Breast Cancer Survivors Regain Movement, Energy and Self-Esteem

After her mother became a breast cancer survivor, Stephanie Wilkins became inspired to help other survivors. Becoming a breast cancer post-rehab exercise specialist through the Pink Ribbon progam has changed her life. "Survivors come to our studio to regain range of motion," says Wilkins, "and they walk out with more energy and self-esteem."

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Wilkins pilates studio, KayLynn Pilates in West Columbia, SC, is participating in Shape magazine's Pilates for Pink campaign. The program is raising funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which focuses on getting funds into the hands of researchers in the most expedient manner possible, often much more quickly than government agencies are able to fund these initiatives.

"We have so many clients that are already excited about this event and ready to participate and raise money for this breast cancer research," says Wilkins. Her mother, Vicki Beatty, is not only a breast cancer survivor, she is her partner and a Pilates trainer in her own right. Both mother and daughter have been afficiandos of the Pilates Method for years, and have will be opening a new, larger space on October 1^st.

Pilates, according to Beatty, is a form of exercise and rehabilitation created by Joseph H. Pilates in the early 1920s that targets the deep muscles of the abdomen and spine.

She tells how Pilates can help clients to

-Flatten and strengthen abs

- Lengthen and tone your muscles without adding bulk

- Increase flexibility

- Improve posture

- Improve mental concentration

- Breathe more efficiently

- Increase and enhance your energy

- Prevent injuryThe latest news in Breast Cancer Research, according to the BCRF

- New drugs are in development that cut off the blood supply to tumors, stopping tumor growth and preventing their spread, as well as drugs that cause tumors to disappear.

- We now know that exercise and weight control can delay the development of breast cancer, even in those most predisposed to the disease because of inherited abnormal BRCA genes.