Clearly I must return to my home base of meditation, yoga and Buddhist thought to answer these concerns and why I think the simple act of running can help so much if approached from a different viewpoint. Before then let us remind ourselves of the quantitative evidence about exercise. 

There is clear physiological evidence that exercise is mentally good for us, seratonin levels rise and our 'feel good' outlook increases.  Exercise has lasting effects on us and is not isolated at the point of exercise so all this is a good thing.  I would, though, like to ask what motivates us to run? Do we approach running and exercise as an escape from our daily lives which are uneasy in terms of balance, relationships and direction? Do we use exercise as a sort of shield that needs thickening up on a regular basis from the daily onslaught of work, tasks and simple survival.  Is it possible for exercise and the act of running to develop clear thought and careful attention to detail in terms of work and relationships?  Can running do this? 

Jon Kabat-Zinn in his book 'coming to our senses' points to a requirement in society to come to terms with our dis-ease. In the book he clearly details the benefits of mindfulness and the practice of meditation in developing this laser light awareness of breath, self and of a deeper awareness of others.  He suggests, I agree with him , that we are ill at ease with ourselves and the uneasiness is countered by busy-ness and distractions from the moment by moment issues that we all must face.

When you run are you dominated by thoughts of time, training and the next challenge?  Do you need these challenges to motivate yourself to  run?  What if there were no challenges at all. No T shirt or medal would you still run? Are you running to lose weight and look better?  I understand  completely about the benefits of training, competition and challenges. You can use these to hone your skills, improve your performances and do some great work for charity. But as a yogi, there are no competitions or performances only you.  The principles of yoga are based on alignment of the mind and body, yoking and tying the two together with the postures.  It is not about who is the most bendy, supplest and who looks good.  You focus on you and where you are at the moment.  Postures come alive with that focus on energy, breath and alignment.  What is interesting is that as you develop practice then this practice informs and changes your life.  You become present and aware of self and your surroundings.  You certainly become more in tune with people and resonate an awareness back.

So now we come to running and the development of this point in your running practice.  This though is my first point. Your running practice, not competing, not completing just the process of running.  Chi running does focus on form and the meaning of that in your running in terms of the biomechanics and efficiency however it also clearly stresses identifying clear signposts in your body to align and focus on.  Hence it equates in my eyes  as a yoga posture with clear benefits equal to yoga.  Either way minimalist running insists that you must attend and be attentive to your form and feet.  You are more in tune with the environment and as a result more mindful and thoughtful.

Approaching running  as a practice I have found that I naturally run more.  In terms of training terms I have increased my volume for  running but only as a natural consequence of form development and extending time spent running matched to aerobic improvement. This does parallel well with a yoga posture I know  and have finally come to terms with.  'Dog with head down' is, in yoga terms, a resting posture. When I first met this I could hardly keep the form for a minute!  It was so tiring and stressful. Now 15 years in, yes it is a resting posture, I understand the form and my body has conditioned itself to focus on the key elements that bring the posture together.  So there is the parallel with focusing on your form as a runner.  Fluency develops with time and provided you have the correct signposts at your disposal then your practice develops at the correct rate for you. 

The best effect of form running is that this does influence you outside of your running time. As you become more aware of your body and it's responsiveness to different environments   You become more acutely aware of your inner you (breathing) and how you respond and engage with the outer you(improved relationships, calmer, focused, steady, time for people) .

A lot to take in and I suppose it again may challenge some.  Finally if people were more mindful, compassionate and understanding would we be in this mess now?  It is such a shame but I have not heard those words being used in the very senior debate that world leaders are having re the world and it's economy. Perhaps they should run?
 

Lifelong fitness requires personal acceptance of different phrases, like: use it or lose it – just keep moving – or, you’re only as old as you act.

Lifelong fitness is a realistic goal, as long as you keep moving while you age. In this blog, I’d like to explore a couple of very do-able approaches to physical activity that will certainly enhance one’s health and fitness and can be done at all ages: Chi Walking and Chi Walk-Run.

Before I say a few things about Chi Walking and Chi Walk-Run, I’d like to mention an interesting AARP pamphlet I read recently which was extolling the health benefits of walking including a clever 1913 quotation by George Trevelyan: “I have two doctors, my left leg and my right leg” - in other words “get up and walk” (and maybe you won’t even need a doctor!). I was also interested to see reference to a new National Institute on Aging “get off your duff” campaign called “Go4Life”. Clearly, these days there is more and more attention and interest in keeping older adults active and fit – and repeatedly, walking is seen as the best way to do so.

So, how do Chi Walking and Chi Walk-Run fit in the lifelong fitness equation? In my view, they are absolutely center stage and invaluable in terms of what these pioneering approaches can offer to help create a healthy and fit aging process. As we know, running, and even walking, can lead to injuries and can become difficult to do, especially for older adults. Chi Walking, Chi Running, and the new, integrated form called Chi Walk-Run move walking and running to new levels of effortless and injury-free movement. They share key ingredients derived from Tai Chi having to do with alignment with nature, core strength and energy efficiency, all of which lead to an easier and lighter form of movement.

As one enters “older age”, Chi Walking and Chi Walk-Run may become the recreational and fitness workout activities of choice. The former may be the primary approach to aerobic and cardio fitness with its steady, one-foot-on-the-ground approach but the latter can offer variety and the intermittent increased intensity that comes with running even if the running is not much faster than the walking. As outlined in Danny Dreyer’s recent article about health, fitness and the heart, aerobic activity is the first priority in one’s fitness workouts with periodic cardio activity an important complement to it. Chi Walking and Chi Walk-Run offer opportunities for both aerobic and cardio exercise.

My personal experience as I have walked and run through 6 plus decades of “the ages” leaves me committed to and optimistic about continuing to do so for the rest of my life. Over the past eight years as I have become a Chi Runner, Chi Walker and now a Chi Walk-Runner, I am even more convinced that I can meet my personal goal of lifelong fitness. I intend to keep moving and do so with nature (gravity), ease and injury-free as I continue to move through the ages. Check out Chi Walking and Chi Walk-Run and give them a try. They sure are working for me!

A few years later, after establishing my Chi Running practice, I returned to pool running to keep an injured friend company. One night another friend showed up, hopped in without a belt, and began running. In 12 feet of water. He chatted with me and ‘ran’ for almost an hour. Inspired to give it a go sans belt, I took mine off - and started to sink. Then I started thinking in terms of my posture, Needle in Cotton, and getting more aligned and relaxed. This was something the belt was supposed to do for me, but now that crutch was gone (does this sound like something you’ve heard regarding overly structured shoes?). As I engaged my core, all the way down from my pelvic floor, the water level moved to about my collarbone and I could talk, laugh and sing without fear of taking in water!

Chi focuses are really helpful in being able to run without a belt, and work on core engagement at the same time. Here is a quick recap of one of my deep water pool running sessions, using my focuses. I start off easy (think: first gear), allowing my body to find its way in the water. I feel my column, and think about ‘sitting up in my chair’ and reaching for the sky with the crown of my head. As I begin to feel the water and get more comfortable, I add a very slight lean, feeling one long column from my feet to my ears. When I do this, speed happens, even if a little! I play with this back and forth. For a reality check, occasionally I relax my core (making sure I’m ready to go underwater!). As I start to sink, just realigning my column and engaging my core brings me back up.

Another focus to check is how much I’m depending on my arms to keep me afloat, versus my core. I allow my arms to float a little, and check in with my alignment, and if I sink, that’s a sign I’m over-using my arms, and not engaging my core enough. I also drop my shoulders away from my ears, just like on land, to keep the shoulders relaxed. The pelvic rotation is fun to feel in the water, and fairly easy to feel happening from the T12-L1 pivot point. Partly that’s because in swimming, that’s where the moment of kick happens. Relaxing the low back (breathe into it) allows me to feel that even more.

Keeping the focuses going in pool running make the transition back to the road even easier. Practicing those focuses in the pool also alleviates the boredom and keeps me looking forward to the next session!  

I am a yogi first and a runner second, I happen to be a chi running instructor ,  Iyengar yoga student with 15 years experience and a keen tour cyclist. I do 'stuff' to keep myself fit,mentally, as well as physically.  I have, thanks to my PE and Maths teaching background, a lot of 'coaching awards'.  So I understand about technique, drills and performance related targets.  They do work but I believe there is a missing element when one only approaches exercise in this manner.

Let me first explain why I practice yoga.   I will then briefly discuss how I changed my running programme to fit my overall well being philosophy. I  can only give signposts here but I have recommendations for further reading at the end of this article.

When I first began yoga it was three weeks after we lost our first daughter to tragic circumstances. A friend recommended the class and to be honest I needed something after two years of all consuming care, hospitals and the ultimate decision any parent would wish to avoid.  I was, in a sense, I believe ripe for re-scripting my views on exercise.  I should explain that in my twenties I was somewhat of an exercise junkie, long distance swims, cycling, weights etc were all consumed with a desire and perhaps even a narcissistic passion.

My time in the armed forces demanded competition and physical exertion. Put these two together and you have a description of me of old.  Attending yoga class for the first few times I focused on the territory I knew and could achieve.  That being 'who is the bendiest, who can keep the pose for longest'. I attended with a group of three other men; we certainly enjoyed it but again the desire for fitness was all consuming.

To cut a long story very short, yoga is not about exercise.  Yoga is about gaining an understanding that mind and body unite together through the asanas (poses) which are bonded by the breath ( the wind of the instrument).  Over the years I have learnt to be compassionate and generous in practice. To still my mind and focus on the now, the moment.  The outcome of yoga permeates life and as a result I have to come to terms with what mental and physical well being means.  The problem with yoga is that benefits are not immediately apparent ( western minds again). We demand immediate results, the now and do not pay attention to the process.  Yoga demands that we evolve in practice and grow mentally, becoming more resilient to what life can and does throw at us.  I am not sure a pure exercise regime does that.

Now we come  to running, as much as I love yoga I also love to run. The joy in simply being outside ( I stress here natural trails, beaches and mountains)is a real stimulus and gives further balance.

This was not always the case and even when practicing yoga I would run in a more muscle orientated manner.  This was fine to about mile 15 but bad form would take it's toll and I would collapse with foot injuries, Achilles strains or muscle pain.  What I did not realise but do now is that yoga is, of course, practised in bare feet.  We focus on strong feet being the initiator of a good line through your body including your core.  By strapping my feet to heavy trainers I lost my connection with my feet;my breath became ragged and I defaulted back to 'muscle man running'.

 Understanding that minimalist/barefoot running is not  a fad but about tuning into your environment in a more natural and instinctive manner.  For example, your body makes micro adjustments when you run barefoot in the sand. I get most of my chi running students to do this exercise on my local beach.  As a result of forming a running practice that focuses on good form ( chi running) then distance finally speed one recognises that fluency in running is achieved by practicing slowly, correctly and persistently this then is finally transformed to speed ( I must digress, Mozart is reputed to have said 'it is easier to play quickly and make mistakes, but is that music?).

Let me now share some thoughts from Shunryu Suzuki a Zen practitioner and master.  The book is recommended for reading among others at the end of this article.   I will take a few of his short article headers  and amplify the point through to what I think about when I run. it may be challenging for some of you to see running in this way.  I will be honest with you, it was for me but I had had enough of battling with time/speed and a former me that was no longer relevant.

BEGINNERS MIND
In Japan the word ‘shoshin’ means beginners mind.  Approaching your running in a beginners way every day means stripping bare all misconceptions, failures and successes.  Practicing means beginning again and focusing as you would as if you were learning fresh, from the beginning. Yes, learn from previous but do not cloud your mind in assumption  of knowing.

BREATHING
 Here I challenge you to observe every single breath when you run.  View your in breath as entering your inner world, the out breath as entering the outer world.  Thin long breaths through your nose work so much better than through the mouth, if you are gasping for breath and breathing hard then you are past your edge, slow down and breath long and thin.  when you observe your breath in this manner you are in tune with you, and interestingly tension in shoulders, legs and arms disappears.  Even if you get a few seconds of this feeling you will understand its potential.  Barefoot running or minimalist running heightens this sensation and, as I have found, my feet relax through this breath and I run quieter, more controlled and in tune with my surroundings.

NOTHING SPECIAL
Running is a simple practice, if you practice it everyday you will feel the power of attaining nothing special! The challenge here is to realise that yoga and running I believe give us humility in practice.  When I finish a run or complete yoga practice I do not feel the need to speak.  I am nothing.  Our lives seem to about attaining things, wealth or stuff.  Have you ever thought about attaining nothing. Run with no desire to attain.  If you find this difficult run at least once a week with no Garmin, no landmarks, just you and your breath and observe the effects.

Of course I could go on and I will not attempt to replace thousands years of philosophy but I would like to leave you with a sentence or two from Erich Schiffman about effort and practice.  

'The hall mark of practice is wholeness, wholeheartedness, not being in conflict.......it is not about pushing through the pain or overcoming pain, no pain no gain.  If you are having to be brave and courageous in order to stoically withstand excessive intensity you are pushing too hard, you are fighting.  Never fight yourself, yoga/running is not about fighting.  Intensify when appropriate. Practice skilfully.  The optimum degree of intensity is the amount that elicits your fullest attention.’  

I hope this article makes you reflect on what running and practising running can be about.  It may challenge a few of you but  I believe that is a good thing.  Below is a brief bibliography of books that I have read and placed in order of 'flow'.  Enjoy!

RUNNING BOOKS
Chi running 2009. Danny Dreyer
RUN: The mind-body method of running by feel. Matt Fitzgerald
The runners body. Ross Tucker and Jonathan Ducas

YOGA AND MINDFULNESS
Yoga the spirit and practice of moving into stillness. Erich Schiffman
Light on Yoga.  B K S Iyengar
Coming to our senses. Jon Kabat-Zinn
Buddhism without Beliefs.  Stephen Batchelor
The art of Happiness. HH Dalai Lama
Healing Anger:The power of patience form a Buddhist perspective HH Dalai Lama
Zen Mind, beginners mind. Shunryu Suzuki
 

When there is snow on the ground, or ice for that matter, Chi Running can still be a  very effective way to safely do your running workout. Having an aligned posture with your relaxed legs swinging behind you, and with your foot placement under your body definitely helps you to stay on your feet, no matter what the footing. There may be some Winter conditions, however, when even Chi Running might not be enough to comfortably deal with the snow, ice  and rain and that is where Chi Walk-Run comes into the picture. As a complement to Chi Running, Chi Walk-Run brings another level of stability into the picture by offering the runner the option of gearing down to a whole different mode of motion which, by its very nature, i.e., always having one foot in contact with the ground, provides another degree of stability on uncertain terrain.

I have found that switching to Chi Walking from Chi Running at certain times during Winter running can be invaluable. Obvious examples involve hills: for example, running down a slippery hill can be treacherous but with a quick adjustment to Chi Walking, I once again have solid footing and away I go. Likewise, when running up a hill, slippery footing is a common occurrence; switch to Chi Walking, and up I go. But even on level ground, I often switch back and forth from Chi Running to Chi Walking when Winter weather is a challenge. For me, having the safe and stable footing that Chi Walking provides me leads to more confident and relaxed movement.

As I described in an earlier Chi Walk-Run blog, the transition from walking to running and vice versa can be smooth and quick and that is true no matter what the weather. After checking your form and your surroundings  (self- monitoring and general awareness are key to effective Winter running and walking), and assuming you are Chi Running, it is a simple matter to switch to Chi Walking: just reduce your lean and your cadence slightly until you are into the Chi Walking form. When the footing so merits, a return to Chi Running merely requires a gradual increase in cadence and lean until you are Chi Running again. The only difference from running in more comfortable conditions is the increased importance of being aware of the weather and the conditions of your running terrain. Ice, snow or heavy rain? Dress for the Wintery weather then give Chi Walk-Run a try. You’re sure to survive it and enjoy it!

I have to admit, treadmill running is not my favorite. Regardless, I needed a good run. My day at the gym started on the treadmill with 2 miles of progressive pacing with treadmill angled at 1.5% grade. I watched my reflection in the TV screen (off) and followed my image to see if I was bouncing up and down, or swaying side to side. I tried to Body Sense what technique change made the biggest difference (pelvic rotation had a distinct effect on any bouncing). Another check-in I did was to look at a side-view mirror to see if both heels were coming up symmetrically (my left foot can be lazy and not float as high as the right). And, I tried to feel for the correct angle of slope on the conveyor belt that created the same tension on my achilles tendon as when I'm running on flat roads. I also spent some time practicing my pelvic rotation. Keep these Focuses in mind next time you’re forced to run on the treadmill.

Then, to the Spin bike. I raised the seat post to where my toes were just able to stay with the pedals and used the toe clip/straps so that I could pull up on the pedals. Then I did 1-minute heel-lifting drills at 90 rpm, using no downward pressure on the pedals (lifting only), followed by 30sec. of resting spin @90 rpm. Did 5 intervals (building up to ten would be suggested). Sat upright in the seat throughout the entire set of drills to allow the hip flexors to open up after contracting them on the pull-up. This is a great workout and perfect for triathletes wanting to practice T-2 from the bike to the run. Lifting on the pedals for the last 200 meters of the bike leg will prepare your body for the run by firing the hip flexors, relaxing the lower legs, and setting the cadence at 90 spm as you take off on your run.

After the bike, I went into an adjoining mirror-lined room and did 15 minutes of t'ai chi, which really brings my whole body into a sense of quiet unison.

Finally, I went to the pool and swam 20 laps working on the following focuses: relaxing my arms as I bring them forward and into the water; not initiating the pull stroke until my other hand enters the water. Lengthening my posture line and keeping the crown of my head pointing forward at all times. Relaxing my legs as much as possible and using them only minimally.

I came away feeling that wonderful sense of “pleasant fatigue” having had a very full-bodied workout. It felt so good, I’m thinking of trying to get one of these workouts in at least twice a week. As I get in better shape on the bike and the swim (my weak areas) I’ll be able to increase the intervals and/or the intensity. Who knows I might someday try a TRI!
 

People ask me all the time, “So, what does it feel like when you’re doing Chi Running?” That’s a fair enough question. So, what I tell them is…”I don’t feel a thing.” Here’s what I mean by that statement: I don’t feel my muscles working. I don’t feel the impact on my legs, knees and hips. I don’t feel myself overworking. I don’t feel myself getting out of breath. I don’t feel pain anywhere in my body. I don’t feel physical effort. Like I said… I don’t feel a thing.

So, if someone were to ask me, “So, what would your ideal shoe feel like?” I’d prefer an answer very similar to the previous question: I don’t feel any lumps or unevenness under my feet. I don’t feel any stiffness in the shoe. I don’t feel any restriction of movement and I don’t feel any irritation or hot spots. I don’t feel their weight. Basically, I want to feel like I don’t have any shoes on, except that I don't wince with every little rock and pebble I happen to step on. So, when I put on a pair of shoes, I don’t want to feel anything from the shoes. I want a shoe that allows my body the total freedom to be itself so I can actually feel how I feel when I’m running… not how the shoe wants me to feel.

The Stem shoe comes pretty darn close to meeting the high demands of my tender toes.

Toe box: I found the Stem shoes to have the perfect toe box. It’s a great shape and conforms well to my 4E foot, yet has plenty of adjustment for narrower feet. There’s plenty of room to spread my toes and they’re more flexible than 99% of all the shoes out there. The interior of the shoe is smooth and seamless … perfect for going with or without socks. I don’t feel any sense of binding or irritation anywhere on my foot … a huge plus for long distance running.

Sole: The Stem shoes have good traction and a very efficient lug pattern on the sole which allows the sole to have a multi-directional flexibility, just like your foot. I like the roundedness of the heal because it allows for a much softer footstrike when walking and a nice transition into a midfoot stance. The only drawback I see with the tread pattern is on trails, the independence of the lugs on the sole accentuates the feel of all the little lumps and bumps in the trail. I alleviated this by using an insert, which spread out the impact over a wider area and reduced the sharpness of landing on a pebble.

Uppers: The lacing system is excellent … couldn’t ask for better, and the ventilation is decent. The insides of the shoes tend to pick up debris because the ankle collar flares out as the shoe flexes and opens up the inside of the shoe to debris. The only other small drawback is that the side walls of the shoe’s sole are so low that water can get into the shoes very easily. I’m sure if there is a Stem trail shoe, a higher sidewall will be added.

Overall impression: Very comfortable and easy to run in. They’re great on smooth surfaces and one of my favorites for an every day kick-around shoe. Not one of my favorites for trail running because of the lack of a membrane to disperse the impact pressure of rocks and gravel. A certain amount of feeling the ground is good for proprioception, but these shoes seem to magnifying the sense of the ground. I prefer a little more cushioning than the basic shoes I have, so I use an insert.

Fabulous company to work with and excellent customer service. I’m thrilled to see someone take on the big box minimalist companies and make a shoe that does everything a Vibram does without making your feet and toes feel claustrophobic and everything a VivoBarefoot does without costing and arm and a leg.  

Except for the harder sessions, these runs are very slow but my heart rate has finally settled down and I can run without having to stop and walk occasionally to bring my heart rate down.  This is progress indeed and inspires me to keep going with the training.  I have had failed attempts with this kind of training in the past, losing patience and not sticking with it.  This time I am really enjoying it, I don’t know if it’s because my running technique continues to improve or I seem to be able to relax more while running.  I do know that this time, each run seems to get more and more enjoyable.  The slow pace has allowed me to truly listen to my body, to become more relaxed and to explore how relaxed I can get whether it be using nose breathing or making adjustments in my alignment.  Just generally looking for tension anywhere in my body and trying to let it go.

Stability is crucial to good Chi Running form. I sense that stability now with each foot strike. The less unnecessary movement that takes place through every stride the better. The more stable we are the less likely we are to get injured and to waste energy. Once we have that stability, and for some of us that can take a long time to achieve, we can further explore what the practise of Chi Running has to offer.

Happy New Year and happy running!

Michelle
 

On my first run of the year, I started with a walk down to the bike trail, and after feeling warmed up, I increased my cadence til I broke into a gentle run, settling into a cadence of 180. A few minutes into the run, I felt one very tiny niggle in my knee, so I slowed to a walk, checking my alignment during transition. As I walked, my main focus was on engaging my low abs, as if I was sitting up and taking notice. The 'sit up in your chair' exercise demonstrated in the Chi Walk-Run DVD helps to feel what this feels like. I also maintained a still upper body, allowing my arm swing to help stabilize it. When I transitioned into my run, the focus shifted more to a nice tall spine, as if a balloon were attached to the crown of my head. This focus helps keep me light on my feet as it provides a force in the opposite direction of my footfall.

I continued this back and forth transition between running and walking, listening very carefully to my body, and checking alignment. In some ways, it reminded me of doing a yoga pose once, then going back into it a little deeper, as the muscles warm up and become less tense. Each run period felt easier and the time lasted longer. At the end, my knee felt great and I felt like I got some quality movement in, following the law of gradual progress and resting in alignment. I'll continue to follow the Chi Walk-Run program and pay attention to my alignment throughout my day. I know my knee will thank me for that. Happy new year to you all! 

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you will feel that your body and mind are under attack, as the physical aspects of the disease and the treatment will challenge all of your internal and external resources. However, the Chi Living teachings can help you create an integrated mind/body connection that will promote healing. Chi Living is a holistic approach to life, and as such, it becomes absolutely essential to gaining and maintaining health after a cancer diagnosis. Staying active while remaining injury-free and providing your body with clean, balanced food will fuel your recovery. As you teach your mind and body to communicate, you will get to know your body intimately, learn how to effectively respond to its needs, and remain centered as your whole being works to regain its health.



Regular exercise improves cardiovascular function, benefits your immune function and improves your mental health. When you have been diagnosed with a cancer such as mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, it becomes even more imperative that you maintain a regular exercise regimen. Chi Walking and Chi Running are unique methods of movement that focus on proper form, injury prevention, and efficient breathing. Practicing these gentle fitness techniques can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle after your diagnosis, and will improve the functioning of your body as it works to fight the disease. Chi Walking and Chi Running focus on correct posture, a relaxed cadence and mindfulness of your body as you exercise. The concentrations on every aspect of your body as you walk or run is what sets this method of exercise apart.



Nutrition is another key component in your arsenal against cancer. The treatment (find out more at www.mesothelioma.com/treatment) for mesothelioma can rob your body of essential vitamins and nutrients. The tools for healthful nutrition include eating high-chi foods, which are natural and not processed. This nutritional approach focuses on organic fruits and vegetables, as well as legumes and lean meats. Eating foods that are pure and natural eliminates the preservatives and additives found in many food items in stores. When you eat unnecessary substances that your system can’t convert into energy, your body has to work hard to rid itself of them. By eliminating these substances from your diet, your body can function at its optimal capacity with little added effort.



Living mindfully is an aspect of Chi Living that is crucial to you after a diagnosis of cancer. It is easy to fall into despair and fear at this time and yet, the more centered you become, the more you are able to face this disease. The practice of living in the present and creating balance will help you to realize that although cancer hugely impacts your life, it is not who you are.