Guest Blogger: Liz Davies

I received a request to post on my blog about exercise for cancer patients. I thought it appropriate that this young woman, Liz Davies who is  a recent college graduate and is deeply committed to the idea that exercise is a vital component to those stricken with cancer. I think she nails it here and I hope you agree.  

Fitness Inspiration for Cancer Patients

Those who have cancer may feel like the treatments are more draining than the disease itself. These can sap their energy, making them feel weak and tired all of the time. They may even feel nauseous and sick. This is not the way that they want to live, and they will be glad to know that it is not the way that they have to live. Something that many people do not realize is that exercise can really help them to overcome these feelings. It can help them to regain their strength and to feel better. This is true for all types of cancer including breast cancer, lung cancer and even rare forms like epithelial mesothelioma.

Increased Strength

First of all, exercise can help them by increasing their muscle mass and making them physically stronger. The body will be weak already, so this strength can help them to feel like they are able to be more active. They will be able to do more things, showing them that their life can still be as fulfilling as they desire. 

Better Blood-Flow and a Higher Heart Rate

Any exercise gets the heart working. This helps to prevent blood clots and other such problems. The rising heart rate can also make them feel less lethargic. This is one of the reasons that cancer patients have been shown to have a lower risk of a reoccurrence of cancer if they are exercising frequently.

An Improved Outlook

Exercise can just help people to feel better in an emotional sense. They will be more awake and alert. This will improve their mood. It can also help them to connect with those around them. 

The Best Exercises

Some exercises are ideal for cancer survivors. One such exercise is simply stretching. Increased flexibility helps with blood flow and allows more exercises to be possible. Resistance training with weights or machines is also a good idea since patients will have often lose muscle mass during their treatment. They could also have gained fat, and having larger muscles will help them to burn it off. As they start to feel better, aerobic exercises such as walking or swimming are encouraged. These can also help to reduce fat. 

How to Stay Motivated

When someone is not feeling well, it can be hard for them to want to do anything, let alone work out. They need to keep the positives in mind so that they can be encouraged to continue working out. They need to set goals for themselves. Even small goals, such as walking for a mile, can be helpful. Furthermore, they could reward themselves when they accomplish certain things. Maybe they have been denying themselves deserts. When they have reached a certain exercise goal, they could allow themselves to have a dessert that they love. They should also think of exercise as a way of showing cancer that it cannot rule their life.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.

Cycle for Survival and Island Harvest

Tripper wanted me to make note that the reason he missed the 12:15 yesterday was because of a mandatory meeting for Cycle For Survival.  He never misses class this we know and others and I just assumed it was for something important not that he was shirking his position as Spin Instructor par extraordinaire.  

He did tell me that there are still 110 bikes open and that he is taking on a yeoman like effort to get each of those bikes filled with riders for the February 4th 2012 edition of Cycle for Survival.  We know that he can do it and I ask you on his behalf to help him in making next years event even more successful than 2011.  

There is more however. Tripp is determined to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars  for Island Harvest in time for Thanksgiving  and when I sit down with him I will get into more detail about what we can do beside our own donations for making that a stunning success as well.  

See you tomorrow in the Lavender Palace. Please share your comments. 

Hayley's Comet

A bit of a surprise today greeted some of the Tripp aficionado’s for the Wednesday 12:15. Tripp was not teaching today. Hey what’s the deal? No Tripper?  Since I had already taken the hugely challenging KSC 8:30 I was not exactly upset that I wasn’t taking a second class as originally planned. But as I spied my friend DJ approaching the front desk I said why not? I figured I would just take it easy and not get too caught up in the vortex, as is my wont.  

Hayley was so polite and thanked us for taking the class in spite of the fact that she was a “sub”. We as creatures of habit are a bit spoiled when our routine is changed especially when our beloved Mr. Doherty’s who never misses a class was not present.  We were here so I told myself let’s do it. And do it we did!

Hayley is taking over the vacated Saturday 8:00 AM and this being her first class at Woodbury it might have made some nervous but not this young lithe redhead who had an excellent call and a great command of not only our attention but brought out an effort I was not expecting and she did it with authority not easy for a newbie to pull off. I liked her and she will be another welcome addition to the Galaxy of Kristen James stars.  As I looked at DJ she was duly impressed as well and applause broke out among us. I was genuinely pleased but not surprised because KJ knows talent and yet another precious stone enters the treasure chest.  Thank you Hayley. 

Prattsville

Inland areas of New York and Vermont saw some of the worst flooding in decades at the hands of hurricane Irene.  A small town in the Catskills called Prattsville where just over 300 homes were mostly underwater is depicted here.  

Tripper and Janene and company captured some images of the devastation, which are heart rendering and almost surreal to witness. The members of Equinox contributed some much-needed provisions to this little hamlet.  Janene Cangro also furnished us with one of natures wonders as well as you will see above. 

The Funhouse

Just before spin class today I was in a jocular mood (something that has escaped my demeanor of late) and I told Nancy Kaplan (God she is so damn nice) that I had amoebic dysentery. Instinctively because Nancy’s husband is a genius doctor I knew she would know what that term was. In fact she related that her hubby had treated one of his patients who had come back from Africa with a severe case of it.  Well I have to admit that I have not visited any developing or 3rd World Countries in the last fortnight and that my current gastro affliction did not occur anywhere else except in my own environs. I do know that it was the fastest way I lost 10 pounds except for running a marathon.  And this “dose” of whatever the hell I have has knocked my stamina for a loop. 

The iconic 8:30 is always a fun house atmosphere and this edition was nothing less.  I wish that I could bottle the energy that’s generated in the Lavender Palace and sell it in the Black Market I bet it would fetch a hefty premium.  Of course I am kidding but the intensity of emotion always lifts my spirits.  In the last week I have spent so much time at home in just one room that I started to think I should redecorate my bathroom. 

The Bonfire Ride on Thursday is sold out and John at Image Cycling wants to thank you for your support.  

P.S.

On Thursday night starting at 7 until 9 we say "goodbye" to our beloved GM Peter Rothermel. The proceedings take place at "516".

P.P.S.

Optical Image in Plainview run by our friends Heather Featherr and Cheryl Israeloff are my new Opticians. Cheryl is a Dr. of Optometry don't you know. So when you see her in the hall a little deference please.  And what else can be said about Heather one fine Optician.  

You Give Me Fever

After missing Wednesday and Friday this week I am down on my energy supply.  I missed my vitamin-Tripper  and only a fever and chills kept me off my Schwinn.  Ever get the chills? On Wednesday night I had two blankets, socks, sweatpants and a sweatshirt on and every time I had a visit outside the confines of my luxurious bed I shivered right to the bone. Do you really care about this nonsense? Some do but I will be back aboard on Tuesday with a fever this time in my pedal stroke and a voice not heard in a week.  

I miss you all and I was lucky to be asked to join Team Beam for the Cycle for Survival event this February.  (Part of me wishes it were tomorrow for my own personal reasons)  How about the Imagecycling ride on the 20th? I obviously missed last nights but I would like to join John around the campfire at the Planetarium.  Last time Tripper joined us. See you all soon.  

Our Bonfire

There is no way that the phenomenon of spin class with Tripper is happenstance, accident or coincidence. As time passes and his legend grows we know that these things are born and bred and do not fly in on a wing and prayer. Although there is much prayer I suspect that goes on silently within these walls no one would believe that a spirituality  in an exercise class is possible but nonetheless it does exist.   We are family and as I watched Lisa in the front row mouthing words to a song out of the past this morning, I knew instinctively the chord that Doherty reaches is deeply embedded in our solar plexus.

The 8:30 will always have that iconic sense to it ever since the tambourine session back in early spring.  Now it has grown into a hot ticket where there is only one other instructor that could fill the CS in that time slot and we all know who that is.  And as great as she is this is something completely different. I won’t say it’s better I will just say it’s different. Those that have only taken one class here and claim to know all about it I feel sorry for because they don’t know what they’re missing.  I as you know am an ardent fan of both and there’s no way I could do one without the other.  Unless of course I had to and that answer will always be in my head and not in print. 

Spin Notes:

John Hinrichsen who held an imagecycling event for AIDS also back in the spring has an event on the 20th of the month outside the Planetarium around a huge bonfire. Some of you enjoyed the class under the roof of stars as John played thematic music to a wonderful motivational ride. DJ said it was as if you couldn’t perceive John moving from the saddle to position 3 he was so smooth. I have the link here just in case anyone might be interested. A class around the fire might be much more interesting than roasting marshmallows.  There is also a ride on the 13th just in case you can get there on short notice.  

Image Cycling Home: http://www.imagecycling.co

Singular in Nature

Now a word or two about Thursday night. As I was telling Tripp today the ties that bind  us in this tightly knit group are truly singular in nature. But what does that mean? Well the word singular denotes superiority, exceptional artistry and unusual. All three are innate characteristics of Tripp the man and the energy and feeling he blankets all of us with.  Singular is also separate as singular in nature. Hard to duplicate and most often not fully understood or grasped because words do not give it the texture of the emotion that is generated being in the setting with him whether it is in the Lavender Palace or in a restaurant like the Metropolitan Bistro this past Thursday. This writer felt equally at home with my spin mates in street clothes (The women looked fabulous) as I do in my Schwinn. 

Never one to compare this gathering to the ones we have experienced with an official Equinox theme but this night was empty of holding one’s breath as to what face we presented to one another. We didn’t have to dress to impress rather we just had to be our authentic self regardless of what we wore.  Our hearts were open and that breeds a deeper sense of belonging to something truly singular in nature.  I feel so lucky to have been apart of Tripp’s growth and human development in this venue of his life.  We his most intimate friends have no doubt given him the strength he naturally possesses that he shares with us every day.  It truly is not just an exercise class where we have fun it is a relationship we have woven through sweat, tears and the biggest smiles in the universe.   

We Are Family

Fellow Trippers let’s all meet at the Metropolitan Bistro on 39 Roslyn Avenue in Sea Cliff this Thursday @ 6 PM.  Let’s exchange stories of inspiration and triumph and just share a good time with all of us in street clothes. 

 Here is the link if you need to know more. http://www.restaurant.com/rdc/metropolitan-bistro-sea-cliff-american-restaurant-rid=396903

One of my wheels came off in the 8:30, as I had to pull off the tarmac due to this gripping asthma that has virtually crippled me and some of you as well I imagine.  And bad timing for me too because the music was so eclectic and so damn good this morning. I watched several of you mouthing the words to Boogie Oogie Oogie by A Taste of Honey. Can you believe that was a top tune in 1978? I won’t give you away don’t worry but I loved hearing this song again. 

The energy just runs high here and where can you go where members want to embrace each other just to show their camaraderie and how we have grown to feel this close. Remember that song by Sister Sledge; We are family? Are they really that close? I think so! The bonds we have formed are hardly imaginable anywhere else.  I know I have said this many times before and as time goes by the intimacy grows.