Breast Cancer and Exercises
Stress
is major factor in the cause of disease and disorder. When you are in chronic
stress, your body uses its DHEA and thus impairs the normal functioning of your
body's hormonal glands as well as your immune system. Stress may be caused
by work, time-stress, financial stress, relationship stress, and health
stress, among others. Accumulated stress may be an underlying cause
of breast cancer.
According
to studies, exercise can offer women significant protection against breast
cancer, especially in Caucasian mothers 40 years old or younger. The
explanation is that exercise relieves stress and depression, which are common
among young mothers; exercise indirectly brings about emotional transformation
that enhances the immune system, and thus offering extra protection against the
mutation of cancer cells.
Studies
have also indicated that aerobic exercise has a greater impact than anaerobic
exercises, such as weight training. Aerobic exercises for at least 20 minutes
several times a week benefit the immune system to protect against breast
cancer. However, it must be pointed out that the exercise benefits depend on
the intensity, that is, the degree of exertion, rather than on the length of
the exercise.
Another
way to cope with stress using exercises is to use Oriental exercises, which
focus on natural movements, posture, and correct breathing to bring about
holistic health of the body and the mind. There
is a close connection between the body and the mind when it comes to stress
control, where yoga plays
a pivotal part. Yoga is more than an exercise: it is a science that has
been practiced for thousands of years, based on ancient theories, observations,
and principles about the connection between the mind and the body. The
intrinsic benefits of yoga have been proven by modern medicine.
Tai Chi is another Oriental exercise based on body movements to
circulate your body's invisible energy called qi. Smooth circulation of qi energy ensures a healthy and relaxed body.
Stagnant and blocked qi energy
causes all sorts of chronic disease. Tai
Chi is an ancient exercise that has been practiced for
thousands of years as an effective alternative healing for the body and the
mind. By strengthening the immune system, Tai Chi can improve
your health slowly but steadily. More importantly, it can relieve your stress
and calm your nerves.
Qi
Gong is a set of self-healing exercises designed to balance
your qi, bringing you
back into harmony with your inner self, as well as
with Nature. bringing you back into harmony with your Nature. These
exercises incorporate your breathing, posture, movement, meditation, and
visualization to move oxygen and nutrients from your blood to different body
organs and tissues. As a result, distress and anxiety are dispelled during
meditation, positive thinking with great confidence is affirmed, and deep concentration of the mind is also emphasized. Through qi
gong, you gain control of your body and mind, thereby
instrumental in stimulating the circulation of your blood and qi
for total body and mind relaxation.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
