Mind Choice: Turning Towards Difficulties

Today's post is the fourth written by Clare McLusky who provides us with an insight into her experience with cancer and the popular practice of Mindfulness. 

Clare has a Masters degree in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from University of Oxford and teaches Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy to people living with cancer. Clare is also a qualified Occupational Therapist, Yes to Life Helpline volunteer and one of the founding members and facilitators of Oxford Sangha, practicing in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Do you have the patience to wait

Till your mud settles and the water is clear?

Can you remain unmoving

Till the right action arises by itself?”

Lao Tzu

I recently went on a course entitled Mindfulness Based Pain and Illness Management led by Vidyamala Birch and Gary Hennessey of Breathworks. I felt very honoured to be there, at the foot of Snowdon, with such authentic and humble teachers as Vidyamala and Gary.

Vidyamala’s teachings come direct from her own experience of living with pain for over 30 years and change in response to what she learns through her own practice. 

Luxury Chocolate Brownies

Today's post is written by Jenny Phillips who specialises in supporting cancer patients with diet & lifestyle interventions. She herself recovered from breast cancer 10 years ago. 

Jenny has kindly shared a recipe with us which is perfect for the festive season...

Here’s a Christmas treat which is good for you too! This delicious recipe is easy to make, gluten free and packed with protein from ground almonds and eggs. There is natural sweetness from the banana and this is supplemented with xylitol, a sugar alcohol that doesn’t affect blood glucose levels. And because it’s so satisfying you’ll be less likely to over indulge too. A little bit of what you fancy can indeed do you good. Enjoy!

Our First Manchester Seminar: ‘Lifestyle Choices and Cancer’

Today’s post is about our recent seminar ‘Lifestyle Choices and Cancer’ which was held on the 22nd November 2014 at the Manchester Conference centre. With talks from integrative oncologist Dr Francisco Contreras, Cancer Options’ Patricia Peat and Gloria Halim, self-confessed ‘breast cancer warrior’, the morning was full of fascinating insights. Stay up to date with future seminars on our events page or by joining our mailing list (on the right of the page).

The weekend’s grey weather could not put a dampener on the excitement of hosting our very first northern seminar. Whilst the Yes to Life office is based in London, our beneficiaries are spread across the country so reaching out to different regions is very important to us, and the welcome we received in Manchester could not have been warmer. We settled into our seats, notepads at the ready, to learn more about how lifestyle choices can influence experiences of cancer.