Eleven people, nine standing and two seated in metal folding chairs, laugh and lightly talk as they dip wands into bottles to blow bubbles. A casual observer, naturally, might shake his head wondering what these men and women, ranging in age from forty-something to eighty-something, are doing inside a building blowing bubbles at ten o’clock in the morning! The participants know that they are deep breathing as they inhale to blow as many bubbles as possible out of their wands.

As they try to outdo each other with bigger and better bubbles, they thrive on the camaraderie and laughter of the class. And through this, they are healing from surgery or illness and focused on coping with chronic illness, grief, or depression. They are enjoying the first activity in a fun-filled, hour-long class in The Lebed Method of Exercise and Movement.

The Lebed Method Focus on Healing Program is a unique system of movement co-developed in 1980 by Sherry Lebed Davis, former professional dancer, and her two surgeon brothers with the goal to help their mother not just survive but thrive after breast cancer.

Unlike traditional exercise programs, the Lebed Method is structured on accepted therapeutic basics. It helps participants develop long-term, lifestyle-changing physiotherapeutic skills to cope with individual alterations in body functions or capabilities. Individual alterations could stem from removal of muscle or lymph nodes during surgery, injury from accident, restriction from scar tissue, or disabling aspects of chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia, arthritis or chronic fatigue.

A key focus of Lebed is its assistance for the lymphatic system, which supports and enhances the function of the immune system, so essential to vital health. The lymphatic system, one of the largest in the body, is often impaired through surgery or treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. For many cancer survivors who have endured traumatic procedures to the stage of recovery or remission, their sudden development of lymphedema is all too often “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” The Lebed Method leads participants through movements specifically designed in particular order to stimulate the optimum flow of the lymphatic system and the reduction of lymphedema.

In addition to the emphasis on the lymph system, the Method employs both basic passive and progressive active movements using the entire body to improve range of motion, circulation, musculature, core strength, balance, energy, coordination, reduction of scar restriction and weight stabilization. Participants are encouraged to work at individual levels of strength and flexibility without pain in any recovering or compromised part of the body. Chairs are used at times as part of the exercises and are always available for participants to use as they need.

Currently, the Lebed Method has been adopted in over 400 hospitals in America, has become an international program, and is recognized by the National Lymphedema Foundation and many national cancer organizations.

The program stands validated by research on its design and benefits, such as that conducted by the University of Connecticut (published in Cancer Nursing, September, 2005). An early article on movement in the management of breast cancer, co-authored by Sherry Lebed Davis, appeared in Physical Therapy (Volume 66, No. 6, June 1986).

Sherry Lebed Davis travels throughout the United States to conduct much of the teacher training for the Lebed Method herself. She continually provides updated materials for teachers and requires continued training for renewal of certifications.

THE LEBED METHOD UPPER BODY WARM-UP
The lymphatics are moved by inertia rather than by a pumping action like that of the circulatory system. A large portion of the lymphatic network lies above the muscles and just beneath the skin. In the Lebed Method, the movement of muscles helps to open major lymphatic collecting sites and propels them to be free flowing. Once the collecting sites have been opened, increased muscle activity in a slow, smooth, rhythmic manner moves more lymph. Deep breath opens the thoracic duct, the largest lymphatic collecting site in the body, located behind the lungs. Then, gentle head movements stretch and release the skin on the right and left sides of the neck, which allows these two major collecting sites to drain. Slow, gentle arm movements release, open, and propel lymph in the large collecting area of the axilla, or armpits. And, side stretches move the skin over the ribs, opening draining sites within the thorax.

To begin to open your lymphatic system, try the first several movements of the Lebed Method class opening exercises. To allow for maximum effect, do them slowly and in the sequence presented.

1. Take four deep inhalations and exhalations. Drop the chin to the chest on the exhalation and return to neutral on the inhalation. Tilt the right ear toward the right shoulder on the exhalation (keep the shoulder down) and return on the inhalation. Repeat on the left side. Turn the head to the right to look over the right shoulder on the exhalation and return to center on the inhalation. Repeat on the left side. Repeat all four times.

2. Inhale while raising both shoulders to the ears and exhale while rolling both shoulders down toward the hips. Do four times.

3. Place the right hand on the right shoulder and the left hand on the left shoulder. Moving in a circular pattern, inhale while rotating the elbows forward and upward toward the ceiling (feel the opening in the arm pits) and exhale while rotating the elbows out to the sides, down and around to starting position. Do four times.

4. Raise both arms from below the waist to above the head, stretching side muscles on the inhalation. Lower both arms by spreading them to the sides and pressing down through the palms on the exhalation. Do this action four times. On the fourth rise of the arms, clasps the hands together and invert the palms to the ceiling. Then, exhale, tilting to the right, inhale back to center, exhale tilting to the left, and inhale back to the center. Lower both arms on the exhalation.

Kathleen Wallace is a certified Lebed Method teacher and certified Integrative Yoga Therapy teacher, approved by Yoga Alliance. With degrees in Communication and Education and work in theatre and movement, she has taught at all levels in public and private education and used yoga and dance movement to help her thrive during and after breast cancer. She offers classes in the Lebed Method in Henderonsville, NC; to register or for more information, phone 828-577-0721.

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