An exercise in caring

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer for Kiwi women and the third most prevalent cancer overall? A lot of us may know someone who has had breast cancer or we may have even had it ourselves. Most women get breast cancer over the age of 50 years, but younger women can get it too, and even some men.

Breast Cancer Support Tauranga was set up in 1991 to support those in the Tauranga community who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Their Support Workers have also been through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, so they’ve “been there, done that” when it comes to breast cancer and its challenges. These people understand what it’s like to receive the news of such a diagnosis, come to terms with what this means for them and their loved ones, but also how to move forward and to cope with the treatment and this “new normal” in their lives. They will never be the same again.

Breast Cancer Support also offers counselling, meals, oncology massages to help alleviate stress and also pilates. Pilates? Yes, pilates!

The Pilates Fix—at 12 Elizabeth Street in Tauranga—paid-it-forward some pilates classes for nine women who are coping with breast cancer. You see, pilates can help these sufferers rehabilitate and gain physical strength as they recover from their surgery and treatments. Pilates can also help them to be more aware of their bodies and to develop some camaraderie at the same time. It’s fun trying to do leg stretches and scissor kicks with others!

Corporate partner Spark Business Hub BOP helped The Pilates Fix in their bid to help meet the needs of cancer sufferers in the local community.

Pilates can’t fix cancer, but it can help to alleviate some of the physical and emotional issues that are often associated with it and are not often talked about.

If you get your pilates fix from The Pilates Fix, why not add a little to your subscription (even $1 to $2) so that they can continue to offer support to these people in need.

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