If I could wave a magic wand and grant every newly diagnosed person one essential skill, it would be this: the power to intentionally shift out of stress. To do that, you need to understand your body’s control center: the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). 💡 Here’s the essential takeaway: Stress is Sympathetic. Peace is Parasympathetic.Continue reading “Peace is Parasympathetic: Learn the Essential Skill for Your Cancer Journey”
Category Archives: Stress
Kindness Lowers Blood Pressure
Have you held the door open for anyone lately? It could be good for your health! Let me explain . . . for the past couple of years, I’ve had a pet topic – the heart, and by heart, I mean emotional well-being. My curiosity is about the science behind positive emotions and how they canContinue reading “Kindness Lowers Blood Pressure”
The Magic Carpet
Do you get on your yoga mat daily? Lately, I’ve been thinking about the yoga mat as a magic carpet. I know that sounds funny but stick with me. Not a magic carpet that literally flies away, but a magic carpet that helps you create a ritual that can become magical. In this ritual, you roll out yourContinue reading “The Magic Carpet”
This too shall pass.
Things have been heavy for me lately, not gonna lie. My mom passed in December. Grief is thick for me right now, but there’s more going on . . . There’s a kind of spiritual maturation that happens as a result of living through a crisis. We sometimes call these life chapters the dark nights of theContinue reading “This too shall pass.”
I’ve Become Supersticious.
If I don’t do this special thing every day something bad will happen. Or, more accurately, when I do this, I’m more likely to have a good day, maybe even some delightful synchronicities. I’m talking about my morning yoga practice. That sounds a little superstitious, right?  It’s been my personal experiment over the course of about 15+ years .Continue reading “I’ve Become Supersticious.”
Stressed Out?
I’ve been moving – as in, I moved my home – so I’ve been a bit of a stress monkey (yes, me, the yoga therapist—I get stressed too). What does a yoga therapist do with stress? Here are a few of my coping strategies: Even when the stress gets kicked up a few more notches .Continue reading “Stressed Out?”
How is Yoga for Cancer Different Than Other Types of Yoga?
I’m often asked this question: “How is yoga for cancer patients different than other types of yoga? “ There are many ways we’ve adapted yoga to serve cancer patients. Here are the main points . . . Physical Ability. The first issue to address is the participant’s physical abilities and limitations. Through a pre-class interviewContinue reading “How is Yoga for Cancer Different Than Other Types of Yoga?”
Michelle Stortz 