IWMF Wellness Program

IWMF offers a range of wellness classes tailored to meet the needs of individuals living with WM. Wherever you are in your wellness journey, we have something for you, including offerings led by instructors who also have WM. Our evidence-based practices address the whole person—not just the disease. With this holistic approach, we strive to help you thrive!

Caregivers are also encouraged to participate.

Note:   IWMF Wellness Programs offer complementary or integrative practices to be used in conjunction with standard medical treatment, with the approval of your doctor.

How Can I Participate in the IWMF Wellness Program?

Check out the IWMF Events Calendar to find a class or webinar that works for your schedule. Classes and webinars are available via Zoom and YouTube to ensure the ongoing safety of our community.

Sign Up to Get the Monthly Wellness News.

Reach out to Wellness Program Coordinator for more info or to find out which class is a good fit for you – email: anngrace@iwmf.com

A note about fatigue:
One of the most common symptoms of Waldenstrom’s is fatigue. We offer a range of practices that can support your awareness of your own vitality, as well as the means to boost it. In our classes, you’ll find options for varying fatigue levels, as well as personalized cues.

Remember, physical activity is the number one intervention for cancer-related fatigue.

Yoga

T’ai Chi

T’ai Chi and Qi Gong with Rami Rones

Explore the ancient mind-body therapies of T’ai Chi and Qi Gong. They help reduce anxiety and stress. T’ai Chi and Qi Gong help boost your mood, immune system, and energy levels. The slow, low-impact movements can:

• Increase muscle mass and bone density
• Ease aches and pains
• Gently stretch muscles
• Improve your balance

Fitness

Cardio Flow with Ann Grace

Get your blood flowing with simple repetitive movements that:

• Strengthen the core and legs
• Work the upper body
• Pump the lymph fluid for immune system support

Challenge your coordination and balance while addressing symptoms such as fatigue and peripheral neuropathy.

Finding Fitness with Sharon

Strength training can help us age more gracefully by:

• Improving mobility and bone density
• Maintaining or increasing muscle mass
• Decreasing the risk of falling

Join Sharon Piotrowski for a strength training workout for all fitness levels. Sharon is a ACE Certified Personal Trainer and WM community member.

Relaxation and Meditation Guidance

Mindfulness Meditation

Take a mindfulness break to manage stress. In cancer patients across the board, mindfulness-based practices have been shown to:

• Reduce psychological distress
• Reduce fatigue
• Reduce sleep disturbance
• Decrease pain
• Decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra has has been shown to:

• Decrease stress levels
• Improve sleep quality
• Elevate well-being
• Increase the mindfulness

Practice this guided relaxation while lying down on a bed or couch.

Sound Meditation

Relax to the sound of authentic Himalayan Singing bowls. Gentle verbal guidance and healing chants further calm the nervous system. Research shows this restorative practice could be useful for those experiencing: 

• Fatigue
• Chronic stress
• Depression
• Anxiety

Wellness Webinars

Educate and Empower Wellness Webinars

Our monthly wellness gatherings tackle relevant topics and allow us to sample integrative care. We feature notable wellness experts in the cancer community whose mission is improving patient outcomes during the cancer journey. Come ready to learn, do, and ask questions!

Want to find out when our next wellness webinar is happening? Check out the IWMF website calendar HERE

You Are Not Alone

Meet others who share your rare diagnosis! Our support chat that follows many of our live classes sets us apart from other organizations in the cancer field. We provide a hosted, global platform that enables participants to share their unique journeys. This sense of community plays an important therapeutic role in our program.