Feel Good: Surviving Cancer with Yoga

Plus: The return of jump rope

When Wendy Campbell got a clean bill of health after her battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, she found peace in a familiar practice: yoga. Previously, she turned to yoga for the physical challenge. Post-cancer, she found the emotional stability it brought to be even more valuable. “Yoga was my saving grace,” she says. She started Survive & Thrive earlier this year to help cancer survivors find spiritual and emotional strength. Through the nonprofit, she teaches weekly yoga sessions. And now, she is presenting the inaugural Pathways to Wellness event, featuring speakers and yoga/meditation sessions. The free event will be held Oct. 28 at the Hilton Naples and is open to anyone. For more information, click here.

A flu vaccine without a shot

just the thought of a needle piercing your skin is enough to send chills up your spine. It’s actually enough for some people to avoid getting a flu shot. Thankfully, we may soon see a day when even the most needle-averse can get the vaccine. Researchers from Emory University recently participated in a clinical trial for a vaccine patch. The patch itself is about the size of a dime and contains microscopic needles that deliver the vaccine. Actually, don’t think of them as needles because you won’t really feel them and will get only a little redness or itchiness afterward. The vaccine transmitted via patch was just as effective as a shot, according to the research. More tests need to be done, but soon enough, a flu shot may be as easy as applying a Band-Aid.

Jump rope is back

And you thought your days of double Dutch were done. Jump rope is making a bit of a comeback, as new products like the Crossrope (pictured), with its weighted handles and thick cord, hit the market. But it’s more than just hype. Jump rope has always been a solid staple of a workout. It’s one of the few exercises that synchronizes both upper and lower body and trains the mind as well. A recent study in the Journal of Sports Science Medicine found that youth soccer players who also jumped rope ended up developing better motor skills and balance than those who just practiced their footwork. So, dig into that old box of toys—it’s time to get nostalgic in the name of fitness.

Confused about eating well? Aren’t we all

According to the International Food Information Council Foundation’s annual survey, nearly 80 percent of Americans reported receiving conflicting advice about how to have a healthy diet.

Rest: It does a body good

"No pain, no gain” really is a misnomer. Rest is essential to get in tip-top shape. Your muscles need time to relax to recover and ultimately grow stronger. “Exercise is only effective if you have adequate rest,” says Fort Myers fitness trainer Angie Ferguson. New research is coming out showing just how you relax could have an effect on your workouts. A study in Journal of Cognitive Enhancement found that among college athletes, those who meditated ended up being more focused during high-intensity exercise and felt less anxiety about it beforehand than those who didn’t practice any sort of relaxation technique.

Slow dementia with these steps

Cases of dementia are predicted to triple by 2050. But that doesn’t have to be a foregone conclusion. A new report presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference over the summer projected that about one-third of dementia cases could be avoided by making adjustments to lifestyle. The report identified several factors that contribute to the disease, including hypertension, hearing loss, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, social isolation and diabetes. Lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to stop dementia, researchers say, but combined with new medications, they could go a long way toward slowing its prevalence.

Make yourself happy by making others happy

Turns out it truly is better to give than to receive. Researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland conducted an experiment where they told 50 people that they’d receive $100 as a gift. Then, they told half to spend the money on themselves and the other half to give it to a friend. Those who were in the generous group reported being more satisfied with their instructions—and brain scans showed activity in areas generally associated with altruism and happiness. Keep in mind, they weren’t given the money yet; just thinking about being generous was enough to boost their mood.