22-May-2011

An Ounce of Prevention

Healthy Breast Care

Along with pink ribbons, walks for breast cancer awareness and advances in research, another important aspect of women's breast health is the growing awareness of maintaining good breast health. There’s a lot you can do to support your body, mind and spirit for healthy breasts.

Besides cultivating a positive attitude and eating a healthy plant-based diet, one of the best ways to support breast health is to activate the lymphatic system. The lymph system moves excess fluid and potentially harmful materials out of the body’s tissues and cells. Two important keys to lymph health are movement and breath. Lymphatic flow depends on muscle contraction to massage the outside of the lymphatic vessels, so exercise is vital. Deep breathing serves as the “pump” for moving and cleansing the lymph in your body, just as the heart keeps the blood circulating.

Try these 10 tips for maintaining healthy breasts:

• Daily deep breathing and breath of fire. Yoga/exercise (see attached list of yoga for lymph care).
• Massage breasts and armpit area and dry brush massage from feet upward.
• Take cold showers with massage or alternate hot and cold showers.
• Use a rebounder to jump, jog, dance and move your arms.
• Eat organic and plant-based foods, including broccoli and cauliflower.
• Avoid products with pesticides, aluminum and environmental toxins.
• Wear unrestrictive bras and avoid under underwires (have some bra-less time each day).
• Meditate for emotional balance and positive attitude toward self and others.

Healthy breast care begins with a healthy lymphatic system. Your attitude also counts for a lot—finding the good in your life as often as you can infuses energy into every cell!

Shakta Kaur Khalsa
Kundalini Yoga Instructor and Author
Creator, Women’s Yoga and Wellness (DVD)

Healthy Breast Yoga (PDF) (272 KB)

Recommended Read: Yoga for Women by Shakta Kaur Khalsa