You’ve come to the right place. Whether your cancer was recently diagnosed, you are currently in treatment or you have had cancer in the past, Inspiritas Spa and Wellness Center was created especially for you.
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming to even the strongest patient. Uncertainty, stress and a sense of loss of control are frequent side effects, along with the pain of the disease and side effects of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Evidence now shows clearly that our thoughts and state of mind can affect our blood pressure, pulse and respiration. Stress, poor nutrition and depression can actually change our bodies and weaken our immune systems.
The good news: there are sound, evidence-based treatments and lifestyle changes that can complement the cancer treatment prescribed by your oncologist, help you deal with the disease, improve the way you feel an enhance your quality of life.
“When you are in with your doctor, you’re often so nervous that sometimes you only hear a few things. And you may be in the center with friends or caregivers for hours between chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
"In our Spa you have peaceful time for contemplation, to prepare for your next meeting or digest what you just heard in a soothing, natural atmosphere. Hearing the sounds of falling water, the smell of essential oils or just being in the Zen garden can benefit cancer patients. It helps them to feel good."
"There is evidence that acupuncture can relieve pain. We know massage certainly can be relaxing. The Wellness Center offers a lot of benefits, too, including group therapy and a lot of other helpful services." — Dr. Steven Kalter, START Center oncologist
Nutrition can greatly impact how a person feels during chemotherapy and radiation therapy. What you eat and drink, and what vitamins and supplements you take can impact your risk of developing cancer or relapsing.
Massage therapy and acupuncture are well-known in cancer care for their ability to relieve physical pain and increase relaxation. Mind-body approaches like meditation, deep relaxation, and guided imagery can greatly help to lower anxiety and depression as well as improve sleep and overall well-being.
"These are very well-researched, government-approved therapies. We want to focus on treatment modalities for which there is good evidence of benefit for cancer patients. Everyone knows that cancer patients feel terrible a lot of the time, but people that can access complementary treatments such as massage therapy and acupuncture can greatly enhance their quality of life.” — Dr. Amy Lang, START Center oncologist
While all of our treatments have been carefully designed with the oncology patient in mind, not all services are suitable for clients currently undergoing active treatment. We can tailor our treatments and services to each patient’s individual situation, taking into account the type and stage of cancer and the person’s goals and lifestyle. Please check with Inspiritas customer service staff and/or your physician for more information.
How complementary therapies can benefit cancer patients:
Massage Therapy and Body Treatments
Massage Therapy
- Relieve stress and pain and promote feelings of well-bein
- May help improve circulation and immune function
- Relax and restore energy
- Help relieve lymphadema in some breast cancer patients
Reflexology
- Pressure and touch applied to specific reflex points in the feet
- Can stimulate whole body healing and increase energy flow.
- Improve circulation
- Help detoxify the system
- Reduce tension
Aromatherapy
- Help patients relax
- Reinvigorate and refresh
Body Treatments
Cancer and cancer treatment can dry and damage the skin. Our body treatments use natural organic wraps and scrubs to
- Soothe, relax and refresh
- Remove toxins
- Exfoliate, remineralize and nourish stressed, depleted skin
Skin Care
Specialized facial treatments can
- Nourish skin damaged by stress or side effects of cancer treatment
- Improve skin tone and health
- Moisturize and soothe skin for approved appearance
All of the skin care products in facials and other skin care treatments at Inspiritas are organic and pure, with no hormones, paraben or phthalates.
*For a full menu of spa treatments click here: (link to PDF)
Wellness
Yoga, stretching and deep breathing may:
- Improve general health
- Increase a sense of well-being
- Increase flexibility
- Enhance healing and enhance healing.
Inspiritas offers free regularly scheduled classes in meditation and deep breathing techniques. Regularly scheduled fee-based classes on yoga and stretching in our Movement Studio.
Nutritional Counseling
Nutrition and diet can have profound effects on health and well being, particularly for cancer patients.
Proper nutrition can:
- Strengthen the immune system
- Help optimize the results of your cancer treatment
- Help you feel better, stay stronger and recover faster
Our nutritional counselor Heidi Jensen, a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology and a Registered Dietician, can help cancer patients experiencing weight loss and loss of appetite, fatigue, sore mouth and throat, nausea and vomiting, constipation or diarrhea and the changes in taste and smell that often accompany cancer and cancer treatments.
Inspiritas offers free Nutrition During Cancer Care classes
We also can provide customized individual nutritional counseling and planning for cancer patients, families and caregivers.
Our gift shop carries a wide selection of nutritional supplements, books and CDs on nutrition and health and cookbooks.
Integrative Services
Acupuncture
Clinical studies have shown acupuncture can help
- Relieve nausea caused by chemotherapy
- Improve immune system function
- Help relieve cancer pain
- Minimize hormonal hot flashes and relieve muscle and joint pain associated with some breast and prostate cancer treatments
Reiki
Therapeutic approach to healing that uses gentle touch to restore harmony and balance to the body’s energy system, promoting self-healing and relaxation.
Guided Imagery
Guided imagery uses a range of techniques to help patients access their inner resources to relieve stress and pain. Used in a directed way, it can:
- Help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system
- Lower blood pressure
- Relieve tension, quiet the breathing and promote healing
Inspiritas offers regularly scheduled free group classes on using guided imagery, and Inspiritas director Ginger Kemmy can provide individual training and direction.
Spiritual Direction
Shown to be effective in helping cancer patients cope with the disease and recover emotional and spiritual balance. They can help relieve stress and pain, promote healing and impart a sense of inner peace and well-being.
*For an updated schedule and description of our free and fee-based classes click here.
