Rami's Blog

Like the Yin-Yang, Eastern Martial Arts and Western medicine are two halves of a whole. My mission is to preserve the ancient mind-body tools and pass them on to you.

 

Breast Cancer Surgery: Preparation and Recovery

Fight breast cancer like Xena the Warrior! In this video, I show you two stretches that you can use to prepare for, and recover from, surgery for breast cancer. This is the first of our four breast cancer-beating videos for October. The theme throughout these videos will be opening up the shoulder girdle and chest area. If you haven't checked it out yet, take a look at my other video about preparing for upper body surgery, which has four more stretches you can do to help you prepare for and recover from a mastectomy, or other breast cancer surgery. And definitely don't forget my rule of 80% effort!

Breast Cancer Awareness Blogroll

October is breast cancer awareness month, and that means that a lot of pink is going to hit the shelves of stores, the socks of professional athletes, and more.

This kind of awareness is a good thing. When we pervade pop culture with reminders of breast cancer, it helps us understand the lives of those people who suffer from it, and how this disease is part of every day of their lives.

However, seeing pink is not the most important thing you can do for these breast cancer fighters. If you really want to help spread awareness of this terrible disease, you should listen to the people suffering from it, and take their experiences to heart. We all know what cancer is, but most of us do not know what it is like to live with it.

So, for you readers who want to know more, and those of you currently fighting breast cancer, here are 10 Breast Cancer Blogs (in no particular order) that can help you on your journey:

  • Living Beyond Breast Cancer - This is the website for a non-profit located based outside of Philadelphia (LBBC) committed to providing breast cancer fighters and their loved ones with reliable information and the writings of a team of bloggers.
  • Nancy's Point - Nancy Stordahl is an author, writer, and teacher who lost her mother to breast cancer, and was later diagnosed with it herself. Her blog is the best way to read her experience, but she has also contributed to a number of other websites and organizations. 
  • Darn Good Lemonade - Breast cancer fighter and professed "dog mom" Mandi writes about her experience making lemonade from the lemons life gave her.
  • Lisa Bonchek Adams - On her blog, Adams writes not only about living with metastatic breast cancer, but also about dealing with the grief of loss, as well as her experience raising a son with congenital abnormalities.
  • Dancing with Cancer - One of the longest stories about breast cancer surviving on the internet. Author, Jill, writes about breast cancer awareness, her original diagnosis in 1999, and the return and spread of her cancer in 2002.
  • Chemobrain...In The Fog - Ann Marie's blog is particularly relevant to people who have undergone chemotherapy and are experiencing abnormal side-effects. Ann tells the story of her life after being forced to give up her accounting job due to cognitive issues from the chemo, and her pursuit of volunteer opportunities after that.
  • IHATEBREASTCANCER - Katherine O'Brien, a B2B magazine editor, writes about her experience (and her mother's experience) with breast cancer. Her answer to the age-old health blogger question "Why are you doing this?" is a simple and resounding "Because I am here."
  • The Accidental Amazon - Kathi brings a much needed snark to the post-breast cancer life, and writes about being an "symmetry-challenged" artist, moving through life with a prosthesis and some long-term side-effects.
  • But Doctor... I Hate Pink! - Ann Silberman writes honestly about life with terminal cancer on this blog, and there just so happens to be a video about her and her family that you should go watch.
  • The Battle We Didn't Choose - I know I said these blogs weren't in a particular order, but I did save this blog for last for a reason. On this blog, Angelo Merendino chronicled his wife Jennifer's battle with breast cancer, a battle for him as well, which ended December 22, 2011, when Jennifer passed. Angelo's beautiful photography is truly stunning, and is a perfect example of the impact one person can have on raising awareness.

That's it! I hope everyone has a wonderful October!

How to Stretch Your Lower Back at the Office

Take a minute off of work and stretch out your lower back. Sitting all day can really do a number on your lumbar area, but this motion is perfect for loosening the grip of soft tissue, and only requires a chair and a table.

If you find yourself losing focus at work, go watch one of my Youtube videos and do a quick 5 minute stretch! You'll feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever work you need to do.

How to Commit to a Workout Routine

A body in motion tends to stay in motion. That couldn't be more true for our bodies! Regular exercise has been proven to maintain mobility and flexibility as you age. But, that old law of physics is also useful for talking about our ability to get things done: If you work hard all day, you are more likely to really tackle the next project you set for yourself, rather than give up.

Think about it this way: we have two mind-body states, excited/working hard, and calm/not working. Once you are in one, it is easy to stay in it. Switching between the two is hard.

Those of you who do Tai Chi or exercise every morning know this already. How much easier is focusing on your job after doing your morning routine?

Well, it works both ways. If you are struggling with committing to the exercise, not the work, then use your busy days at the job as motivation for your workouts. Don't plan workouts on days you don't have much to do. You'll have a much harder time getting off the couch. It's much more difficult to be motivated by the threat of worse health years in the future than by your boss firing you tomorrow. You'll try very hard at work, if you value your job, and that effort will carry over into completing your workout after.

Then, your "days off" can really be all about relaxation.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Mind-Body Workout #1: Explosive Speed

We're trying something new here at the blog, because a lot of people have been asking for workouts to do when they can't meet me in person or want to try mixing it up after doing the routines in my books, dvds, and courses. So for you guys who like variety in your mind-body health and fitness routines, I'll be posting a short workout plan once a month based on the exercises I have posted on the blog.

Feel free to choose the workout that's perfect for you, and stick to it, or switch routines every month to keep your mind and body sharp.

Routine #1

This first routine is for the weekend warriors and athletes who want that extra edge in their field. It builds muscle and increases strength, all with the goal of honing your speed and reflexes.

Do this routine four days a week, and make sure you get a good amount of sleep. If you want, you can augment this routine with a meditation exercise and some jogging on the off days to help you recuperate and build cardiovascular endurance.

Mind-Body Workout #1: Explosive Speed

Four days a week, do each of these five exercises:

1 Squats x 2 sets
First set: 30 reps with legs a little wider than shoulder width apart.
Second set: 30 reps with legs together (feet touching or less than 6in apart).

2 Weighted Forearm Rolls x 3 sets at a fast pace
First set: 3 rolls (up and down).
Second set: 5 rolls (up and down).
Third set: 3 rolls (up and down).
   
3 Reaction Training with a Partner: 2 sets each, building speed gradually as you practice.
First and Third sets: Your partner tries to touch you.
Second and Fourth sets: You try to touch your partner.
   
4 Squeeze the Orange x 4 sets of 10 reps
First set: arms in neutral position.
Second set: arms straight out to the sides.
Third set: arms held in front.
Fourth set: arms straight up.
   
5 Pick up the Coins x 5 sets with 10 coins, alternate hands (as fast as possible!)

Finally, on every other off day,
go for a jog for 20 minutes, and then do
3 minutes of Buddhist Breath, followed by
3 minutes of Taoist breath to build abdominal control and lung capacity.

Good luck!