Online Mind-Body Programs & Webinars

For Patients, Caregivers and the Public

WEBINAR: Tending to Anxiety with Anne Pitman

The CHI's Gentle Practices to Understand and Ease the Intensity

A 3-hour introductory online webinar

Bring your lived experience of your anxiety to this lecture and learn gentle ways that may help you shift your physiological and psychological patterns of anxiety. The following is an overview of the structure for this 3-hour course. A brief break will be held halfway through the session.

Understand anxiety physiology and the intelligent ways how our bodies respond to threat or danger (even if it isn't present) and some of it’s effects on the body, mind and spirit.
Learn about the various approaches and resources that CHI practitioners use to acknowledge and calm the nervous system.
Sample research-informed breath, movement, mindfulness and meditation practices that you can access for short term (during panic attacks, hospital visits, treatments, etc.) and long term regulation, including the many benefits of social interaction.

Open to: ALL – patients and all members of the community
Presented by: Anne Pitman, M.Sc., EYRT-500, C-IAYT
When: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Where: Online with Zoom
Cost: $25 +HST

Guided Meditation for Troubled Times

These online guided meditation sessions, led by certified yoga therapist Lisa Paterson are provided to support participants reaching a space of calm and equanimity.

Open to: ALL – patients and all members of the community
Facilitated by: Lisa Paterson (M.Ed., ERYT-500, C-IAYT)
When: Thursdays from 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM;
Where: Online with Zoom
Cost: Pay What You Can

Gentle Yoga

A gentle yoga class originally designed by Anne Pitman for people facing cancer. Everyone is welcome! This class is slow and gentle and keeps in mind pics/ports/surgical sites, BUT you will be ultimately following your own body and be responsible for the safety of your own movement. Folks with chronic lymphedema should keep in mind the cumulative effects of weekly exercise, and might choose to be still and imagine some movements. Please note: this class is not yoga therapy.

Important note: If you would like one-on-one advice with regard to yoga or an at-home program, please contact the Centre for a Yoga Therapy appointment - available online!

Open to: ALL - Patients and members of the community
Facilitated by: Lisa Paterson (M.Ed., ERYT-500, C-IAYT)
When: Fridays from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Where: Online with Zoom
Cost: Pay What You Can

Consciously Creating Calmness

These days there is increasing interest in creating a sense of personal calmness, mindfulness and being mindful.

• Gain control of your emotions - both positive and negative
• Retrain your mind to think and respond more positively
• Reduce stress and create a sense of balance
• Calm your mind and let go of unhealthy thoughts
• Feel good about yourself and others

Facilitated by: Mindset Cultivator, Moira Hutchison

QiGong with Moira Hutchison

QiGong harmonises, strengthens, and has a healing effect on the functioning of all the internal organs and bodily systems. It increases the supply and flow of energy throughout the body, can have a variety of rejuvenating effects and is believed to increase longevity, and it induces calm mental and emotional states.

QiGong can be so enriching that it can form a vital part of your lifestyle. Benefits include:

Better sleep
Reduced symptoms of stress
Better circulation (of Qi, blood and the lymphatic system.)
Improved balance
Improved posture
Greater core strength and flexibility

Facilitated by: QiGong Instructor, Moira Hutchison

Watch Moira's QiGong video demonstration

Living With Uncertainty Support Group

Jennifer Turner is very committed to providing group work for cancer patients who are challenged to learn to live with uncertainty, and in the spaces between all the disruptions and fear that a cancer diagnosis creates. When people are able to gather and share these feelings and experiences - community is created and people feel less isolated. Often patients feel pressured by well-meaning loved ones to be “positive” at all times. It is important to have a guided and supported place where everyone “gets it”and genuine growth can occur.

Open to: ALL – patients at the CHI (and those not patients of the CHI) and their caregivers
Facilitated by: Jennifer Turner, Psychotherapist
When: December 11th; 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Where: Online with Zoom
Cost: $40 + HST

Head Start Program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Head Start is an empowerment program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer to help women feel less alone and confused, and better prepared for what lies ahead. Head Start’s combination of support, empowerment, and hands-on lifestyle modifications covers topics including: cancer navigation, integrative cancer therapies, mind-body techniques and coping tools.

Open to: Women recently diagnosed with breast cancer (do not have to be patients of the Centre)
Facilitated by: Anne Pitman (M.Sc., EYRT-500, C- IAYT)
When: To be announced
Where: Online with Zoom
Registration deadline: To be announced

DOWNLOAD Program Details

Inspire Now Program for those living with lung cancer

People with lung cancer may have physical and emotional concerns such as fatigue, shortness of breath, worry, pain, sadness, and may experience stigma. Additionally, they often have the desire to learn what they can do to support their health. Inspire Now aims to help people with these unique concerns through the support of a warm and caring group setting.

Open to: Anyone living with lung cancer (do not have to be patients of the Centre)
Facilitated by: Anne Pitman (M.Sc., EYRT-500, C- IAYT)
When: To be announced
Where: Online with Zoom
Registration deadline: To be announced

DOWNLOAD Program Details