Relaxation Day is today! Who knew?!? What a great excuse to kick back, calm down and do something nice for yourself. When it comes to facing cancer and the process that comes with it, it can be easy to forget how to relax. Taking care of yourself and your needs, whether you are caring for someone with lung cancer or have it yourself, is incredibly important. While there is no one-size-fits all approach to relaxing, here are some tips that might help:

  • Try Healing Breath: The cancer process is likely to cause anxiety (you are not alone – this is normal). It is in these stressful moments that relaxation techniques like healing breath are incredibly useful. Here’s how it works: Sit down and put your chin to your chest. Breath out short, little burst 10 times. Then take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the lips, making an “Ah” sound as you exhale. Repeat this a couple times. Click here for a video demonstrating healing breath. (Source)
  • Get a Massage: Massage offers a caring, safe touch, as well as, pain relief, which generally produces a “relaxation response.” The relaxation response is a state in which your heart and breathing rate slow, your blood pressure goes down, your production of stress hormones decreases and your muscles relax. The relaxation response also seems to increase the available level of serotonin, which is a chemical in the body that positively affects emotions and thoughts. (Source)
  • Do Some Yoga: Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines that may help you achieve peacefulness of body and mind. This can help you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Yoga has many styles, forms and intensities. Hatha yoga, in particular, may be a good choice for stress management. Hatha is one of the most common styles of yoga, and beginners may like its slower pace and easier movements. (Source)
  • Go Outside: Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical well-being by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. So take a walk, go for a hike or just take a seat in your backyard! (Source)

If you have questions about lung cancer or what you are going through, please contact us at support@go2.org or 1-800-298-2436.