Our Programs

InspireHealth’s LIFE Program consists of 12 hours of education and interactive learning over a two-day period. It includes an introduction to supportive cancer care and an exploration of InspireHealth’s Foundations of Health and Healing. Meditation, exercise, nutrition, stress reduction and healthy sleep practices, group sharing and healthy communication are explored. The goal of this program is to provide an opportunity for people to explore the ways in which their mind, body and spirit can contribute to health and well-being.

LIFE Program Dates (2 Day Program at InspireHealth Centres)

A healthy lunch and snacks are provided for all participants on both days.

2020	Lower Mainland Vancouver 604-734-7125	Vancouver Island – Victoria 250-595-7125	Southern Interior – Kelowna 250-861-7125
January	15-16	29-30
February	12-13	–	12-13
March	11-12	11-12
April	15-16	21-22
May	13-14	27-28
June	17-18	–
July	15-16	8-9
August	19-20	12-13
September	23-24	16-17
October	28-29	28-29
December	2-3	2-3

Please bring your own bagged lunch for 1 day programs.Regional LIFE Program Dates (1 Day)

For full details on venue location please see the Event Calendar.

2020	Lower Mainland/Sea to Sky/Sunshine Coast 604-734-7125	Vancouver Island – Victoria 250-595-7125	Southern Interior – Kelowna 250-861-7125
January	Jan 29 – Langley
February	Feb 28 – North Vancouver
March
May
June
Sept
Nov

Space is limited. Register now by phone at your closest location.Registration:

• Please ensure that all attendees in your party, including support members, have been registered in advance.
• Please notify us if you are unable to attend, or will not be attending the full program.
• Please arrive 10-15 minutes early on Wednesday to get settled as we will begin introductions promptly at 9:30am.

Schedule:

• Both days of the program will begin at 9:30 am and finish at approximately 3:30 pm.
• There will be a 15 minute break in the morning, 45 minutes for lunch, and a 15 minute break in the afternoon.
• Lunch and snacks are provided on both days of the program. All food served is wheat-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian. Please kindly bring your own food if this does not meet your dietary needs for the day.

What to bring:

• Comfortable clothing, including something to keep you warm.
• A water bottle.
• The InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care Guide is a companion to the LIFE Program and it includes is a section for note taking during presentations. This guide is available to purchase for $20 at the front desk upon arrival. The e-book is also available for $10.

Parking for the LIFE Program:

VANCOUVER, LOWER MAINLAND
Underground paid parking is available in nearby locations for $10-$12 including:
1. 1333 West Broadway (entrance on Birch St)
2. 1401 West Broadway
3. 1338 West Broadway
4. 1434 West 8th Avenue
5. 1385 West 8th Avenue
• Most street parking in the area has a two hour limit.

KELOWNA, SOUTHERN INTERIOR

Located on the second floor of the Town Centre Mall (#123 – 565 Bernard Ave, Kelowna). You may access the mall parking off Lawrence Avenue on both sides of the building in the lots closest to the building.  The parking is FREE and normally restricted to two hours but we have arranged for full-day parking passes for LIFE Program participants. Please call or come in to our office with your license plate number along with make, model and color of vehicle to reserve your space. If for some reason there is not enough parking in the free mall lots, the lot on the south side of the mall offers paid parking for the day (coins only).

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There are opportunities for group participants to be part of the “inspiring conversation” and share how the topics relate to their cancer experience. These group sessions help participants delve deeper into concepts that can help facilitate greater levels of self-care and self-awareness. Both patients and support people are welcome to attend.

Mind

Making Friends With Your Mind
Learn how to use your mind to promote health. Participants will learn about the mind-body connection and fight/flight/freeze vs. rest/digest/heal responses. We will explore barriers such as external and internal stressors and observe the power that our thoughts, beliefs and attitudes have on quality of life.

Introduction to Mindfulness
This workshop will introduce you to the concept and benefits of mindfulness, including stress reduction, self-awareness, the ability to relax at will, deep relaxed sleep and enjoyment of life/satisfaction. This workshop is a great opportunity to practice and learn what mindfulness is all about. You will be guided through some practices of meditation including ones that can be brought into your everyday life.

Healthy Communication
Healthy communication can be a lofty goal at the best of times- and even more so while living with cancer and its stresses. This workshop aims to provide you with tangible tools to help you become a healthy communicator and more mindful listener both in person and online. Tools for healthy communication can help decrease stress and increase connection with oneself and others.

Body

Listening to your Body
Deepen your relationship with your body, and learn how to listen and act upon its messages. You will learn about deep, relaxed breathing and take home practices that will settle both mind and body. We will also discuss exercise and sleep routine inspirations and challenges. You will leave with a renewed sense of connection and motivation to care for and listen to your body.

Creativity for Self-Care
In this workshop we will explore how creativity can help us revise, reframe, and reimagine ourselves in difficult times. We will explore research about creativity and wellness, and at the end, guide you through a simple creative exercise. Absolutely no art experience necessary! Designed for both patients and supporters, too.

Relaxation & Visualization
This workshop will explore the benefits, barriers and bliss of practicing relaxation and visualization. For the first half of the class we will discuss the practice of intentional rest and relaxation, and for the second of the class you will be guided through a relaxing calm-place visualization. 

Emotions

Exploring and Caring for your Emotions
Feelings are neither wrong or right, good or bad, they just are. Join us for this workshop on emotions where we will learn ways to identify and express feelings, to build greater self-awareness. We will explore tools for how to express emotions, and explore ways to self-soothe and regulate during uncomfortable emotions.

Navigating Change, Grief, and Loss
Change, grief, and loss are common aspects of the cancer experience. For many people, grief can bring about challenging and uncomfortable emotions which may also trigger physical symptoms. In this workshop, we will explore and normalize the emotional and physiological experiences of grief; and together, explore tools and art-making as a way of navigating the grieving process.

Resilience
In this creative workshop we explore resilience through the grounding symbolism of the tree. With guidance and visualization you will connect inward and create your own “tree of life” through drawing. Come plant roots and have fun with creative expression that can help cultivate self-awareness and find ways to express emotion.

Passion
We may experience being disconnected from our passion but it is always awake and alive within us. Together we will explore passion: what it is (and what it isn’t), how to connect with the ‘spark’ inside all of us and how to express ourselves more fully and authentically. Discover how connecting with passion expands our horizons and helps us feel more alive!

An Introduction to Self-Compassion
Most of us are too hard on ourselves. In this workshop, we will explore self-compassion: the practice of treating ourselves as we would a good friend. Together we will learn about the foundations of self-compassion, and how it can help us navigate the difficulties of our lives with more kindness and less judgment. Research on self-compassion has shown that it can increase happiness and improve relationships, while decreasing anxiety, depression and shame. Join us to learn fresh perspectives and practical ways to stop being so hard on ourselves.

Spirit

Spirit and Well-Being
Connecting with our own unique sense of spirit/soul/essence/life force can help transform fear and worry and bring us a sense of peace, joy, gratitude and freedom. In this workshop we will explore how spiritual connection supports health and allows us to move with more ease through the many cycles of life.

Cultivating Gratitude
Join us for this meaningful workshop where we will explore, practice and discuss the power of cultivating a grateful heart. A growing body of research indicates there are very real benefits to cultivating this attitude for those with chronic health conditions. In this meaningful workshop we will explore gratitude through creative and mindful practices. You will leave the workshop with practices that can be used to benefit your physical, mental and emotional health.

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InspireHealth’s LIFE Webinar Series is a supportive cancer care education program that can be accessed online from anywhere. Four live sessions are provided in a convenient online format during which participants can ask questions of the facilitating health professional. Through this program participants will learn important ways to prevent cancer, alleviate symptoms of cancer treatment, reduce the likelihood of recurrence, and optimize health and well-being. A high-speed internet connection is required to participate. Please visit our website for dates and registration information.

This program is open to anyone who is eager to take an active role in their own health and well-being. This program is right for you if:

• you have received a cancer diagnosis, recent or past, or;
• you are supporting someone with cancer, or;
• you are interested in cancer prevention.

There are four parts in the LIFE Webinar Series:

Part 1: Foundations of Healing
Learn an optimal approach to engage the mind, body and spirit to create a solid foundation for health and well-being.

Part 2: Nutrition – Inspired to Eat Healthy
This module will teach you the key areas for nutritional change to enhance your health. Even small changes to your diet may help to optimize your body’s healing potential.

Part 3: Self-Care and Support
This dynamic webinar explores ways of discovering deeper levels of awareness, strategies to manage stress and how we can support authentic, healthy communication.

Part 4: Physical Activity – Inspired to Move
Understand how exercise can help reduce cancer risk, lessen side effects of treatment and enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments. You’ll learn how simple and intentional movement helps you feel better and contributes to your health and well-being.

See the upcoming webinars to register for the next LIFE Webinar series.

 

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A diagnosis at this age may bring up concerns like premature confrontation with mortality; changes to physical appearance, body image, sexuality and fertility; increased dependence on parents for financial support; changes in education and employment opportunities and communication of a cancer diagnosis to their young children. Despite the unique set of concerns and challenges for young adults with cancer, there are very few practical support programs specific to this group in Canada.

InspireHealth clinicians are aware and attuned to this populations’ unique needs. Please call any of our centres to register to meet with one of our clinicians.

At our Vancouver Island (Victoria) Centre we provide monthly classes dedicated to young adults. These include a monthly rotation of: cooking classes, yoga, art therapy and nature-based activities all aimed at supporting individuals and their supports while building community and connection amongst young adults.

InspireHealth recognizes and appreciates the important work that Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) is doing to support this population. We have a collaborative relationship such that InspireHealth is privileged to participate in YACC’s annual conference and retreats as well as hosting their annual ‘Big Cancer Hook-up’.

Young adults are of course also welcome to participate in any of InspireHealth’s classes and programs.

InspireHealth is passionate about supporting young adults with cancer and we are working to expand our programming in all of our centres.

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