Reflections from Bennett Cancer Center's Survivor Day of Wellness

September 13, 2010

Sharyn Taymor, CT Challenge Survivorship Outreach

On Saturday, the Bennett Cancer Center hosted a free Day of Wellness at the Tully Health Center in Stamford.  The Connecticut Challenge sponsored the event.  It was a fantastic survivorship symposium for about 50 cancer survivors that included inspirational speakers and hands-on therapeutic techniques.

Antonio Sausys, Founder and Executive Director of Yoga for Health, the International Yoga Therapy Conference and an instructor and lecturer at U.C. Berkeley, California Institute of Integral Studies gave the keynote address.  The topic was based on the premise “The spirit can’t have cancer”, and focused on the body, mind, and spirit.

Lisa Shepard, Bennett’s dietician spoke about nutrition and “Feeding your Immunity” with some practical advice that survivors could immediately take action on, and Jinger Berry, the Director of the Health & Fitness Institute at Stamford Hospital, encouraged everyone to get up and move in her discussion about “Exercise and Wellness after Cancer”.

The remainder of the program was spent in breakout sessions featuring different modalities of complementary medicine.  First, I had reflexology on my ears and hands.  I walked into the session all pumped up after talking to many people about the work that the CT Challenge is doing.  I left 15 minutes later, all mellowed out and kind of loopy.

Next, I went to Antonio’s Yoga for Cancer Survivors.  The movements he took us through were energizing, uplifting and easy to do.  After some much-needed stretching, I had a 15-minute chair massage.  Pam, the masseuse, put me back into the loopy state as she tried to knead the knots out of my neck and shoulders.  Finally, Rita Trieger led an Aromatherapy Session with patchouli, lavender and other beautiful fragrances to promote physical and psychological well-being.

Many thanks to Fran Becker, Liz Manfredo, and Rita Trieger.  What a wonderful day!

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