Finding Balance in Times of Uncertainty By Lisa Coyle
All of life is about finding our balance. We walk everyday. We take it for granted, but even walking is an act of balance. Each time we pick one foot up to place it in front of the other, we are, briefly, balancing on one foot. During cancer treatments, balance can become difficult. Practicing balancing postures can help us maintain a sense of stability and control over the body so we can continue moving. You may be thinking that standing on two feet can feel hard enough sometimes. You may ask why we should make it harder by choosing to stand on one foot. But there are many reasons this is helpful: • •
When we take one foot away from the floor, we strengthen our connection to the Earth through the one standing foot. This creates harmony of the mind, body and breath. It takes precise attention to keep the body steady on one foot. This focus begins to train the nervous system to handle times when life becomes uncertain or when we experience racing thoughts.
The magazine for women affected by cancer
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Weight-bearing exercises (even your own body weight) strengthen bones. Because bones can be weakened through chemotherapy, this technique can lessen that side effect as well. Good balance protects us from falling and breaking a bone. Good balance requires good posture, which helps us breathe.
Standing on one foot requires a focused mind and a calm breath. Standing in Vrikshasana, or Tree Pose, for ten breaths may not feel easy, but the nervous system is calmed in this state of physical and mental harmony. This is why balancing is good for cancer patients. It is healing. We can learn how to clear anxiety by standing on one foot! When we use our muscles to place our bones in alignment and we support that alignment with a calm, steady breath, we are brought immediately into the present moment. We are right here, right now.
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