How I became a Pilates Breast Cancer Survivor Coach

.October is renowned for its essence of pumpkin spice lattes, vivid orange & red leaves covering the sidewalks, and pumpkins ready to be carved and decorated for front porch viewing. While candy and children dressing up might first come to mind, October is a vitally important month for your health – It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. I want to share my story of becoming a Pilates Breast Cancer Survivor Coach.

Who Is Affected By Breast Cancer?

Most everyone knows the effects of Breast Cancer on our own lives, either personally or through the ones we love. Why is it crucial to visit your gynecologist and have a yearly mammogram? Check out the shocking statistics below.

• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer throughout their lifetime.
• In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,930 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• About 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2019. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 883.

While the statistics don’t come out in our favor, throughout my career, I have been lucky enough to find ways to help women dealing with this struggle regain pride, control, flexibility, and mobility in their bodies.

My Journey to Become a Pilates Breast Cancer Survivor Coach and Fitness Instructor

I started teaching fitness in 1989 and loved the feeling of being able to help others benefit their own lives. It wasn’t until 1994, during a class, a particular student forever changed my view on training.

She seemed unable to complete particular stretches that she had done before. She came to me after class, confessing she had experienced Breast Cancer, had a double mastectomy and had implants inserted, and had lost a significant range of motion. I was shocked and touched that she had shared her story with me and was determined to ensure she never felt excluded in class.

In 2000 I got certified in Pilates, which aids in correcting imbalances, weak posture, and a weak core. I could blend my training with specific moves to help those suffering from the side effects of surgery. Soon many women with Breast Cancer or subsequent post-op surgeries had come to me, asking for help individually. I could teach with a new nurturing method that was less aggressive and more catered to their range of motion.

The Pink Ribbon Mission

In 2004, I got the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Teaching Certification.

The Pink Ribbon Pilates Program has been created to enhance breast cancer patient’s recovery. The program helps stretch and strengthen shoulders, chest, and back, allowing the patient to improve range of motion and strength. This includes areas most affected by breast cancer surgery, tram, and reconstruction. 

This course helped me to answer my biggest questions. How do I help women regain strength and mobility in the affected shoulder and area or an arm area? Can I help them promote lymphatic drainage? How can I help somebody improve functional fitness and quality of life and support a breast cancer survivor to restore energy after all their treatments and procedures?

How Can Pilates Help Breast Cancer Survivors? 

Pilates specifically has been shown to enhance life for people with cancer. For example, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Breast Health concluded that people with breast cancer who practiced Pilates experienced more significant improvements in quality of life, had better upper extremity functions, and experienced milder lymphedema (swelling in the limbs) than those in the control group. The study also found that Pilates exercises were found to be more effective than regular exercises for relieving the symptoms of lymphedema.

In 1955, Eve Gentry had a radical mastectomy, which removed her pectoral muscle along with her breast. She went to Pilates founder Joseph Pilates, and he helped her recuperate. This left her able to do the more advanced exercises after just one year, which impressed many doctors. 

With my accumulation of Breast Cancer fitness knowledge, I was approached in 2007 by Healthmarks Multimedia, then President, and my clients Ann McFarren and founder Susan Brink to create a safe workout for women recovering from breast cancer. I was delighted to be invited to this fantastic collaboration at the time. Unfortunately, the DVD is no longer in production. 

What Are The Benefits Of Pilates?

1. You can do Pilates in many different positions: supine (on the back), side-lying, standing, and seated.
2. The exercises and equipment can be modified for any level.
3. You can use the affected arm(s) more easily and naturally because Pilates is a whole-body exercise system that includes the arms and legs in the movements.
4. All movements are performed with focus and control
5. Deep rib cage breathing and multidimensional breathing patterns help ease tension, encourage lymphatic drainage, and stretch tight areas affected by scars.
6. Pilates provides a gentle introduction to exercise.
7. It increases muscle strength, especially in the back of the shoulders and the middle back.
8. Pilates improves your ability to perform daily tasks
9. Pilates strengthens the transverse abdominals, a significant muscle for back stability and strength after a TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous) flap or DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap breast reconstruction procedure.

Celebrate October Awareness Month

What is the best thing YOU can do to help support these women who have experienced this trauma? Not everyone is meant to be a Pilates Breast Cancer Survivor Coach. The most important thing you can do is visit your doctor and get checked out today. Schedule a yearly mammogram and ensure you are doing self-checks at home. Early detection is critical to keep you and the ones you love most in the best possible circumstances. 

Share this blog with others that you know might be interested in this information.