A four-week yoga program helped cancer survivors rest easier and feel better overall, according to new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center.

The randomized trial found that participants experienced notable improvements in sleep, mood, and fatigue when adding yoga to their post-treatment routine.

Researchers presented the findings last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The study involved 410 adult cancer survivors from various community cancer care sites in the United States, with an average age of 54. About three quarters of the participants were breast cancer survivors, and none had practiced yoga regularly within the previous three months.

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Participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group received standard survivorship care alone, while the other group received the same care plus enrollment in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.

Through YOCAS, survivors attended two instructor-led 75-minute classes per week. Each session featured 18 Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga poses along with breathing and mindfulness exercises.

Based on participant questionnaires, the yoga group reported “moderate-to-large” decreases in mood disturbances, “small-to-medium” drops in anxiety, and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue compared to those receiving only standard care.

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The team linked these mood and fatigue improvements to yoga’s positive influence on sleep quality.

“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” said lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Researchers noted that no major safety concerns or serious adverse events were reported during the four-week program.

However, they also pointed out several limitations. The sample was largely homogeneous—mostly women, breast cancer patients, and Caucasian participants with higher education levels.

“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities,” Choi said.

The trial excluded patients with metastatic cancer, and its short four-week duration means further studies will be needed to assess potential long-term effects.

If later peer-reviewed research validates these outcomes, structured yoga programs could be recommended as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers said.

Choi also explained that different studios may label Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga as “Foundations Yoga” or “Healing Yoga.” She advised survivors to seek certified instructors experienced with cancer patients and to consult oncology teams for referrals.

Researchers did not test other yoga forms, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow styles, so their suitability remains unknown.

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