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Fitness instructors got a lesson of their own Friday on ways to help people battling breast cancer feel better through exercise.
Body Wise Connection, a non-profit organization that promotes healing through exercise, held its first annual educational workshop for exercise instructors: Breast Cancer: Training to Heal, on Friday at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Kisco.
Rene Syler, founder of Goodenoughmother.com, gave the keynote address to more than 50 workshop participants who gathered to learn techniques to help clients dealing with breast cancer.
Body Wise Connection was founded by Chappaqua resident Joy Puleo, whose wants to help those dealing with life-threatening illnesses movement therapy Puleo, who owns a Pilates studio in Chappaqua, said Body Wise Connection strives to bring Pilates, Yoga and other personal training methods to those who need to find physical self-confidence.
Featured lecturers included Portia Page, author of Pilates Illustrated, renowned yoga instructor Nevine Michaan and internationally known Pilates teacher Doris Pasteleur Hall.
Instructors attended this event from around country. They tried to gain a deeper understanding of the experience a patient goes through from receiving a breast cancer diagnosis to undergoing treatments including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgery.
The concept of Body Wise Connection came to me as I watched a dear friend battle malignant melanoma, Puleo said. She felt that her body had basically abandoned her. We believe the body and mind truly work collectively and that when someone is challenged by adversity, such as breast cancer and all the side effects, physical and emotional healing are aided by the exploration of movement.
Body Wise Connection brings movement to individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford such services and is currently conducting programs in Northern Westchester Hospital and at the Body Wise Pilates studio in Chappaqua.
For more information about Body Wise Connection or to make a donation visit bodywiseconnection.org.
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