This post was written by Melissa from Ohio:
This is certainly true. It unites us as a community and it re-unites us with ourselves. If we just take the time to focus on our breathing, we can become present in the moment and live now instead of yesterday or tomorrow. There are plenty of things to worry about, but we are better capable of dealing with them when we slow down and breathe. There are various forms of yoga, and everyone can find something they are physically capable of doing and something they can enjoy.
I was involved in a study at The Ohio State University that set out to look at the role of yoga and stress in breast cancer survivors. The study is ongoing, so the data is not published yet, but we were shown very gentle movements and breathing exercises that were calming. My instructor was a peaceful, beautiful lady who truly loves yoga. Often that is the case with yoga instructors- they want to share the gift of yoga because it is such a great experience. We just need to let go and relax as students. Don't look at your neighbor's pose- focus on your breathing and relax into the pose. Let the day's worries melt away....
How do you feel about yoga? Has it help you cope? Share your thoughts with us, either here on this blog, on our Facebook page!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Team Spirit!
This post was written by Sydney Licht, team captain of Team Spirit:
Yoga Unites for LBBC is one of my favorite days of the year. It is an experience that I have looked forward to since I was in eighth grade. I first formed a team when I was thirteen, completely unaware of how much of an impact Yoga Unites for LBBC would have on me. I was so impressed with the intimacy and uniqueness of the event- it was unlike any fundraiser that I had ever attended. Over the years my team, Team Spirit, has grown, and my friends and family have helped me to organize ice cream socials and bracelet sales in order to raise money for a genuinely awesome organization. This year with survivors among us, we have a very high fundraising goal of $3,000. We have arranged a fundraiser at Rita’s Water Ice on Butler Pike in Ambler on April 28th, 2010 from 4-9PM and plan to have raffle baskets filled with items such as yoga class cards, and gift certificates! I am incredibly glad to be involved with such a fantastic organization that I know has supported people close to me battling breast cancer. I am really looking forward to this year’s Yoga Unites for LBBC and hope that we can all help LBBC reach their goal to raise $200,000 in honor of the 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year! See you there!
Like Sydney, you too can participate and help LBBC fulfill its mission of empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Join us on May 16 and participate.connect.support! Visit www.yoga4livingbeyondbreastcancer.org to register!
Yoga Unites for LBBC is one of my favorite days of the year. It is an experience that I have looked forward to since I was in eighth grade. I first formed a team when I was thirteen, completely unaware of how much of an impact Yoga Unites for LBBC would have on me. I was so impressed with the intimacy and uniqueness of the event- it was unlike any fundraiser that I had ever attended. Over the years my team, Team Spirit, has grown, and my friends and family have helped me to organize ice cream socials and bracelet sales in order to raise money for a genuinely awesome organization. This year with survivors among us, we have a very high fundraising goal of $3,000. We have arranged a fundraiser at Rita’s Water Ice on Butler Pike in Ambler on April 28th, 2010 from 4-9PM and plan to have raffle baskets filled with items such as yoga class cards, and gift certificates! I am incredibly glad to be involved with such a fantastic organization that I know has supported people close to me battling breast cancer. I am really looking forward to this year’s Yoga Unites for LBBC and hope that we can all help LBBC reach their goal to raise $200,000 in honor of the 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year! See you there!
Like Sydney, you too can participate and help LBBC fulfill its mission of empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Join us on May 16 and participate.connect.support! Visit www.yoga4livingbeyondbreastcancer.org to register!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Pink Kitchen
This entry was written by Lisa Grey, a first time participant:
My name is Lisa and this year I decided to participate in Yoga Unites for LBBC and form a team – Pink Kitchen -- for a few reasons:
I am a two-year survivor. I was born in Philadelphia. Most of my family - particularly those who supported me through the worst of my treatment - still lives in Philly. So there is something very nostalgic for me in supporting an event that takes place on the steps of the Art Museum.
I am also a huge fan of yoga. There is no other activity that can combine exercise, relaxation, and personal achievement in quite the same intensity as yoga can. I began practicing yoga two years before my diagnosis. Little did I know then that yoga would be such a critical part of getting through treatment, and then rejoining the non-cancer world. It was bittersweet for me - between the chemotherapy and all the surgeries I've had, I've lost so much of my range-of-motion and energy. Yet I've learned that yoga is a safe place - no one cares what you're doing, or how you're doing it. No one cares what level you'd reached before cancer struck. You're just there in the moment of each pose, feeling alive.
But the best reason I have for supporting Yoga Unites for LBBC is that LBBC helped me this year. For the first time, I attended the Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. I really felt like I needed to get away from my role as post-cancer Superwoman and surround myself with women who understood what it's like to balance cancer and daily life expectations. The workshops gave me a chance to empower myself through knowledge, while the social events let me leave my cancer label behind for awhile and just be 'Lisa'!
So here I am! I want to raise money so others can experience the conferences and programs like I did. I am earning my PhD in Health Psychology, and my dissertation research pertains to breast cancer and healthy living. I’m creating a cookbook series titled Pink Kitchen to make nutrition easy on survivors (and really, anyone) with a lack of time and energy....even if they think they have no knack for cooking. Next year, I hope to have a table at the event. Can't wait!
Why are you participating in this year's event? Comment here or on our Facebook page!
My name is Lisa and this year I decided to participate in Yoga Unites for LBBC and form a team – Pink Kitchen -- for a few reasons:
I am a two-year survivor. I was born in Philadelphia. Most of my family - particularly those who supported me through the worst of my treatment - still lives in Philly. So there is something very nostalgic for me in supporting an event that takes place on the steps of the Art Museum.
I am also a huge fan of yoga. There is no other activity that can combine exercise, relaxation, and personal achievement in quite the same intensity as yoga can. I began practicing yoga two years before my diagnosis. Little did I know then that yoga would be such a critical part of getting through treatment, and then rejoining the non-cancer world. It was bittersweet for me - between the chemotherapy and all the surgeries I've had, I've lost so much of my range-of-motion and energy. Yet I've learned that yoga is a safe place - no one cares what you're doing, or how you're doing it. No one cares what level you'd reached before cancer struck. You're just there in the moment of each pose, feeling alive.
But the best reason I have for supporting Yoga Unites for LBBC is that LBBC helped me this year. For the first time, I attended the Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. I really felt like I needed to get away from my role as post-cancer Superwoman and surround myself with women who understood what it's like to balance cancer and daily life expectations. The workshops gave me a chance to empower myself through knowledge, while the social events let me leave my cancer label behind for awhile and just be 'Lisa'!
So here I am! I want to raise money so others can experience the conferences and programs like I did. I am earning my PhD in Health Psychology, and my dissertation research pertains to breast cancer and healthy living. I’m creating a cookbook series titled Pink Kitchen to make nutrition easy on survivors (and really, anyone) with a lack of time and energy....even if they think they have no knack for cooking. Next year, I hope to have a table at the event. Can't wait!
Why are you participating in this year's event? Comment here or on our Facebook page!
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