Exercises to Help Reduce Anxiety
Exercise can be a surprisingly effective way to reduce anxiety, and the research backs this up. The 2018 American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable reviewed a number of studies and found strong evidence that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and resistance exercise during and after cancer treatment reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms.
In this video Sami Mansfield, a certified cancer trainer and founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, demonstrates a series of exercises to help manage anxiety that are challenging, but not too difficult. The exercises are done in intervals, so you don’t have to worry about counting anything. And because Mansfield shows how to modify the movements, you can do these even if you’re not feeling well.
Sami Mansfield is an exercise oncology and lifestyle medicine consultant.
As the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, Sami has dedicated her career to empowering cancer survivors and clinicians through innovative, evidence-based programs that improve health outcomes while optimizing cost-efficiency. With diverse experience in clinical practice, research and consulting, she has pioneered sustainable wellness strategies that integrate AI, enhance accessibility, and bridge equity gaps.
Sami’s expertise extends across healthcare organizations, cancer centers, and policy-making initiatives. She is a contributing author to groundbreaking guidelines, including the ASCO Guidelines on Exercise, Nutrition, and Weight Management, and has helped shape numerous state cancer control plans. She is the current chair of the Cancer Member Interest Group for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, where she drives forward initiatives emphasizing the connection between science and implementation. Her patient-facing programs like BUILD and My Lifestyle Shift have reached global audiences, transforming lives through the pillars of lifestyle medicine.
An engaging speaker and prolific thought leader, Sami inspires audiences worldwide to embrace active lifestyles, highlighting the transformative power of exercise and lifestyle to thrive for not only her patients but her colleagues.
— Last updated on July 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
This content is made possible in part by Pfizer.