Cancer and your QiGong Workout

I have been a proponent for QiGong as a therapeutic modality for cancer patients for over 10 years now and I would like to offer some tips on your QiGong practice for those teaching QiGong and exercise in general for cancer patients regardless of the phase of cancer they are in.

The American Cancer Society states that at least 30 minutes a day of dedicated exercise above and beyond the usual activities of daily life on five or more days a week is needed to really reduce your cancer risk.  Most of us could use more activity in our day and QiGong is another way to provide that daily recommended dosage. So whether you have cancer, want to prevent cancer or just want to add another aspect your workout these tips and ideas are for you!

Recent research has found that exercise is more effective at combating cancer-related fatigue than the usual care provided to patients. I have a special program called QiGong Exercise Specialisttm that teaches QiGong for cancer as well as other autoimmune diseases. The Exercise Specialist program teaches all of the below tips plus much much more on movements that could be contraindicated in cancer patients (and other diseases) and how to adapt the movements for safety and actually make them more effective saving time, energy and risk of injury.

If you have had a lot of vomiting or diarrhea from your chemotherapy, for example, – this could lead to the level of minerals in your blood, such as sodium and potassium, not being balanced. So, ask your doctor about your blood tests. If it is ok with your doctor (hopefully he/she is a progressive thinker), drink plenty of fluids before during and after exercise – mostly just water with a little fresh-squeezed lemon juice in it (it has an alkalizing effect). Think sips – not gulps.

If you are very tired and don't feel up to exercising for your normal length of time  -cut the exercise session in half or a third of what you plan to do that day.

If you still have a catheter (tube that goes into your body), avoid swimming in pools, lakes and wading in the ocean etc as this could cause the site to become infected. Additionally, certain resistance training that uses muscles in the area of the catheter may dislodge it, so make sure you talk with a professional prior to just “trying” something.

If you have had radiation therapy, don't expose skin that has had radiation to the chlorine in swimming pools and be careful about exposure times to the sun as well.

If you have cancer that has spread to the bone, perform only weight bearing exercises and avoid machines, barbells and dumbbells that could put too much stress on the bones and potentially break them. In reality, I like bodyweight exercises as a preferred method of fitness even for those without cancer for the quickest results (more on this in another Blog).

And of course, if you notice swelling, pain, dizziness, or blurred vision, or bleeding (from blood thinners or otherwise) call your doctor right away.

Buy a heart rate monitor and have a fitness professional set up a routine for you. It will be your best friend and will, without prejudice, show you if you are exercising too much or too little.

Any questions please email me at ted@inner-strength.com.

See our website at www.inner-strength.org for private training on becoming a QiGong Exercise Specialist.