Breast Cancer Recovery: The Pink Ribbon Program™

By Nancy Bright

Pilates is empowering. Especially for those recovering from breast cancer surgery.

That’s why we offer the Pink Ribbon Program™, a post-operative workout enhancing recovery. Created by Doreen Puglisi, M.S., a breast cancer survivor and exercise physiologist and educator, the Pink Ribbon Program helps you regain your strength and mobility, enhances energy levels and alleviates fatigue, and improves self-confidence and control.

Our Pink Ribbon Program Breast Cancer Exercise Specialists understand the physical and emotional challenges you face, and we want to support you all the way. So, whether you’ve had a lumpectomy and radiation, a partial mastectomy, or a total mastectomy combined with lymph node removal and reconstruction, chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy, we can help.

Recently, we sat down with Marjorie, a Studio BE Pilates enthusiast and breast cancer survivor. Here’s what Marjorie had to say about her experience with the Pink Ribbon Program.

NANCY: How did Pilates help you recover from Breast Cancer?

MAJORIE: I was lucky because I did not have much pain at all. I had no difficulty raising my arms above my head soon after my unilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. It was the rest of my body that was out of kilter mainly because of the limited ways I was moving and sleeping. I was not comfortable sleeping on my back as I was supposed to. My affected side arm felt so heavy. It was a shock to me how even the weight of a towel felt so heavy the first time I showered.

Yes, Pilates helped me get my arm movement back to normal but it also helped me get my whole body back in alignment. I had an instructor who knew my body. She knew so many ways to get to the same result so that I did not feel restricted in my exercise. There were so many variations and options!

NANCY: What do you mean by getting your body back into alignment?

MAJORIE: My posture was affected by my surgery as it was on one side of my body and Pilates is fabulous for improving your posture. Even a lumpectomy may cause you to go into misalignment.

NANCY: How soon were you able to return to Pilates?

MAJORIE: I came back as soon as my doctor released me for exercise. I think it was six weeks. My Pilates instructor had informed me before my surgery that I should come back to see her as soon as the doctor allowed. This was really important to my recovery. It was critical to move gently before scar tissue tightened.

NANCY: Beside the physical benefits, were there any other aspects of returning to Pilates that were helpful to your recovery?

MAJORIE: The emotional support that I got from everyone at Studio BE was huge for me. I felt a strong sense of community, both from the instructors and other clients. When I came back to the studio, it felt like going home. People noticed that I was gone and even if they didn’t know my story, they welcomed me back. That was really priceless.

NANCY: Do you have anything else you want to share about your experience?

MAJORIE: Yes, I know my experience is not going to be like anyone else’s experience. For me, it was more about the pulling sensation across the chest, so I was really interested in stretching not necessarily building muscle. Again, I go back to the feeling of being misaligned because only one breast was removed and reconstructed. Pilates helped me feel more even.

Pilates instructors are a very compassionate bunch, but going through the Pink Ribbon Program really amped up my compassion for breast cancer patients. Beyond the physical benefits of Pilates, there are the equally powerful aspects of instilling confidence and inspiring hope. Joe Pilates understood this mind and body relationship. We are really fortunate to be able to pass it along to all who can benefit.