Cancer Wellness House Inc.

59 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
Telephone: (801) 236-2294
Website: www.cancer-wellness.org
Attn: Katie Porter

Description

Cancer Wellness House was founded in 1997 to complement traditional medical treatment. Its programs focus on holistic wellness programming including mindfulness, meditation, hypnosis, yoga, massage and therapeutic touch, as well as providing support groups for patients, caregivers, and family members. It is the only wellness-centered programming available in the Intermountain West dedicated to offering free psychosocial support and resources to those living with cancer and their family and friends, in a home-like setting.

In 2009 Cancer Wellness House partnered with world-renowned skier and Zen Buddhism teacher Kristen Ulmer in order to offer Ski to Live Cancer Survivor Clinics, which incorporate the principles of Big Mind (as taught and authorized by Genpo Dennis Merzel) applied to a physical activity in sport. This is not just the theory of living your life from the perspective of Genpo's apex construction, but living it in action with the application of the mind construct to skiing for emotional healing of and dealing with cancer - a practical application of the Big Mind practice in real life situations. The Foundation's grant of $2,000, made under the auspices of its Small Grants Program, funded six scholarships to the clinic, which was held in February, 2010.

Results / Update

The Cancer Wellness House received funding from the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation to provide scholarships to the Ski to Live Cancer Survivor clinics, which unites Zen Buddhism practice with the physical practice of skiing. Our goal was to promote hope, health and healing among those affected with cancer by exposing them to Big Mind Zen Buddhism. Created by world famous Zen Master, Genpo Roshi, Big Mind is a simple, facilitated voice dialog which allows practitioners to access consciousness from both an egocentered perspective and a universal perspective.

On the snowy days of February 5, 6 and March 10, 2010, we held the first Ski to Live Cancer Survivor clinic. Five individuals participated in the two days of skiing (seven registered but two were unable to attend being too ill from treatment to participate) at Snowbird, Utah, and 22 individuals participated in an evening of Big Mind Zen Buddhism practice and discussion at the Cancer Wellness House.

Five participants embarked on a profound journey through different forms of consciousness through on-mountain coaching. During this time, Ski to Live led practices that focused on the mental and spiritual side of sports and Big Mind practice. Participants skied while discussing a wide array of life experiences. Thus, linking how we ski to how we approach life, what life hands us, and the cancer journey.

On March 10, 2010, during an evening program at the Cancer Wellness House, 22 participants were able to join the Big Mind practice discussion, which involved fear, happiness, growth, anger, joy, anxiety and cancer. Due to people’s health issues, more individuals were able to participate in the evening program. A total of 27 individuals were exposed to Big Mind Zen Buddhism, exceeding our expectations.

Through the generous scholarships made available from the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation, individuals affected by cancer, including cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their caregivers, were able to access the Ski To Live Cancer Survivor clinic program events.