In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
Learn how gentle yoga and meditation can help manage side effects like fatigue and pain, empowering you to reclaim a sense of control.
Find simple, accessible starting points, like easy poses and mindfulness techniques, to immediately reconnect with your body and find inner peace.
Hey everyone!
I want to talk about something today that I think we’ve all felt. When you’re in the thick of a health battle, it’s so easy to feel like you’re just a passenger in a body that’s going haywire. The fear, the anxiety, the sleepless nights. It can feel like you’ve lost all control.
For the longest time, I felt like the tools I used to have just weren’t working anymore. The stress was overwhelming, and frankly, the standard medical world didn’t have any real answers for the emotional and mental hurricane I was in.
Through my own research and talking with so many of you, I found that yoga and meditation can be used as a powerful tool to combat the mental side of cancer.
Now, I’m not talking about the kind of yoga you see on social media where people are twisting themselves into pretzels.
I’m talking about gentle, restorative practices that are all about listening to your body and giving it what it needs. It’s a way of telling your nervous system that it’s safe to relax.
When you do that, something amazing happens. Your body can shift out of that constant fight-or-flight mode, which lowers stress hormones, eases inflammation, and can even help you sleep better and manage pain.
Meditation does the same thing for your mind. It’s not about forcing your thoughts to stop. No, it’s about learning to observe them without getting swept away. It’s a way to find a quiet space inside yourself, even when everything around you is chaotic.
These practices give you a sense of control back. They’re not something that’s done to you; they are something you do for yourself.
This is the kind of real-world stuff we talk about every single day inside Cancer Crew. It’s a space free of judgment, where we share what’s actually working for us on our own terms.
If you’re looking for a community that just gets it, a place to ask questions, find support, and connect with people who are on a similar path, then you belong with us. We’re your people. Join Cancer Crew Plus today and find your community.
Join by Nov. 10th with code “FOUNDINGMEMBER“ for lifetime access for $100 and hear more stories like this and find your community.
So, how do you even start? The key is to be incredibly gentle with yourself. On days when you’re exhausted, just a few minutes can make a difference.
One of the most powerful and simple poses is Legs up the Wall. You literally just lie on the floor and rest your legs up against a wall. It’s amazing for fatigue and calming your entire system.
Another one I love is a simple Seated Spinal Twist, which can help with nausea and digestion. You just sit cross-legged and gently twist, breathing the whole time. The goal isn’t a deep stretch, it’s just gentle movement.
When it comes to meditation, the simplest way to begin is with your breath. Just find a comfortable spot, close your eyes, and notice the feeling of your breath moving in and out. Your mind will wander because that’s what minds do! The practice is just gently bringing your attention back to your breath, over and over, without any judgment.
Another incredible tool is Guided Imagery. This is where you use your imagination to help your body.
You can picture a warm, healing light moving through you, dissolving pain and tension. Or you can visualize the pain as a certain shape or color and then imagine it changing into something more pleasant. It sounds simple, but studies have shown it can actually change how your brain perceives pain.
These practices are about self-compassion. They are about treating yourself like you would treat a dear friend. It’s a journey back to yourself, and it happens one gentle movement, one conscious breath at a time. You’ve got this, and you don’t have to do it alone.
With heart,
Carli
Founder of The Cancer Crew
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