St. John’s Health Announces New Wellness Walks for Cancer Survivors

St. John’s Health’s Wellness Department announces the Wednesday Wellness Walks program for cancer survivors, beginning this week. The new program, open to anyone who has experienced cancer, aims to help people get outside, enjoy a walk, and foster their sense of wellbeing. The idea behind the program is to help build relationships and healthy lifestyle practices. Every other Wednesday, beginning June 8, Wellness staff will meet participants at Emily’s Pond at 10:00 am. Water and healthy snacks will be provided. Other lifestyle medicine health experts will join the Walks to offer information about dietary health, exercise and activity, stress reduction, mindfulness, sleep health, and other health topics. Wellness experts already signed up to join the sessions include certified health coach Nola Peacock PT, DSc, mindfulness facilitator Sasha Dingle, registered dietitian Sarah Peterson, speech therapist Chris Smithwick, oncology nurse and wellbeing coach Elizabeth Peltz, and Beyron Zecher, FNP, a member of the Sleep Health team.

Natalie Stewart, director of St. John’s Health’s Wellness Department, is thrilled about the new program, which was created in collaboration with Katelyn Webb, St. John’s Health’s Cancer Survivorship Program Coordinator. Natalie is a registered nurse, a wellness coach, and a lifestyle medicine nurse. “We are excited to bring this program to the community, and especially to people who have participated in St. John’s Health’s Cancer Survivorship program,” said Stewart. “Since the pandemic, our access to many activities that are beneficial to our social and physical health has become more limited,” she added. The new program is an opportunity to build relationships, create connections, and learn healthy lifestyle techniques and tools.

Participants will be able to get outside and connect with people who have gone through similar experiences. They will be able to form support systems with other participants and members of the wellness staff at St. John’s Health. The Wellness team will introduce the pillars of lifestyle medicine which they feel this program fully encompasses healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, healthy relationships, sleep, and substance reduction. With these pillars incorporated into participants’ lifestyles, they will have new tools to rebuild a healthy life.

Participants can register for the program by calling the Wellness Department at (307) 739-7399 or online through Eventbrite. The registration link can be found on the St. John’s Health Website under “Wednesday Wellness Walks” or by scanning the QR code on the flier. This program is an incredible opportunity for participants to implement the pillars of lifestyle medicine into their own lives, all while taking in the fresh air and scenery of our beautiful home.

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Media Contact: Karen Connelly, Chief Communications Officer, kconnelly@stjohns.health, (307) 739-7380