Fox River Pilates Brings Breast Cancer Research Event to Illinois

Pilates studios across the nation are joining together to offer a new option in fundraising to find a cure and a prevention for breast cancer. The Fox River Pilates Center in Geneva, IL is hosting a local Pilates for Pink initiative this October, with funds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

"We've decided to participate in Pilates for Pink because the majority of our clients are women, and some of our clients are breast cancer survivors," says studio owner, Serena Smith. "We feel like this is a very prevalent issue in women's health and well-being and want to do our part to raise money for the research foundation."

The Pilate Method, according to Smith, is an exercise regime focusing on breath, de-compression of the joints, and strengthening the core to create a uniformly developed body. It's an intelligent form of exercise that is appropriate for everyone, and it encourages people to take responsibility and action for their health.

Linking intelligent exercise with a program to end breast cancer just makes sense. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which focuses on raising and deploying funds to researchers as quickly as possible, recommends four steps to preventing breast cancer:

1. Commit to an hour of exercise a day, 3-4 times per week. Higher intensity workouts do the most to lower high hormone levels that have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

2. Halt weight gain. Studies have shown that people who gain less weight as adults have a lower risk of breast cancer than those who have gained 55lbs or more since turning 18.

3. Quit smoking. Tobacco is a known carcinogen that promotes cancerous growth within the body. Enough said.

4. Breast feed. Nursing suppresses levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are thought to fuel the growth of breast cancer. Studies show that each additional month of breast feeding adds a protective to women's immune systems.