PALATINE – Wellness Place Cancer Resource and Support in Palatine has restructured its Community Spotlight Program Calendar, incorporating a new theme: “Eat, Breathe, Move.”
The Community Spotlight Programs are workshops and seminars offered free of charge to the public and are an integral part of Wellness Place’s mission to support those affected by cancer. The “Eat, Breathe, Move” theme is aimed at achieving and maintaining optimal health through the holistic treatment of mind, body and spirit.
“Research over the last decade has consistently shown that nutrition, stress reduction and consistent physical activity not only aid in the successful treatment of cancer and other illnesses but may actually help to prevent certain illnesses,” said Kathy Scortino, clinical director for Wellness Place. “As a center committed to supporting overall health, Wellness Place is adopting this new programming theme to best offer accessible, understandable, and usable ways to incorporate a holistic approach to health into our daily lives.”
Newly-appointed Wellness Place program manager Sandra Manley is heading up the task of developing and implementing this new set of support-based programs. “Wellness Place’s objective is to provide access to new ideas which empower our community, therefore aiding overall wellness,” Manley said. “The goal of Eat, Breathe, Move is to offer the latest information to cancer survivors to assist them in taking back control of their health.”
The 2013 "Eat, Breathe, Move" program calendar will include classes, workshops and seminars, each focusing on one of three categories: nutrition, stress reduction and physical activity. Programs that are categorized under the “Eat” element of the theme will stress nutritional information, including issues specific to cancer patients such as tools for battling nausea and updates from experienced oncology dietitians.
The “Breathe” category of programs will offer the latest information on stress management and meditative techniques, especially those resources that have been proven to help cancer patients. “We want people to be able to focus their energy on healing versus focusing on their stress,” Scortino said. “There are many opportunities this year for people to learn new skills and obtain better tools and resources to reduce the stress and anxiety that can come with diagnosis and treatment.”
Wellness Place will be collaborating with the Buehler YMCA in Palatine for the “Move” segment of upcoming programs. This segment is intended to motivate community members to incorporate healthy exercise into daily life. Research has shown that cancer survivors who exercise regularly have lower rates of depression and have a better outlook on the future.
“Even small changes can have an impact on quality of life,” Scortino said. “Our new Eat, Breathe, Move programs are designed to help individuals make those small changes and then continue to build on them.”
Wellness Place, 1619 W. Colonial Parkway, Palatine, offers professional support free of charge to individuals, families and caregivers affected by cancer. Programs and services help manage emotional and physical responses to treatment, sort through options and side effects, formulate questions for doctors, and communicate matters to family and employers. Specialized services are available for young children and teens.
Since 2010, Wellness Place has been providing services at the offices of North Shore Oncology in Crystal Lake, free of charge to people who have been diagnosed with cancer. On-site counseling services include distress screening, individual counseling and support group facilitation. Patients seen at this office are newly diagnosed or experiencing a cancer recurrence and have been identified by medical staff as being in high distress due to diagnosis and treatment.
For more information about the organization, visit www.wellnessplace.org or call 847- 221-2400.
