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Five Steps to Healing

By Linda Sparrowe
Editor-in-Chief

It’s breast cancer awareness month—and the pink ribbons are out in full force. We’ve walked, run, blogged, and gathered in groups large and small to raise money to eradicate this disease that still appears to grab one in eight women every year. While researchers can’t agree on the cause or the cure, they do agree that certain lifestyle changes can quite possibly keep this disease at bay. Here are five things you can do right away—including yoga, of course—to reduce your risk not only for breast cancer but as it turns out, for most diseases.

  1. Clean up your diet. Choose plant-based, fiber-rich foods. Minimize (or give up) red meat and dairy products.
  2. Get plenty of sleep. Resist that second wind and try going to bed by 10pm to get the most beneficial shut-eye. That’s what ayurvedic practitioners recommend. Disrupted sleep patterns (including working the night shift; waking up at odd hours of the night) may actually increase breast cancer risk.
  3. Exercise. Stay active to keep your weight and stress-levels in check. According to Susan Love, MD, author of The Breast Book, says the more you exercise, the greater the benefit. Go for a brisk walk, ride your bike, do something aerobic for 30 minutes a day, at least 4 times a week.
  4. Do yoga. A consistent yoga practice can balance your nervous system, improve your circadian rhythms (our sleep/wake cycle), and reduce inflammation in the body, which plays a critical role in the disease.
  5. Take your supplements. Sara Gottfried, MD, shares a list of vitamins and supplements that are essential for preventing breast cancer.

AWAKENING AS WOMEN reminder
Join in on Thursday, October 18 (4pm PST; 7pm EST) for “Getting Real: Conversations with Yoginis” as editor-in-chief Linda Sparrowe discusses body image and aging — does yoga help or hinder our ability to honor our bodies as we age?

Photo (cc) by Fotopedia user  Jacqueline ANSELME “Princesspiedsnus”

  • TAZ

    While there could be more in-depth information here the basic and simple reminders are what the masses need. I know many woman who work non-stop, 24/7, and know that they need to slow down and take care of themselves. They need to sleep more, exercise more, eat better, cook their own meals, breathe and put themselves first for a change but they don’t do it because there is always more to do. These simple reminders are what they need because what they don’t need is something complex and unattainable.

  • Marianne Wells

    As a women who has direct experience with cancer, through her son suicide, and husband heart attack, I find this artical a total fluff piece. Shame on you Yoga International for reducing your intellectual wisdom to reach the masses. This information can be found in any teenebop magazine. Please do not sell out, your better than that.

    • Wayne Matthews

      ^^Harsh…While I didn’t find this article to be of the highest spiritual caliber, it’s difficult to ignore the facts referenced within, and I see no harm with this publication sharing wisdom, no matter how common.

    • http://www.facebook.com/barbarasunshine.at.att.net Barbara Ginsberg

      I am sorry for your losses Marianne. However I do agree with Wayne. I will add that if it was a true sell out, YI would have tried to sell us pink yoga mats. These basic lifestyle recommendations are available in various publications but many people would rather wear pink ribbons and buy pink mixers than take better care of themselves. If only these lifestyle changes were in effect as much as the information has been repeated.

    • Linda Sternberg

      I agree with you Barbara. If the lifestyle changes could be applied more, it will have an effect on our entire culture. The dis-eases that plague our society would and can be reduced. My heart goes out to anyone who has suffered.

    • Linda

      Marianne: I’m so sorry you felt that way. I teach women who’ve been touched by cancer (through the Courageous Women, Fearless Living retreats) and I certainly would never minimize what they or any one else is going through. This piece was simply a blog post that goes out to a more mainstream audience. I wrote it to help people think about how they can approach their own health and minimize their risk. Too often we feel powerless and look to the medical establishment to give us answers or to cure us. If we can learn to better care for ourselves and to make some lifestyle changes BEFORE we get sick, that can hopefully have a big impact on our health.