Breast Cancer Wellness Programs
YWCA Encore Program Burlington & Hamilton A FREE exercise program designed for women who have experienced breast cancer, mastectomy, lumpectomy or breast reconstruction surgery at any time in their lives. Based around gentle floor and pool exercises and relaxation techniques that are safe, fun, and therapeutic. Anyone wishing to register for Encore should contact Anne Marie Collingwood at 905-522-9922 ext 158
or email: acollingwood@ywcahamilton.org
YWCA is also offering Pilates Beyond Breast Cancer & Aqua Motion Beyond Breast Cancer in Hamilton - Contact Anne Marie Collingwood to register.
Starting with a small group of Breast Cancer survivors, the Knot A Breast Dragon Boat Team was formed in April 1998, by Kathy Levy. The dragon boat team made its first entrance on the water at Hamilton's Macassa Bay Yacht Club that spring and has not looked back! Their Team Mission: To spread the message that women and men lead full and active lives after treatment for breast cancer, through public awareness, the media and paddling! The team meets to train indoors in the winter, and on the water in the summer. No experience necessary, and all ages welcome! The common thread that binds all members of the team is the diagnosis and subsequent treatment for breast cancer. For more information about how you can participate on their team visit their Website or Facebook page.
Wellness Programs for Breast, Ovarian & Gynecologic Cancers
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Aromatherapy Massage / Art Workshops / Coping Strategy Workshops / Music Therapy / Reflexology / Reiki / Restorative Yoga / Resistance Circuit Training Exercise Program / “Shared Experience” Outreach Program Socials / Therapeutic Touch
Programming is available FREE of CHARGE. The Wellness Outreach support program is open to individuals in the community living with ANY KIND OF CANCER (including Breast, Gynecologic or Ovarian) diagnosis and those who care for them. Local professional therapists volunteer their time and talents to make up the “therapy team.” Programs are offered FREE OF CHARGE. Registration is required for any programs you plan on attending. Contact the Wellness Program Coordinator at 905.631.9994 ext. 139 or wellness@thecarpenterhospice.com
Try a FREE Yoga Class!There are so many wonderful reasons anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship can benefit from adding yoga into their routine. These local yoga studios invite you to come try a class:
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| Click for The Yogashala Website |
Simply click this link - FREE Yoga Class Pass and print (or show it on your phone). Take your pass to The Yogashala Waterdown and enjoy! Located in old downtown Waterdown, their philosophy: to give you the inspiration to live a happier, healthier life; to give you the knowledge and guidance to help you with your transformation; to give you the motivation and encouragement to reach your destination. Yogashala Schedules and class descriptions are available on studio's website.
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| Click Be Yoga & Wellness Website |
Be Yoga & Wellness, located on the north east corner of Fairview and Walker’s Line, recommends the following classes to start with, depending on where you are in your cancer treatment journey: Healing through Yoga & Meditation, Gentle Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Flow and Restore, & Hot Yin Yoga. Please visit their website for full class descriptions and schedule. For your complimentary Yoga Class Pass, click here. In addition to classes, Be Yoga & Wellness is also here to assist with your healing by accessing their full team of onsite Wellness Practitioners. Appointments can be made both at the front desk or by calling the studio. The team offers the following healing services: Massage Therapy, Physiotherapy, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy, Manual Osteopathy, Naturopathic Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and Reiki - all of which can be very beneficial to your rehabilitation and recovery.
7th Wave Yoga on Brant, BurlingtonFREE One Class Pass
There is a theory that waves travel in sets and that every 7th Wave is the strongest. The “rogue” wave. Sailors often feared its strength, surfers embraced it, as it would carry them closer to shore when they reached exhaustion after a long day of surfing. Melinda, owner of 7th Wave Yoga on Brant, believes that life reflects the waves of the ocean…sometimes we are lifted and floating high on the wave, at other times we are knocked down by one, or a few waves at a time. At 7th Wave Yoga they are here to give you a beautiful welcoming space to regain, renew or grow your strength in body and in spirit. Yoga classes including Restorative, Gentle Yoga, Hatha and Vinyasa are geared to support and challenge you regardless what level you are at. Come to your mat, start where you are, take a deep breath and be ready to catch your 7th Wave. Visit their website for schedule & class descriptions.
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| Click for Shanti Yoga Studio Website |
Located in Hamilton, Shanti Studio offers Hatha Yoga classes which vary from gentle to moderate. Shanti promotes the benefits of yoga and that it can be practiced by everybody, no matter the age, fitness levels, individual conditions, or injuries. Simply print the FREE one week yoga pass, or show it on your phone, to begin trying any of the yoga classes offered at Shanti. The Shanti class schedule, and class descriptions are available on their website.
Jill Holden Personal Trainer / Pilates - Burlington
Jill specializes in rehabilitating clients after cancer surgery, including mastectomy with reconstruction, to help regain range of motion and strength. Pilates mat and reformer, yoga and personal training will assist in working towards wellness. (Services may be covered by private insurance) Contact Jill for further information.
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| Click for YWCA Hamilton Info |
The pass is being offered at the MacNab Street, Hamilton Women's Only location. This is a wonderful way to reintroduce yourself to self-paced exercise and get moving!! It's a program designed around fitting in 30 minutes of exercise a day. Simply call to register or get more information, and let them know you have your pass from The Cancer Kindness Initiative site! Pass is printable, or show on your phone when you get there.
MacWARRIORS - Exercise & Physiotherapy for Cancer Survivors
Located in Hamilton at the Physcial Activity Centre of Excellence in the Ivor Wynne Centre at McMaster University. Best evidence now recommends that people with cancer remain as physically active as their symptoms allow them to be. Research shows that exercise can improve physical function and quality of life, that it can combat the effects of cancer treatment, and that it may prevent recurrence of some types of cancer. The goal of MacWarriors is to support and empower participants and to maximize survivorship through exercise.
MacWarriors offers both physiotherapy services and supervised exercise sessions for cancer survivors. Prior to joining the group exercise sessions, a detailed intake assessment is performed by a Registered Physiotherapist to ensure safe and effective outcomes. Exercise prescriptions are then individualized based on each survivor’s diagnosis, treatment, and recovery status. Our physiotherapy service options also include individual treatment sessions, manual therapy, and exercise consultations.(All Physiotherapy services are reimbursable through extended health plans.)
For more information: email macwarriors@mcmaster.ca or call (905) 525-9140, ext. 27223
Located at the Les Chater YMCA this supervised exercise and education program is for people with any type of cancer at any stage. Whether you've been recently diagnosed, are in the middle of treatment or in remission, this exercise and education program can help improve your quality of life. CanWell is offered through a partnership between the YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. The program is set-up as a twelve-week program, although participants can continue in the program indefinitely as "Graduates". You will be supported by specially-trained YMCA staff. Hamilton Health Sciences provides an advance practice nurse onsite in a consultative role. Interested individuals must have clearance from a healthcare provider and will need to meet with a YMCA LiveWell Specialist before enrolling in the program.
Look Good Feel Better FREE Workshops
From skincare to creative ways to wear a scarf, this program believes that if a woman with cancer can be helped to look good, chances are she’ll feel better, her spirits will be lifted and she’ll be empowered to face her illness with greater confidence. We like to call it a 'makeover for the spirit'. To find a workshop click the links below.
Oakville
Hamilton
Located in Oakville - Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House is a beautiful, warm and welcoming facility that offers a variety of supportive care programs, at no cost, for cancer patients and their families. Located in the heart of Oakville, this Centre is part of a network of Wellspring centres that provide emotional, psychological, restorative and educational support programs and services.
Free Support Programs offered but not limited to:
Look Good, Feel Better for those receiving chemotherapy or radiation
Healing Journey
Advanced Cancer Support Group
Peer Support
Reiki
Returning to Work
Speaker Series: Sexuality and Cancer (Women Only)
Therapeutic Touch
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Yoga for Symptom Management
Located in Hamilton - Wellwood is a community-based, non-profit organization which provides information, programs and peer support to people who have received a diagnosis of cancer, loved ones, caregivers and healthcare providers.
FREE Wellness Programs offered: Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi
