Wellness Within Cancer Support

In this episode, Patti Brown, LMFT and Founder of Wellness Within, sits down with Avya Status to explore the journey of navigating grief and emotional challenges. Avya opens up about the profound impact of growing up with her mother's cancer diagnosis and the lasting effects it had on her childhood. Together, they talk, formulaic approach to grief and highlight the importance of acknowledging and expressing grief as essential to living life. The conversation also touches on Ayva's personal experiences, shedding light on the raw emotions tied to loss and healing. Support the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this episode, Elizabeth Klein, Executive Director of Wellness Within, and Patti Brown, LMFT and Founder, discuss the many forms of grief, highlighting that it's not limited to losing a loved one but extends to various types of loss. They explore society's limited understanding of grief and the need for spaces to express and honor it. Challenging a formulaic approach, they emphasize that recognizing and expressing grief is key to living fully. They also share personal experiences, offering insights on how rituals like storytelling and art can help navigate the grieving process and foster a sense of aliveness. Fear by Kahlil Gibran It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear. She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages. And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever. But there is no other way. The river can not go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that's where the river will know it's not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean. This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente, Umpqua bank, UC Davis Health. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

Relax and unwind with "Restful Moments: A Guided Meditation for Relaxation," led by Patti Brown, LMFT. This meditation is designed to help you find peace and tranquility, releasing stress and embracing calm.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.Music provided by 'Music of Wisdom': meditationmusiclibrary.com.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente, Umpqua bank, UC Davis Health. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the Show.This podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this episode, Patti Brown, LMFT, Founder of Wellness Within, extends a warm welcome to Sara Stratton, NTP, ONC, an Oncology Nutrition Consultant and breast cancer survivor.  Join us as Sara shares her experience and insights into the vital role of nutrition in cancer wellness. Discover the metabolic approach to cancer and practical tips for supporting your body's resilience. Tune in for practical guidance deeply grounded in purpose and inspiration. Sara also references "The Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, the Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies," a book that delves into strategies for cancer care through nutrition.Sara, a lifelong health enthusiast with over 20 years of healthcare experience, faced a breast cancer diagnosis at 37.  She utilizes her certifications from the Nutritional Therapy Association and the Oncology Nutrition Institute to empower others in their health journey. Today, thriving five years post-diagnosis in Northern California, Sara inspires through her holistic approach, backed by her education and dedication to helping others eat, move, and live with purpose. Learn more about Sara at:Remission NutritionPurposely RootedThis podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the Show.This podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

Experience the serene guidance of Patti Brown, LMFT, founder of Wellness Within, as she leads you through gentle guided imagery. Through her soothing narration and gentle prompts, discover hidden wisdom and embrace the radiance of your inner light.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this podcast episode marked by courage and vulnerability, Dr. Samantha Siegel, a two-time cancer survivor, shares profound insights shaped by her extraordinary perspectives on survivorship.  Dr. Siegel underscores the significance of creating meaning in life after a cancer diagnosis, managing energy, navigating work and disclosures, recognizing your limits and exploring expectations of self. Her narrative emphasizes the resilience of cancer survivors, promoting a holistic approach to survivorship care. Additionally, she delves into her near-death experience, discussing how it heightened her awareness of energy. Dr. Siegel explores the importance of tuning into oneself, identifying sources of negativity, and making choices that prioritize personal well-being.Guest Bio:Dr. Samantha Siegel is an internist in Kaiser Permanente. She has survived relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma, including an autologous bone marrow transplant in June 2022. This has made her passionate about cancer survivorship, integrative medicine and personal narrative impacting the illness experience. She hopes to pioneer a longitudinal cancer survivorship care model, beginning at diagnosis, that can be replicated in other healthcare systems. She's focused on elevating cancer survivorship to its own multidisciplinary board certification status. Dr. Siegel lives in Davis with her husband, three kids and energetic dog. They enjoy outdoor activities and plant-based living.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente, Umpqua bank, UC Davis Health. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

Tune into this episode with Nicholas Holmes, a dedicated Breathwork instructor,  as he offers us a bite-sized understanding of pranayama - a vital, yet frequently underappreciated element of yoga, often eclipsed by the more familiar asanas or physical postures. Nicholas's insights illuminate the transformative potential of breathwork, presenting it as a key to unlocking deeper aspects of the yoga experience. This episode is a treasure for anyone keen to explore beyond the surface of yoga and discover the impactful role of our breath.Nicholas Holmes has been in the Health & Wellness space for over 10 years in a variety of roles including fitness manager, personal trainer, nutrition coach, metabolic specialist, and holistic lifestyle coach. He has developed an array of knowledge and certifications including NASM CPT, Precision Nutrition Level 1 and 2, CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, and Integrated Movement Science 1.In 2022 he felt a calling to go to India to dive deeper into Yoga, wanting to experience it from the source. He ventured to an area outside of Rishikesh called Mohan Chatti where he experienced the wisdom of the Rishi's, ancient Vedic texts, and engaged in the practices of Himalayan Yogi masters from over the years, including Pranayama, Kriya, Asana, Mantra, and meditation. He is grateful to utilize these tools for his own daily practice and to also share them with others on their unique journey to health and well-being.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this poignant episode, Wellness Within's founder, Patti Brown, MS, LMFT explores the profound nature of grief as a sacred practice, emphasizing its multifaceted layers and the importance of companionship throughout the journey. Drawing from personal experiences, Patti shares insights on navigating grief, finding solace in memories, and embracing the healing power of nature. Join her on this compassionate exploration by tuning in here or watch on our YouTube channel. Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/givePatti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.Support the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this episode join Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, LMFT  as she reflects on the caregiving journey and emphasizes the significance of self-care tools. Discover practical tips to enhance your well-being as a care partner and navigate the challenges with resilience.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this episode of the Wellness Within podcast, join Nicholas Holmes, for a deeply calming and transformative meditation experience. In "Tuning into Silence," Nicholas expertly guides you through a meditation designed to help you connect with your inner self and the profound stillness within.Nicholas Holmes has been in the Health & Wellness space for over 10 years in a variety of roles including fitness manager, personal trainer, nutrition coach, metabolic specialist, and holistic lifestyle coach. He has developed an array of knowledge and certifications including NASM CPT, Precision Nutrition Level 1 and 2, CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, and Integrated Movement Science 1.In 2022 he felt a calling to go to India to dive deeper into Yoga, wanting to experience it from the source. He ventured to an area outside of Rishikesh called Mohan Chatti where he experienced the wisdom of the Rishi's, ancient Vedic texts, and engaged in the practices of Himalayan Yogi masters from over the years, including Pranayama, Kriya, Asana, Mantra, and meditation. He is grateful to utilize these tools for his own daily practice and to also share them with others on their unique journey to health and well-being.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

In this candid and important episode, we delve into the often sensitive and overlooked topic of intimacy and sexuality during and after cancer. We're excited to be joined by Dr. Samantha Siegel, an inspiring internist from Kaiser Permanente, who brings both her professional expertise and her personal triumph over relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma into this conversation.Before we dive in, we want to provide a forewarning that this episode will address explicit sexual topics. We believe it's essential to engage openly and honestly with these matters, as they play a significant role in the lives of those facing cancer. Dr. Siegel's insights will provide valuable guidance, but we understand that this content might not be suitable for all listeners. For further insights into the intersection of cancer and sexuality, don't miss our previous episode featuring Dr. Anne Katz, a certified sexuality counselor and Clinical Nurse Specialist. You can listen to that episode HERE, where Dr. Katz expertly discusses breaking the silence on sexuality in oncology, navigating vulnerable conversations for survivors and their partners, and finding body acceptance after cancer-related physical changes. This episode is a reminder that thriving beyond cancer involves addressing all dimensions of life, including intimacy. Join us for this essential conversation with Dr. Samantha Siegel, as we navigate the complexities of intimacy and cancer, offer insights for survivors, care partners, and healthcare professionals alike.Guest Bio:Dr. Samantha Siegel is an internist in Kaiser Permanente. She has overcome relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma, including an autologous bone marrow transplant in June 2022. This has made her passionate about cancer survivorship, integrative medicine and the concept of personal narrative impacting the illness experience. She hopes to pioneer a longitudinal cancer survivorship care model, beginning at diagnosis, that can be replicated in other health systems and to elevate the status of cancer survivorship within ACGME to a distinct, multidisciplinary board certification. Dr. Siegel lives in Davis with her husband, three kids and energetic dog. They enjoy outdoor activities and plant based living.This podcast is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

Join Wellness Within Founder, Patti Brown, LMFT in this meditation for partnering with your immune system.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the showThis podcast offers health, wellness, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this podcast is solely at your own risk.

Do you find yourself looking for methods to improve treatment outcomes, manage side effects of cancer and treatments, reduce chances of recurrence, or prevent long-term or late effects of cancer and treatments?  Hear from Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS from CancerChoices as she speaks about using the integrative whole person approach to cancer care which includes conventional, complimentary, and self-care practices.  Laura provides many knowledgeable and inspiring take-aways in this episode, while embracing the importance of shifting from the state of overwhelm to discovering your internal map with supportive resources and guidance from those who will walk beside you.The episode ends with Laura sharing about her beautiful song, "I Come for the Love", off  Laura's trio's  album "Virginia Morning". Click here to listen and download:  https://trifolkal.hearnow.com/Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.For CancerChoices, Laura scouts out content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.Web address: www.cancerchoices.orgGuidance for Each Phase: https://cancerchoices.org/guidance-for-each-phase/Seven Healing Practices: https://cancerchoices.org/your-choices/choices-in-self-care/7-healing-practices/Reviews of Complementary Therapies: https://cancerchoices.org/your-choices/choices-in-complementary-care/reviews-of-complementary-therapies/Managing Symptoms and Side Effects: https://cancerchoices.org/therapies-handbooks/managing-symptoms-side-effects/Request a Volunteer Guide (to guide you through the website):  https://cancerchoices.org/find-support/find-a-volunteer-guide/Find Support:  Healing Circles and Retreats: https://cancerchoices.org/find-support/healing-circles-and-retreats/This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Support the show

In this episode Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, MS LMFT is joined by honored guest, Akil Palanisamy, MD.  Dr. Akil is a Harvard-trained physician, author, and holistic medicine expert in integrative and functional medicine. He joins us to share about the connection between cancer & autoimmune disease, and the integrative approach to heal and strengthen our immune systems by addressing the 5 root causes of disease.  Akil Palanisamy, MD  practices integrative medicine, blending his conventional medical expertise with holistic approaches including functional medicine and Ayurveda. “Dr. Akil” attended Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in biochemical sciences. He earned an MD from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and completed family medicine residency training at Stanford University. He then graduated from a fellowship in integrative medicine with Dr. Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona, and received certification in mind-body medicine from the Georgetown University Center.Dr. Akil is the Department Chair for Integrative Medicine at the Sutter Health Institute for Health and Healing (IHH). He also serves as IHH Physician Director for Community Education and leads their educational initiatives and programs. Dr. Akil has been a consultant with the Medical Board of California for many years. A widely known speaker and educator, he is the author of “The Tiger Protocol” (his latest book) and “The Paleovedic Diet: A Complete Program to Burn Fat, Increase Energy, and Reverse Disease”.  As he has done for two-plus decades, Dr. Akil sees patients and conducts clinical research studies in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with his wife and daughter.Website: https://doctorakil.com/Instagram: @doctorakilTo Order his book on Amazon: The Tiger ProtocolThis podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

Join Wellness Within Founder, Patti Brown, LMFT in this meditation for practicing acceptance as a key to unlocking the door of anguish and struggle that may come when life throws you a curveball. Allowing for a new way to reveal itself to you.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

Wellness Within instructor, Annie Mascorro shares Denise Levertov's inspiring poem "For the New Year".Annie Mascorro received her M.F.A. in poetry from The University of Montana and her B.S. in nursing from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.  She has also studied poetry therapy through the International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy and attended the Squaw Valley Community of Writers Poetry workshop. Her poems have been widely published.  She has lead poetry workshops for many years in both clinical and non-clinical community centers, focusing on the writing process as a way to promote wellness. Annie finds joy in sharing the transformative power of poetry with writers of all levels.  Her background as a poet, teacher, nurse, and student of poetry therapy helps create a supportive, nurturing, and energetic atmosphere in all of her workshops. Be sure to keep a look out for her next workshop at Wellness Within.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

In this episode, Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, MS LMFT is joined by our returning honored guest, Cynthia Li, MD. In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Li shares about her transformational experiences of grief, while providing insightful and uplifting wisdom for those who are ready to hear it. This episode invites listeners to see themselves in how they relate to the holding and release of their own grief.  Exemplifying how healing and grieving is not always linear, and how "you can't heal what you don't feel or what you are not connected to".  Are you ready?And in cased you missed their last podcast conversation together, be sure to check out the episode, Qigong Demystified with Dr. Cynthia Li where she shares how Zhineng (Wisdom Healing) Qigong contributed to her radical remission of  an autoimmune thyroid condition, and her observation of how science is evolving to measure and support the benefits of this ancient practice. Dr. Cynthia Li is a doctor and author whose personal healing journey through a disabling autoimmune condition took her from public health in underserved populations, to integrative and functional medicine.Her personal health challenges began in 2005, and they expanded her beyond her conventional training. She has studied and practiced with functional medicine experts, environmental health scientists, acupuncturists, qigong masters, and alternative healers, weaving together cutting-edge science and ancient healing arts. Currently, she has a private practice in Berkeley, CA, and serves as faculty for the Healer's Art program at the University of California San Francisco Medical School.After becoming an anchor for Awakin Calls, a podcast of the global, all-volunteer-run ServiceSpace community of 2M+, she modeled her clinical services on the gift economy, where patients contribute into a community fund according to their abilities, giving and receiving from each other based on trust.She is author of the book, Brave New Medicine: A Doctor's Unconventional Path to Healing Her Autoimmune Illness.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

Join Wellness Within's Founder, Patti Brown, LMFT in this guided imagery meditation to deeply explore your connection to nature.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, LMFT and guest Margo Fowkes return for another powerful conversation about Grief.  This time they discuss grief in the workplace which is the topic of Margo's new book, "Leading through Loss: How to Navigate Grief at Work".  And if listeners have any questions that did not get covered on this topic, please email your questions to admin@wellnesswithin.org and we will plan another conversation with Margo to address some of your questions.Click below to listen to previous podcast conversations with Margo:1. An Honest Conversation about Grief & Vulnerability2. There is always room for hope - A Conversation about Loss & Grief Margo Fowkes (pronounced “Folks”) is the founder and president of OnTarget Consulting Inc., a firm specializing in helping organizations and individuals act strategically, improve their performance and achieve their business goals.  After the death of her son Jimmy in 2014, Margo created Salt Water, an online community that provides a safe harbor for those who are grieving the death of someone dear to them.  Inspired by Jimmy's determination to live a rich, full life despite his circumstances, Salt Water's articles and other resources focus on healing and building a new life in the aftermath of a devastating loss.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

Enjoy a new mindfulness meditation with Wellness Within Founder, Patti Brown, LMFT. It is specially crafted to experience a sense of ease, relaxation and expansiveness in your mind and body.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

Enjoy a new loving awareness meditation with Wellness Within Founder, Patti Brown. It is specifically designed to begin the process of being with and understanding your fear, without it overtaking you. Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by UC Davis Health, Elizabeth A. Harmon D.D.S., and Columbia Bank. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

In this guided meditation, you will return to your sanctuary and connect with a sense of gratitude through a  ceremony. You'll be able to light candles to acknowledge what you have learned on your meditation journey. This is a continuation of Susan's last 9 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on its own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the Canopy4. Your Tree Sanctuary5. Meeting a Helping Spirit6. Taking Flight7. The Prayer Tree8. The Cosmic Tree of Life9. The Four DirectionsThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Consolidated Communications. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

In many traditions, the four directions offer a deeper understanding of our place in the world. You can relax and surrender to the teachings of the forest and the great tree in this guided meditation. This is a continuation of Susan's last 8 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on its own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the Canopy4. Your Tree Sanctuary5. Meeting a Helping Spirit6. Taking Flight7. The Prayer Tree8. The Cosmic Tree of LifeThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Consolidated Communications. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

The Tree of Life or World Tree is a central archetype for many of the worlds mythologies, religions, and philosophical traditions. In this guided imagery meditation, we will walk through the forest to meet this mythical symbol. This is a continuation of Susan's last 7 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on its own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the Canopy4. Your Tree Sanctuary5. Meeting a Helping Spirit6. Taking Flight7. The Prayer TreeThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Consolidated Communications. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

In this guided imagery meditation, you'll be led by a loving  companion as you walk through the forest. They will guide you to an ancient Laurel tree that offers a place of community blessings. This is a continuation of Susan's last 6 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the Canopy4. Your Tree Sanctuary5. Meeting a Helping Spirit6. Taking FlightThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveBEACON is a self-paced online system that provides cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors a place to learn and practice wellness. It is designed to support the individual based on where they are in their cancer experience. Enroll at https://beacon.wellnesswithin.org/Support the show

In this meditation, Karen Penfold invites you to connect to your present moment and experience your breath as a therapeutic tool to help sooth and calm your nervous system.Karen is an inspiring 11-year, two-time breast cancer survivor who was introduced to yoga while recovering from treatments, surgeries, and a broken pelvis.  Karen shares, “I could tell my body was healing and getting stronger, but something else was happening.  I was healing from the severe anxiety I developed from post-traumatic stress from my cancer battle"…"I then set out to learn all I could about healing PTSD, Anxiety and Depression using what I now know as Body-Based Interventions like Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Breathwork, and other mind-body practices of Somatic Awareness, Mindfulness, and Therapeutic Meditation.”   Karen is a Registered Yoga Trainer (RYT) through YogaFaith with specialty certifications in Trauma Sensitive Yoga as well as Meditation and Yoga Nidra.  Karen leads four weekly classes from her Full of Hope Yoga home studio and sees private clients in person and Online for Trauma Recovery. You can learn more at www.fullofhopeyoga.com or contact her directly at fullofhopeyoga@gmail.com. “My passion is to help you find greater health and freedom from trauma so you can breathe, move and live - Full of Hope” ~ Karen Penfold This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

Reconnect to your helper spirit to become open to a sense of wonder as you imagine taking flight. See how the forest around you is connected by a web of light. This is a continuation of her last 5 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the Canopy4. Your Tree Sanctuary5. Meeting a Helping SpiritThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

Get to know the spirit energy of your special tree. It will connect with you, then help you find another helper spirit who will be a courageous and loving companion. This is a continuation of her last 4 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the Canopy4. Your Tree Sanctuary There are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

In this meditation, you are invited to find a secret doorway into your special tree and enter your own private space in which you relax and create. This is a continuation of her last 3 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth Connection3. Climbing the CanopyThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

In this episode, we are joined by Theresa Brown, RN where we discuss her new memoir, HEALING: When a Nurse Becomes a Patient. Theresa presents an honest look at struggling with cancer while navigating American health care, she does this through her unique perspective of being both a patient and a practitioner. Theresa Brown, RN, author of the New York Times bestseller The Shift, has been a contributor to the New York Times. Her writing appears on CNN.com and in the American Journal of Nursing, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She has been a guest on MSNBC Live and NPR's Fresh Air. Her first book was Critical Care, and during what she calls her past life, she received a PhD in English from the University of Chicago. She lectures nationally and internationally on issues related to nursing, health care, and end of life. You can learn more about her at theresabrownrn.comBelow are some optional links for finding her book:City of Asylum BooksBarnes & NobleAmazon This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce.  Guests and information on this podcast are not an endorsement of those individuals or practices. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show

In this meditation, get to know your Life Tree by tuning into the way it is nourished by the light and air. This is a continuation of her last 2 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.1. Discover Your Life Tree2. Exploring Your Earth ConnectionThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show

After Pam was diagnosed and treated for uterine cancer in 2000, she experienced first-hand a lack of guidance for addressing how cancer and its treatments can devastate your body.  She recognized the gap in medical treatments in treating the whole person. This is why she has dedicated 17 years of her life to making Triumph Cancer Foundation a part of our community, with the mission of empowering cancer survivors to recapture their lives after cancer treatment through physical fitness. In this episode Pam acknowledges how cancer survivors can begin to set some amazing goals for themselves when allowing room for grace in their recovery process and take the needed time to build up your strength from experts who understand how issues like lymphedema, neuropathy, balance and range of motion can impede progress.  Pam continues to thrive as a cancer survivor and advocate. She is grateful to have the steadfast support of her husband Paul Almond and her family, and the guiding hands of many advisors over the years to help her steer the ship. As an architect, she strives to design homes that inspire her clients and is sensitive to the environment. As a cancer survivor, her goal is, and will always be, to inspire other survivors and to make the cancer journey a bit easier through the work of the Triumph Cancer Foundation. To learn more visit https://triumphfound.org/This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce.  Guests and information on this podcast are not an endorsement of those individuals or practices. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show

Join Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, LMFT in this brief meditation to assist you in getting yourself grounded before an event, appointment, or a difficult situation.  You can utilize this meditation to find your center and get back into your body so as to navigate with more confidence.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

In this episode, Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, MS LMFT is joined by Qigong Instructor, John Brewer. John is an honored instructor at Wellness Within and he provides Qigong classes in-person at the center and online. In this episode, he shares about how his own journey led him to Qigong and helped him heal. He discusses what is “qi”, breaks down the components of the Qigong practice, describes the power of Wisdom Healing Qigong, and much more.John has been studying, practicing, and teaching qigong for years.  He is a lifelong educator, versed in making learning effective and fun. He creates a safe, engaging environment through his practice of compassionate communication and empathy. John has been trained in, and will draw from, two systems: Wisdom Healing Qigong with Master Mingtong Gu, and Integral Qigong with Dr. Roger Jahnke. Should you wish to explore these two very compatible paths you are invited to examine the following websites:  www.chicenter.com or www.instituteofintegralqigongandtaichi.org  He looks forward to serving those who are interested in giving Qigong a try either in person or online via Zoom. Visit www.wellnesswithin.org to register for a class.Additional Resources:The Physiology of Tai Chi & Qigong – This is a 12-minute practical introduction to fundamentals of Qigong in relation to our human bodies.Qigong Demystified with Dr. Cynthia Li – Check out this previous Wellness Within Podcast episode with honored guest, Cynthia Li, MD. Dr. Li's health challenges with an autoimmune thyroid condition and chronic fatigue changed her life and her practice of medicine. In this in-depth conversation about healing, she shares her experience of how Zhineng (Wisdom Healing) Qigong contributed to her radical remission and her observation of how science is evolving to measure and support the benefits of this ancient practice.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce.  Guests and information on this podcast are not an endorsement of those individuals or practices. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Karen Penfold invites you to utilize your curiosity in this mediation as an embodied practice and antidote to anxiety. Karen is an inspiring 11-year, two-time breast cancer survivor who was introduced to yoga while recovering from treatments, surgeries, and a broken pelvis.  Karen shares, “I could tell my body was healing and getting stronger, but something else was happening.  I was healing from the severe anxiety I developed from post-traumatic stress from my cancer battle"…"I then set out to learn all I could about healing PTSD, Anxiety and Depression using what I now know as Body-Based Interventions like Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Breathwork, and other mind-body practices of Somatic Awareness, Mindfulness, and Therapeutic Meditation.”   Karen is a Registered Yoga Trainer (RYT) through YogaFaith with specialty certifications in Trauma Sensitive Yoga as well as Meditation and Yoga Nidra.  Karen leads four weekly classes from her Full of Hope Yoga home studio and sees private clients in person and Online for Trauma Recovery. You can learn more at www.fullofhopeyoga.com or contact her directly at fullofhopeyoga@gmail.com. “My passion is to help you find greater health and freedom from trauma so you can breathe, move and live - Full of Hope” ~ Karen Penfold This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

This meditation takes you into the roots of your Life Tree and connects you to other trees that surround it, bringing a sense of stability and belonging. This is a continuation of her last meditation which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.Discover Your Life TreeThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

This guided meditation takes you on an imaginal walk to discover your own tree of life. You'll also engage in a grounding practice to give you a full sense of presence.There are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

In today's episode we are joined by cognitive neuroscientist and associate professor, Dr. Shelli Kesler, as we delve into the topic of Chemo Brain, the common term used for the cognitive changes that often occur with cancer treatments. She offers helpful information and tips, while also debunking some of the myths about Chemo Brain.   Dr. Shelli Kesler, cognitive neuroscientist and associate professor in both the School of Nursing and the Department of Diagnostic Medicine at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.  She is also the Director of Statistical Services, Cain Center for Nursing Research, Co-Chair of Survivorship and Supportive Care Research, and LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes Director, Cancer Neuroscience Lab. As a cognitive neuroscientist, she has specific expertise in neuroimaging, neuropsychology, biostatistics, machine learning, and computer programming. Her research program focuses on the neural mechanisms of chronic conditions, especially cancer-related cognitive neurotoxicities.  Her work includes both clinical and preclinical studies that focus on translational approaches for measuring the functional and structural connectome in both humans and animals using MR neuroimaging. The overarching goals of her work concern the neurobiologic subtyping of cognitive impairments as well as neuroimaging-based prediction of cognitive-behavioral outcomes, survival and treatment response across the lifespan.  She has obtained over $14 million in external grant funding including four NIH R01's and the prestigious NIH Director's New Innovator Award. Dr. Kesler is also the author of Improving Cognitive Function After Cancer.For more resources about Chemo Brain, click the links listed below:American Cancer SocietyMayo ClinicDana Farber InstituteThis podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce. Guests and information on this podcast are not an endorsement of those individuals or practices. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Susan Whitaker in this guided meditation for harvesting your gifts. This is a continuation of her last meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.Finding your Inner GardenPlanting Seeds of LightTending the  Garden with Fire and WaterWelcoming New GrowthThe WaterfallHeart HealingThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Susan Whitaker in this guided meditation for healing the heart. This is a continuation of her last 5 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.Finding your Inner GardenPlanting Seeds of LightTending the  Garden with Fire and WaterWelcoming New GrowthThe WaterfallThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

In this episode we welcome our guest, Lauren Huffmaster, Founder of Adventure Therapy Foundation and RISE coaching program. She shares how her own experience with metastatic cancer led her to create her organization and help others through the emotional side effects of cancer.  She also sheds light on the importance of time in nature and finding community. Lauren was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer at the age of 37, and as a young mother with metastatic cancer, she understands the emotional burden that cancer brings into the life of a patient and his/her immediate family. In 2017, she founded Adventure Therapy Foundation, a nonprofit that exists to give families impacted by cancer the opportunity to find healing through cancer coaching and emotional release in the outdoor retreats. And In 2022 she launched RISE,  a curriculum-based virtual platform for promoting good mental health in and through cancer. To find out more, visit adventurefound.org and risefound.orgThis podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce. Guests and information on this podcast are not an endorsement of those individuals or practices. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Karen Penfolds welcomes you to this Trauma Recovery, Somatic Meditation for self awareness, so that you can discover and connect to the values that are true and genuine for you, thereby connecting to your authentic self.   CLICK HERE to dive deeper with more information that Karen shares, including a short self reflection practice for after the meditation.Karen is an inspiring 11-year, two-time breast cancer survivor who was introduced to yoga while recovering from treatments, surgeries, and a broken pelvis.  Karen shares, “I could tell my body was healing and getting stronger, but something else was happening.  I was healing from the severe anxiety I developed from post-traumatic stress from my cancer battle"…"I then set out to learn all I could about healing PTSD, Anxiety and Depression using what I now know as Body-Based Interventions like Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Breathwork, and other mind-body practices of Somatic Awareness, Mindfulness, and Therapeutic Meditation.”   Karen is a Registered Yoga Trainer (RYT) through YogaFaith with specialty certifications in Trauma Sensitive Yoga as well as Meditation and Yoga Nidra.  Karen leads four weekly classes from her Full of Hope Yoga home studio and sees private clients in person and Online for Trauma Recovery. You can learn more at www.fullofhopeyoga.com or contact her directly at fullofhopeyoga@gmail.com. “My passion is to help you find greater health and freedom from trauma so you can breathe, move and live - Full of Hope” ~ Karen Penfold This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Listen as Patti Brown leads you through a body scan meditation for deep, peaceful sleep.Wellness Within is the realization of a dream for Patti. After 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, she decided to honor the tugging at her heart and open a grassroots organization to serve a community dealing with cancer and its aftermath.  It is her life's work to teach, support, and mobilize the body and mind for healing.  Learn more on our website at: www.wellnesswithin.org.Patti actively incorporates her training in mind-body medicine to support a community of people struggling with a cancer diagnosis. The Center's belief is based on honoring the integration of medical treatments with mind-body practices that enhance one's quality of life with dignity and hope.  As the founder of Wellness Within, she understands the profound impact a life-threatening illness brings, and the significance of pulling together a caring, loving community to provide support, comfort and healing.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. It is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Susan Whitaker in this guided meditation for release and renewal. This is a continuation of her last 4 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.Finding your Inner GardenPlanting Seeds of LightTending the  Garden with Fire and WaterWelcoming New GrowthThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

In this episode, Stevie Hannickel is joined by Wellness Within's Executive Director, Elizabeth Klein, in an open conversation about life after cancer treatment ends. While recognizing everyone's journey is different, they draw on their own experiences as cancer survivors to discuss what happens during the transition from in-treatment to post-treatment. They emphasize the different ways that can help to find your authentic path in survivorship and how taking pause to connect with your genuine feelings can aid you as you move forward.For more post-treatment insights, information, and ways to cope, listen to these previous episodes with oncology and survivorship nurse practitioner Kristie Howlett, MS, CNS, NP-C, AOCNP:In The Beginning ... A Survivorship ConversationFear of RecurrenceThis podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Susan Whitaker in this guided meditation for welcoming new growth. This is a continuation of her last 3 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.Finding your Inner GardenPlanting Seeds of LightTending the  Garden with Fire and WaterThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Susan Whitaker in this guided meditation for tending to your inner garden with fire and water. This is a continuation of her last 2 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.Finding your Inner GardenPlanting Seeds of LightThere are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

In this episode, we welcome guest and musical artist Kevin Roth. He shares his story of how he was diagnosed with stage-three melanoma in 2016 and was told that he had just a few years left to live. He openly shares how he navigated his diagnosis and ultimately discovered what matters most in his life. Now thriving, he teaches others how to play the Dulcimer in a mindfulness practice coined as "Dulcimeditation".  You can learn more at kevinroth.org and listen to his 50 musical albums on Spotify, including his Dulcimeditation album. "Kevin Roth began to play the dulcimer in 1972 at the old age of thirteen, and at sixteen recorded his first album for Folkways / Smithsonian Folkways Records, which immediately launched him into international fame. Between 1974 and 1984 Roth recorded ten albums with this label, establishing himself as a prominent folk singer and dulcimer player. In 1984, Roth performed the theme to the PBS-TV children's show Shining Time Station, which brought him to another new and much larger market. His friendship and collaboration in 2006 with Noel Paul Stookey, of the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, further cemented Roth in American folk history. His career took him to a concert and symphony stages around the world, to festivals, radio, television shows, and two appearances at the White House." This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce. Guests and information on this podcast are not an endorsement of those individuals or practices. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Karen Penfold for a somatic, body based meditation for grief. David Kessler, an expert on grief states, "Enter your moments with compassion for yourself, allow space for your feelings and let yourself experience your feelings without struggling to resist or edit them." This meditation is an invitation to embody this message with a trauma informed somatic meditation, allowing space for your feelings by being present with your feelings, sensations and emotions.Karen is an inspiring 11-year, two-time breast cancer survivor who was introduced to yoga while recovering from treatments, surgeries, and a broken pelvis.  Karen shares, “I could tell my body was healing and getting stronger, but something else was happening.  I was healing from the severe anxiety I developed from post-traumatic stress from my cancer battle"…"I then set out to learn all I could about healing PTSD, Anxiety and Depression using what I now know as Body-Based Interventions like Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Breathwork, and other mind-body practices of Somatic Awareness, Mindfulness, and Therapeutic Meditation.”   Karen is a Registered Yoga Trainer (RYT) through YogaFaith with specialty certifications in Trauma Sensitive Yoga as well as Meditation and Yoga Nidra.  Karen leads four weekly classes from her Full of Hope Yoga home studio and sees private clients in person and Online for Trauma Recovery. You can learn more at www.fullofhopeyoga.com or contact her directly at fullofhopeyoga@gmail.com. “My passion is to help you find greater health and freedom from trauma so you can breathe, move and live - Full of Hope” ~ Karen Penfold This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

Join Susan Whitaker in this guided meditation for planting seeds of light. This is a continuation of her last meditation, "Finding your Inner Garden", but it can also be enjoyed on it's own.There are certain things that are essential to living a healthy, happy, meaningful life. Susan believes that yoga is one of them and had dedicated her life to sharing it with others. She has taught and practiced yoga for over 45 years. Susan specializes in adapting basic yoga poses to fit individual bodies and includes mindfulness, breathing, and concentration to connect a person more deeply to themselves. She approaches yoga in a gentle way and creates a class around who is present. She takes suggestions about what people need on any given day and weaves them together for a more inclusive experience. Susan establishes a safe atmosphere and encourages a sense of community for the class, even within personal exploration. Through breathing techniques, laughter, philosophy, poetry, and reverence, her classes are designed to give her students an accessible life skill that will serve them in their daily lives.This podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/giveSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)

In this episode Wellness Within Founder Patti Brown, MS LMFT is joined by honored guest, Cynthia Li, MD.  Dr. Li's health challenges with an autoimmune thyroid condition and chronic fatigue changed her life and her practice of medicine. In this in-depth conversation about healing, she shares her experience of how Zhineng (Wisdom Healing) Qigong contributed to her radical remission and her observation of how science is evolving to measure and support the benefits of this ancient practice. Cynthia Li, MD, is a physician, author, and speaker. She has practiced in settings including Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Francisco General Hospital, St. Anthony's Medical Clinic for the homeless, and Doctors Without Borders in rural China. Currently, she has a private practice in integrative and functional medicine, and serves as faculty for the Healer's Art program at the University of California San Francisco Medical School. She is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the Institute for Functional Medicine, and Integrative Medicine for the Underserved.  She is a contributor to Thrive Global and Psychology Today. She is author of the book, Brave New Medicine: A Doctor's Unconventional Path to Healing Her Autoimmune Illness. Below are her primary Qigong teachers that were mentioned in this episode: Teacher Wei - www.daohearts.com  Master Mingtong Gu -  www.chicenter.comBeyond this informative and insightful episode, she has provided a number of free resources below.Sutter Institute for Health & Healing Videos:Easing Anxiety In Times Of Change with Cynthia Li, M.D.Connect, Awaken & Restore with Cynthia Li, M.D.Article & Free E-Book:What Qi Gong Taught One Doctor About HealingHow to Strengthen Your Inner ShieldThis podcast is sponsored in part by Koinonia Family Services, Consolidated Communications, and Merchants Bank of Commerce. This podcast is offered freely to ensure everyone has access to these practices and conversations offered by Wellness Within Cancer Support Services. If you feel inspired to donate to support Wellness Within offerings, please visit www.wellnesswithin.org/give or click the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4GNQH4LSJ6EKY)