Healing, Breath, and the Body: Can Hypopressives Support Cancer Recovery?
“Physical and emotional states can be altered by changing the breathing pattern.”
— Wilhelm Reich
Cancer is a journey that can feel overwhelmingly out of our control. Between treatments, side effects, and the mental toll of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel like your body has been hijacked by something you can’t influence. But what if there was a way to reclaim some of that power? What if you could take an active role in your own healing and find moments of calm, relief, and even strength along the way?
This is where Hypopressives and TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) can make a real difference.
More Than Core Training: Hypopressives and the Nervous System
Hypopressives aren’t just about posture or pelvic floor strength. They are a whole-body, breath-led system that helps you reconnect with your body through:
Deep diaphragmatic breathing (without belly pushing)
Fascial hydration and gentle mobilisation
Nervous system reset via vagus nerve stimulation
And mindful movement that encourages safety and presence
They create space. In your body. In your breath. And in your nervous system.
By reducing intra-abdominal pressure and encouraging lateral ribcage expansion, Hypopressives activate the thoracic diaphragm in a way that calms the autonomic nervous system—bringing us into the ventral vagal state, where healing, connection, and restoration can occur.
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
TRE works in a beautifully complementary way—by allowing the body to release deep, stored tension through neurogenic tremors. This is especially important in the aftermath of surgery, trauma, or extended stress—all common in cancer recovery. Shaking helps discharge hypervigilance and brings the body back to a state of equilibrium.
A Personal Perspective
I’ve witnessed firsthand how these practices can be life-changing. My brother, recovering from bowel cancer, found both Hypopressives and TRE invaluable—not just for physical relief but for emotional steadiness. He now has tools to manage pain, regulate his nervous system, and feel involved in his own recovery.
Similarly, my clients post-breast cancer tell me they no longer feel trapped in a “doom loop” of uncertainty. They feel more at home in their bodies again, more in control, more hopeful.
But What About the Cancer Contraindication?
This is where things require nuance.
You may have seen “active cancer” listed as a contraindication for Hypopressives or Uddiyana Bandha (which involves a similar breath-hold and diaphragmatic suction). And it’s true—some training bodies, particularly in conservative medical environments, mark it as a red flag.
Let’s unpack why.
The Concern: Lymphatic or Vascular Risk
The caution around apnoea techniques in active cancer is rooted in a theoretical concern that:
The pressure changes during the breath-hold (or the suction created during Uddiyana Bandha) might affect venous return, or
Stimulate the lymphatic system in a way that could potentially accelerate the spread of malignant cells—particularly in cancers with vascular or lymphatic involvement.
However, there is no strong clinical evidence that links gentle apnoea practices with increased cancer progression or metastasis. Most of these concerns come from a place of:
Medical conservatism
A lack of standardised studies on these breath techniques in oncology patients
And a general precaution applied when dealing with vulnerable populations
The truth is, the body naturally undergoes pressure shifts every time we laugh, sneeze, or even stand up quickly. Hypopressives create less intra-abdominal pressure than a cough or lifting a heavy bag. And the breath-hold we use is gentle, thoracic, and focused on pressure reduction, not spikes.
Where Caution Is Appropriate
It’s wise to adapt or avoid full apnoea in cases where:
The client is undergoing intense active treatment (e.g. chemotherapy with central lines or radiation near the chest)
There is extensive lymph node removal (e.g. axillary clearance)
The person experiences dizziness, breathlessness, or fatigue with breath holds
Or there’s any oncologist-directed limitation on breathwork or physical strain
But these are not blanket exclusions—they are clinical considerations.
Currently Available Evidence: What the Research Says
There is currently no direct scientific evidence indicating that breath-holding techniques, such as those used in Hypopressives or Uddiyana Bandha, facilitate the spread of cancer through the lymphatic system.
✅ Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD):
A 2006 study in the Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology concluded that MLD does not contribute to the spread of cancer and should not be withheld, even in metastatic cases.
Godette K. et al., 2006 – Klose Training
✅ Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH):
Used in radiotherapy to protect healthy tissue in breast cancer, this breath-hold technique is widely adopted and studied, with no indication it promotes cancer spread.
ScienceDirect, LBBC
✅ Diaphragmatic Breathing & Lymph Flow:
A 2023 study found that diaphragmatic breathing supports lymphatic return and can help manage lymphedema after cancer treatment.
What the Current Thinking Supports: Adaptation, Not Avoidance
The more current, functionally informed view is this:
Breathwork, fascial movement, and gentle core restoration can support cancer recovery.
Rather than excluding based on diagnosis alone, we:
Skip the apnoea if there’s fatigue or vascular concern
Begin with posture, alignment, and the 360° breath
Seek medical clearance when needed and collaborate with care teams
And above all—listen to the body and what it’s asking for
You’re not overriding the body. You’re giving it space to heal.
Start Right Now: The 360° Breath
You don’t need to wait to feel the benefits. One of the simplest ways to begin is with the 360° Breath—a gentle, expansive breathing technique that creates space and nervous system calm without straining the abdominal wall.
How to do it:
Sit or stand with a tall, relaxed spine
Place your hands on the sides of your ribcage
Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling the ribs expand outward and back
Exhale gently through pursed lips, letting the ribs soften inward
Stay soft through the belly and jaw—no pushing or bracing
Practice this daily. It’s a balm for your nervous system and a quiet revolution in how you breathe and move through the world.
“Inhale the present moment, exhale the past.”
— Unknown
Final Thoughts: Healing Is a Whole-System Journey
Healing isn’t just about eradicating disease. It’s about restoring connection—to breath, to body, to resilience.
Hypopressives and TRE offer a way to return to yourself after trauma—whether from surgery, treatment, or the emotional weight of uncertainty. Whether you’re navigating cancer recovery or supporting someone who is, these practices give you something you can influence.
Your breath is always with you. Let it become your anchor, your guide, and your gentle companion back to wholeness.
Want to explore further?
My on-demand Beginner's Hypopressives Course is a safe, accessible way to begin. No pressure. Just gentle guidance and support.
Your body is resilient. Your spirit is resilient.
Let’s move forward together—one breath at a time.
—
Abby
Pelvic Floor Specialist | Hypopressive Master Trainer
Hypopressive Scotland
