Community as Medicine: What Hospitals Don't Prescribe
(but they’re getting better!)
From 2006-2021 I founded and co-ran a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called A Quality Life Community (QLC):A free yoga program for Survivors, Caregivers and their Families.
During this time, four yoga studios and hospitals collaborated in bringing free yoga to hospital staff, survivors and their caregivers. Hospitals assisted in paying for the teacher’s time and skill set, yoga studios assisted in providing a free space to practice plus offer advertisement and QLC worked hard with fundraising events to try and keep it all afloat.
And, it worked for 15 years.
Today, I must give kudos to Yoga Instructor Erin Meyers.
She was one of QLC’s teachers at Utah Cancer Specialist. Recently, I had a doctor’s appointment with my oncologist at UCS and noticed a professionally posted banner in the entryway promoting Erin’s yoga class. Although QLC has changed its business model a smidge, Erin has maintained the weekly classes. She is a survivor too and a looooooong time teacher who has connected with her students in a lovely sustainable way! Bless Erin!
Today, we have carried on the business of Wellness, it just looks a little different.
Yoga for Wellness
How Can We Assist YOU?
Yoga for Wellness is a practice intended to assist the student practitioner to DISCOVER their practice regardless of the “level” the student perceives themselves to be at that moment.
Through Reiki Sessions or Yoga Sessions, Yoga for Wellness acknowledges that our bodies change through various mobility stages. Yoga for Wellness will meet you at your beginning and progress through your practice with you. Yoga for Wellness is also about self discovery, self awareness and Fun! We like to integrate the “JOMO” in life. (Joy of Missing Out - in other words, removing Fear and replacing it with Joy; taking a “time out” from things that can create stress; feeling the moment joyfully.)
Okay.
So, if Wellness isn’t always on the forefront of my doctors’ minds, I can’t really get mad at them.
I mean …
“Now don’t misunderstand me, I love all of my doctors!”
But learning what and where the wellness resources are may not be in their treatment protocol for a patient experiencing a year of surgeries, treatment, and recovery …
But holistic integrative medical approaches are growing and becoming more familiar.
Well … it just so happens that when I key in “Integrative medical wellness programs, the first program that comes up is:
Survivor Wellness is a cancer care community in the heart of the city.
Survivor Wellness is a nonprofit organization improving the quality of life for cancer survivors and their caregivers by providing wellness services and support in a welcoming, home-like setting.
Caring for the Survivors, Caregivers and Families is what this organization does so efficiently. I’m so pleased to be affiliated with them.
Remember that there are many approaches to wellness. Finding what resonates with you or your loved ones’ healing process is an integral part of the healing journey. You are not alone.
BTW, did you know that by purchasing Revealing Grace, a portion of all book sales go toward Survivor Wellness?
Yep!
It’s true!
