female cancer patients. The findings support further investigation into integrative therapeutic approaches in psycho-oncology care. Given that many individuals find greater intrinsic motivation in practicing yoga for self-healing than in pursuing conventional psychotherapy, incorporating a person-centered therapeutic attitude into Yin yoga-based and MBSR interventions may provide a supportive and empowering option for the psychological care of cancer patients.