August Walking
We are nearing the end of July, and the scout hall that we meet in closes for a month. Pink Ribbon Pilates will start up our walking group for the month of August. Last year we had some light rain on our Monday August walks and that did not deter us – wearing rain gear and walked regardless. What is a little drizzle compared to what we have been through? This walking group is made of tough stuff!
We walk at Conningbrook Lakes, next to Julie Rose Stadium, in Ashford, Kent. We meet up in the stadium car park at 11am each *Monday morning. Donning walking or hiking shoes, shorts or trousers, light rain jacket if needed, off we trek down the wide path to the lake. The path is suitable for everyone – fast or slow – and all abilities and levels are catered for. There is no set pattern and it’s up to everyone to set the pace to suit who’s there that day and just generally have a social occasion whilst also getting some gentle exercise. We tend walk in small groups and have a chance to chat, catch up with how we are feeling, how treatments are going and we discuss anything whilst the hour zooms by.
It’s a researched fact that a self-paced, home-based walking exercise program can help manage symptoms and improve physical functioning during radiation therapy and have a reduction of CRF – cancer related fatigue. Walking is where most who are going through breast cancer treatment or completed start, when desiring to exercise. A recent article in CURE® online magazine, highlights an ongoing study by the American Cancer Society, called Moving Forward Together 3. After the initial 12-week program in the study, there will also be a follow-up at the six month, nine month and twelve month marks to determine whether survivors were able to maintain their exercise routines. Two similar studies in 2015, showed that the intervention was successful in getting cancer survivors to engage in exercise routines. It found that the participants physical activity had improved significantly from their baseline. Their vigor had improved. Their quality of life had improved. Their fatigue had gone down.
So tie on your trainers and start walking! Walking is an effective, convenient, and low-cost self-care activity that reduces symptoms and facilitates adaptation to breast cancer treatment. Bernardine Pinto, this recent study head researcher states, “We know that exercise, becoming physically active, helps to improve patients’ recovery, in the sense that it improves their physical functioning, their mood, quality of life, and in some cases even fatigue. And then we have the issue of cancer patients being at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and so on”. “Establishing a regular walking routine is a part of getting back to something like normal”, she said, ” And that is on three levels — not just physical, but also part of the mental and spiritual recovery”.
To read the full article about Moving Forward Together 3: http://www.curetoday.com/articles/moving-forward-together-breast-cancer-survivors-are-helping-each-other-to-get-and-stay-physically-active?p=1
*Please note, no walking on Bank Holiday Monday – August 28th 2017 so our last walk date is, Monday September 21st. We are back on mats for Pilates at the Kennington Boy Scout Hall on September 4th, 11am sharp!