OK, now that you have poured your cup of Joe or whatever your favorite morning beverage is, please take this moment to read and understand where I am coming from on sharing the importance of exercise, in particular, yoga after you have been diagnosed with cancer, have gone through surgery (if you have), and during or after your treatment regime.
We don’t have to feel sorry for ourselves and crawl under a rock because of this sickness and its common side effects. We can RISE to the occasion with much effort and meet the beast head on with gentle stretching, meditation and breathing.
Keep in mind the positives of this experience before saying “nah, I can’t do this right now, I just don’t have the energy to do it.” I know, from personal experience, that it takes so much effort to even get dressed, brush your teeth, get in the car, and drive to the gym or a class to get out of this chemo funk!
Below are some of the many wonderful benefits gathered through research that can inspire a gentle start to your yoga movement practice.
~ reduces and manages anxiety,
~ improves mood, less depression,
~ increases sense of well-being and quality of life,
~ improves social functioning,
~ improves breathing/lung volume, less dyspnea,
~ reduces in fatigue and joint pain,
~ reduces the number of hot flashes,
~ improves sleep quality,
~ increases flexibility and strength,
~ reduces pain,
~ is effective in treating PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),
~ reduces need for sleep medications,
~ improves “autonomic response” (response to stress), thereby reducing or eliminating the physiological symptoms of stress.
Wow, how can yoga do all this and so much more? Exercise is of course extremely beneficial to healing but when you add adaptability, awareness, relaxation, breathwork, mindfulness, presence, meditation, connection and community, the healing powers are even more intense.
“Don’t move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move.” Osho