Exercise

No doubt, when you start seeing those cute cut-out hearts, candy and chocolate in just about every store, you know that Valentines’ Day is approaching!

But there’s also another event that occurs in February and it’s a pretty big one: American Heart Month. It’s a great time to focus on your heart health and make choices to keep it healthy. One way to do that is through exercise, which can keep you – and your heart – in top form!

Exercise is important for everyone, including cancer patients and survivors.

“I’m too tired.”

“It’s not fun.”

“I don’t have the time.”

“My legs look ugly in gym shorts.”

“The weather’s bad.”

You’ve heard them. We’ve all used them. They are excuses for people who don’t want to exercise. But even the very best of integrated cancer care will not be maximized without regular exercise. Think of it as a mandatory requirement.

In 2005, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study on physical activity and survival after a cancer diagnosis. The study found that exercising just one hour per week could lower the risk of recurrence by approximately 20 percent.

One of the components in healing from cancer that we recommend is exercise. Studies have shown that virtually any kind of physical activity will help cancer patients and survivors.

In particular, yoga has been lauded by a number of experts to be a gentle, yet effective, form of exercise to help heal the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga can be tailored to your body’s specific needs, without undue exertion or stress on your body.

A recent article in US News and World Report cited a study by Dr.