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”
Tag Archives: Breathing
Navigating Scanxiety: 5 Tools to Find Peace Before Your Test
Almost every cancer patient I’ve ever worked with talks about scanxiety—that intense anxiety that arises when they have an upcoming medical test, be it a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound. It’s completely normal to feel this fear. After everything you’ve been through, it makes sense that you’d feel triggered and reluctant to face another potentialContinue reading “Navigating Scanxiety: 5 Tools to Find Peace Before Your Test”
Spring
Hello dear one, I hope this finds you well and happy. It’s a lovely spring day here in Philadelphia. I find myself in a sweetly contented place and am sending these pleasant vibes your way. Wherever you are, I hope you’re delighting in the pop of spring flowers, the budding and blooming of the trees.Continue reading “Spring”
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”
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.”
You can choose.
I went on a meditation retreat a couple of weekends ago and it was great! On a silent meditation retreat, we can step out of our normal routines and slow way, waaaaay down. We’re invited to sit in stillness and to settle the mind into a quiet state of awareness. This can be quite a process, this stilling.Continue reading “You can choose.”
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?”
Your Home Yoga Practice
Think of your home yoga practice as basic self-care. Self-care is taking care of yourself physically, emotionally and mentally. As well as attending to the body, mind, and emotions, regular yoga practice creates a container for developing interoception – your ability to hear your body’s signals, messages and intuitions. Remember that yoga means the unionContinue reading “Your Home Yoga Practice”
Breath-Centered Meditation
Using Your Breath as the Focus of Your Meditation Breath-centered meditation is one of the most common forms of meditation. In this sequence below, I point out aspects of the breath to pay attention to. Focusing on these subtle sensations will pull your attention inward and help to keep you from wandering off. Notice theContinue reading “Breath-Centered Meditation”
For Those with Breathing Challenges
If your lungs have been compromised by treatment or other conditions, here are a few ways I can work with you to improve your ability to breathe. First, work with your diaphragm. Your diaphragm is your main breathing muscle and the first area I check. What you want to notice is whether your belly expandsContinue reading “For Those with Breathing Challenges”
Michelle Stortz 