This Simple Yoga Move Can Help Breast Cancer Patients After Surgery

Range of motion in the arms is often severely limited right after a mastectomy. You’re still healing from surgery, your muscles are stiff and tender, and you’re exhausted. It can be a slow battle getting that range of motion back, but this survivor has some words of encouragement.

In this video, Nikki demonstrates a yoga move that helped her relax the tightness in her chest post-mastectomy, called “climb the wall.” When she first started using the move immediately after her mastectomy, she was in a lot of pain, and so she could barely lift her palms even a inch or two up the wall. But as the days went on, the exercise became easier.

“And then I just — I didn’t give up,” she says. “I did it very often. I was at home most of the time, so sometimes I would do it three times a day.” Eventually she reached her arms all the way up, and the feeling of accomplishment was exhilarating.

Watch the video to learn more about this move, and, as always, be sure to consult your doctor about what exercises will be best for you.