Mind, Body, Spirit Program
The Mind, Body, Spirit Program at CancerCare was created to help those affected by a cancer diagnosis better manage stress and improve their overall well-being. Many patients and their loved ones are receptive to relaxation techniques, including deep breathing exercises, meditation, guided imagery and vibration therapy/drumming, to reduce stress and gain insight into the interaction between mind and body.
Deep Breathing Exercises
At the core of life is breath. Anxiety and stress can make us take short, shallow breaths. Shallow breathing, which does not allow enough oxygen to enter our bodies, can make us even more anxious. Laughing, sighing and yawning are the body's natural ways of getting us to breathe deeply. That is why we often feel calmer or rejuvenated after these experiences.
Meditation
- One-pointed meditation focuses on a word or sound called a mantra. Many people create their own mantra from an affirming word, such as "peace," "love" or "hope." Once you choose a mantra, find a safe, quiet place and repeat it to yourself during 15- to 20-minute sittings. The goal is to calm the mind, which has a natural tendency to jump from one idea to the next – and from one worry to the next.
- Two-pointed meditation, often called Mindful or Insight Meditation, focuses on the breath as a way of relaxing; when the mind wanders one simply observes one's thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally, then gently guides the focus back to one's breath.
Guided Imagery
This technique combines deep breathing and meditation to stimulate your imagination. These exercises can be accompanied by "ambient" sounds, usually music or nature such as waterfalls or ocean waves, and include envisioning a peaceful setting, sometimes from memory, and a desired outcome that brings you to a state of relaxation and peace.
Vibration Therapy / Drumming
Whereas meditation is used to quiet the mind and body, drumming (also chanting, humming, and other percussion instruments), can be employed as a technique to open the body systems and bring them back into balance. Drumming can be like an action mantra; with the vibration gradually moving one into a natural rhythm, bringing the breath back to normal, and a sense of peace and ease to the mind and body.
CancerCare Resources
Ask CancerCare
Fact Sheets
- Relaxation Techniques and Mind/Body Practices: How They Can Help You Cope With Cancer
- Strengthening the Spirit
Connect Booklet
Connect Workshop Podcast
Recommended Reading
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Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life
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The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music
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Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
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Mortally Wounded: Stories of Soul Pain, Death, and Healing
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Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine
Additional Resources
Online Resources
- Breath:
- Meditation:
- Affirmations:
- Drumming:
For more information...
Contact Richard Dickens, Mind/Body/Spirit Project Coordinator
Richard Dickens, LCSW-R, is program coordinator of Blood Cancers and project coordinator of the Mind/Body Program at CancerCare. A graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work and a clinical fellow of Smith College, he is also an adjunct assistant professor of Field Instruction for graduate students of social work at several leading institutions. Dickens has presented Mind/Body/Spirit Workshops internationally and received training in Vipassana "Insight" Meditation in India. He is also a 15-year survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
