Copy
 
Your guide to integrative cancer care
View this email in your browser
Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/ljcor-3559387/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=2765327">Lorraine Cormier</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=2765327">Pixabay</a>

Exercising during a COVID Winter

For many of us, getting enough exercise during this cold and dark time of year feels like a challenge. It may feel even more difficult than usual during this pandemic year. But with some creativity and flexibility, you can still keep your body moving through the winter and nurture health, well-being and quality of life—all especially important during this time of dormancy, reflection and transition.

Here are some ideas to get you moving:

  • Do you like to dance? This counts as exercise! Listen to music that makes you want to move, and let your body respond and bring you joy. If you can, dance at a level that increases your heart and breathing rates.
  • Boost your heart and breathing rates with other activities. Walking up and down stairs, moving with online aerobic videos or going outdoors for hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing are all good ways to move more. Even a vigorous walk around your neighborhood will bring benefits!
  • Want to get a head start on spring cleaning (or perhaps your culture practices winter cleaning)? House work that gets you to walk, stoop, lift, carry, scrub, and keep your body moving in other ways will benefit your body as well as your home space.
  • Have you been wanting to learn new poses or movements for yoga, tai chi, or qigong? Now is a great time to explore online instruction (click the links for resources) so you can grow your practice at home at a pace and style that works best for you.
  • If you spend extended periods of time sitting, remember that getting up and walking around occasionally, even just in your home, is kind to your body. Set a timer if you need a reminder to stretch your legs!
  • Along those lines, stretching is a great way to keep muscles and joints flexible throughout your day. Experiment with what and when feels good to you. You can start with 4 Simple Stretches to Try at Home from the Anticancer Lifestyle Program.

Be sure to listen to your body and move at your own pace. If your energy or strength are limited, look for instruction appropriate for you. For example, many qigong poses can be easily adapted so they can be performed lying down.

If you want some help exploring the links between fitness and health and developing an achievable action plan, consider the Online Fitness Module offered by the Anticancer Lifestyle Program. 

Finally, visit our Moving More page to explore resources for increasing activity and to learn about how exercise reduces the risk of cancer and promotes health after a diagnosis. We wish you an active and restorative winter!

Inspiration for the New Year 

Would you like to see more inspiring and uplifting content in your social posts next year? Sign up for our updates on Facebook and Twitter to tune into Serenity Sunday! Once a week we combine a beautiful image and words of reflection, affirmation and insight into a post that will nurture your spirit.

The dawn of the new year is also a wonderful time to revisit our 7 Healing Practices. Resolutions often center around new exercise and dietary habits, but it's also an opportunity to look to your mind, spirit and environment and see what additional support you might offer yourself.

See Exploring What Matters Now for thoughts on the role of meaning and purpose in life and how to nurture both—even during difficult times. Visit Managing Stress for a review of integrative approaches to reducing stress and links to numerous therapies that can help. Finally, explore Creating a Healing Environment to learn how to minimize environmental factors that do not promote health and counteract them with healing activities like forest bathing.

Our 7 Healing Practices are the pillars for building strength and resilience, no matter where you are on your health journey. We wish you much of both in the New Year.

A Fruitful Year at BCCT

We at BCCT are grateful to be looking back on an exciting and dynamic year rich with growth, collaboration and connection. Here are our top highlights:

We published our highly anticipated and thoroughly researched Handbook on Integrative Care for Colorectal Cancer, which also comes with a two-page Quick Reference.

We crafted new therapy summaries (Guided Imagery, Massage and Iodine, plus a related article on Thyroid Hormones and Cancer), launched and expanded our section on COVID-19, and created new videos and blog posts.

We presented a webinar and a workshop in collaboration with partners including the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), the Anticancer Lifestyle Program, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

We convened and trained website navigators to help site visitors find what they need on our site.

We worked with our partner Helpsy Health to update information on integrative therapies for symptom management into their popular app.

We initiated a website redesign process and are preparing to release a new website next year that will be fresh, engaging, and easy to navigate.

We welcomed a new staff member and two new advisors.

We developed new partnerships with Nancy’s List and Health Navigators (an affiliate of the Radical Remission Project) and strengthened existing partnerships with the Society for Integrative Oncology, Healing Circles, the Anticancer Lifestyle Program, the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and their KNOW Oncology project, and the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre.

We launched this news update and expanded our social media presence. And much more!

The momentum of our critical work is building, and we are looking to next year with great excitement and deep dedication. Thank you so much for being part of our community. We are honored to have your steadfast support.

We hope that your year, despite the collective challenges we all faced, also brought you growth, collaboration and connection. We send you our very best wishes for peaceful holidays and much beauty and light in the New Year.

Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward
Subscribe

Visit Our Website and
Follow Us on Social Media

Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies informs your choices in integrative cancer care. Visit our website to explore summaries of integrative approaches informed by scientific evidence—from herbs and supplements to mind-body approaches—plus resources for finding community and support, and much more.

Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
Website Website
Copyright © 2020 CancerChoices, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.