Cinco Vidas

We’ve all heard about the power of belief—that what we believe to be true can have a huge impact on our lives and on our health. But how many of us actually take this to heart? Especially when we’re facing a disease like cancer, which feels so scary and powerful?

“Once, we believed that it was the ‘doctor’s job’ to help us get better,” says Whole Science writer Kerry Needs. “Now, research shows that we play a part in that too. Our belief, our attitude, determines the outcome of our health.”

What else but belief can explain the “placebo effect,” in which a sugar pill helps people get better? “In the health industry,” writes Connie Saindon, MA, MFCC, CTS, “studies showed that treatments later found to be misguided, worked 70-90% until they were no longer believed.” (more…)

If you’re a Star Trek fan and happened to watch The Next Generation shows, you may remember Lieutenant Worf, the Klingon warrior, practicing a series of slow, deliberate movements resembling those in a martial arts class. Of course, in the science fiction world it was some Klingon ritual he was doing, but in reality, it was based on the ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi.

Historically, Tai Chi Chuan (translated as “supreme ultimate fist”) was a form of self defense in which the practitioner neutralized his opponent’s use of force before applying a countering force of his own. Students learned how to efficiently transmit energy, relax the mind, and control the breath. Such skills translated into other areas of their lives, promoting health and well-being.
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“I tried rekei [sic] not to long again and it was amazing,” says survivor EMB. “Don’t know how it works, all I know is that I felt better.”

“I was given a Reiki session as a gift from a friend,” says survivor kfinnigan. “I was soooo amazed at the gal that did the session. She only knew that I had bc [breast cancer] and did her thing…she said after the session that she had to really dig and dig through my left shoulder area to clear the path there for balance and I told her that was my surgery side and all my lymph nodes were taken out. She said that explains it! I felt balanced and energized afterward.”

“I’m also a Reiki practitioner,” says Pbcc1, “and I can tell you it works. (more…)

The word “cancer” can bring up lots of other dark and unfriendly words. Fear, pain, struggle, exhaustion—these and more pop up in the minds of most people when they’re diagnosed.

Shanda Sumpter, founder of HeartCore Bootcamp, suggests a different word: gift.

Cancer, a gift?

“You’re not a victim no matter what has happened in your life,” says this clarity coach. “Whether you’ve had a divorce, suffered an injury, gotten cancer…anything that has come up in your space. (more…)