Exercise
Our spiritual, mental, physical and emotional lives are all interconnected. Working in one area will have very positive influences on the others. Our physical side allows us to take action, learning to move in new and positive ways that lead to more love and respect for our self. We must cherish and look after our physical bodies, which means we need to make healthy choices. This mind, body, spirit approach to health treats the whole person and not just disease. Wellness is an integrated approach to well-being.
Participating in positive mind/body activities can enhance a anyone's sense of physical and/or emotional well-being. The below modalities can help ease the side effects from treatment or from the pressures of dealing with someone caring for cancer and thereby enhance a person's physical and/or emotional well-being. There are a wide variety of activities that can help to make you feel better during what might otherwise be a very difficult period in life.
Exercise examples can include:
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light exercise
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guided imagery
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massage
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yoga
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Qigong
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reiki
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pilates
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tai chi
Fatigue is a common symptom during cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy remission and recovery. It can stem from the underlying illness, insomnia/sleep deprivation, anxiety, the cancer treatment itself and the healing from cancer. Managing and reducing fatigue is an important component in enhancing ones overall well-being.
Our bodies are designed to move, and research demonstrates that we are emotionally more stable, physically more healthy and mentally far more alert if we participate in physical activity.
Some suggestions for exercising:
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Take walks daily and to try to increase the number of steps taken each day. Use a pedometers and keep a journal.
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Join a pilates studio for strengthening core muscles.
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Use resistance band exercises daily, performing one set of eight to 15 repetitions daily and gradually increasing to three to four sets.
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Exercise on an average of 3 days per week for 20 minutes at a moderate intensity level.
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Focus on your breathing as the foundation for all your movements.
People who exercise maintain their stamina and improve their aerobic capacity during treatment and after treatment. People who exercise are able to walk faster and further in a short amount of time. The mechanism by which exercise alleviates fatigue is proven. When exercise is non-burdensome, safe and feasible, it serves as an inexpensive, valuable tool in improving the quality of life.
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Review your lifestyle and attitude to look for ways you can incorporate exercise as part of your everyday life.
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Look for ways you can incorporate exercise as part of your everyday life.
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Use the stairs as much as possible.
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Walk when you can.
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Look for opportunities and interests that involve physical exercise
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Whatever you do, incorporate exercise into your daily life.
You are in a process of change, which is stressful, and your exercise is an important part of the healing process. Part of the work you are doing is to take some time each day just for yourself, exercise can be a positive choice with beneficial results.
Developing a positive mindset is one of the most powerful life strategies available. Using powerful positive thinking techniques, visualizations and positive affirmations, it is possible to achieve whatever you want. At a personal level it will transform your life, your health and renew the joy and passion for life.
