Living well with Metastatic breast cancer

Workshops

Calming the Stress Response Workshop

A practical workshop to understand and calm your nervous system during moments of high stress.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated that nothing works to calm your body down when stressed, this workshop is for you. You’ll learn how stress affects the body and how to:

Use simple breath and movement practices to shift your stress response
Calm your nervous system even when overwhelmed
Develop your own ‘toolkit’ for use in everyday life

Facilitator: Katie Marsh, Specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor
Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer, newly diagnosed and in treatment
Duration: 2 hours
Venue: Online
Max participants: 8

Apply Here

Treasured Tales

This workshop aims to create a safe, non-judgemental environment to explore ways to create a lasting legacy for your family and friends. The workshop will pose questions to help you explore your life and start to think about meaningful ways to record your treasured tales.

The focus of this workshop is on empowering you, and facilitating and planning your project.

Facilitator: Holly Pertwee. Specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer

Duration: 2.5 hours

Venue: Cottesloe

Max participants: 8

Apply Here

Managing Hot Flushes in the Moment

A skills-based workshop to help you manage hot flushes caused by breast cancer treatment

In this small group. youll leam:

why hot flushes happen
how your thoughts and reactions can affect the experience of a hot flush
techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and self compassion to help you cope more calmly
practical ways to reduce distress in the moment.

You’ll leave with tools to feel more in control and less overwhelmed during hot flushes.

Facilitator: Katie Marsh, Specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor

Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer

Duration: 2 hours

Venue: Online

Max participants: 8

Apply Here

Drop-in Mindfulness Meditation Practice

25-minute practice sessions offered twice a month to help calm the mind and body.

Mindfulness meditation can help ease anxiety, promote relaxation, and give you a sense of control These sessions include:

Gentle breathing techniques
Guided muscle relaxation
Mindfulness of thoughts and body sensations

You don’t need to ‘clear your mind’ – just come as you are. No group discussion, just simple guided practice in a welcoming space.

Facilitator: Katie Marsh, Specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor.

Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer, newly diagnosed and in treatment

Duration: 30 minutes

Venue: Online

Max participants: 12

Apply Here

Clay Therapy

Learn skills to quieten your mind and step away from the anxieties of breast cancer through the grounding medium of clay.

Clay is a natural substance and a wonderful medium in which to creatively express oneself while having an intense tactile experience. Clay work lends itself to a variety of therapeutic aims, including facilitating expression of emotions, revealing unconscious thoughts, stimulating catharsis, etc.

You don’t need to be artistic, as this workshop is about mindfulness and the process, not the end product.

Includes:

Facilitate the exploration and expression of emotions
Encourage mindfulness and clarity of thought, while putting stressful thoughts aside
Develop skills to ease the breast cancer experience
Focus on self-care and self-compassion

Facilitator: Jacqui Cairns, Specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor

Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer, newly diagnosed and in treatment

Venue: Cottesloe

Duration: 5.5 hours

Max participants: 10

Apply Here

Exercise medicine

Targeted exercise has powerful anti-cancer effects. It is often said that if exercise was a drug, every person diagnosed with cancer would be prescribed it. The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) recommends that people with cancer engage in both aerobic and strength training exercises as part of their treatment and recovery.

All participants must provide a current Physical Activity Application Form.
You will be prompted to complete the this form when you click ‘register interest’ on events, or you can complete it below.

If you have bone metastases or other risk factors, we request a Medical Clearance Form. Please ask your treating doctor if you are safe to participate and if so, complete the Medical Clearance Form.

Living Well Physical Activity Application Form Medical Clearance Form

Online exercise (6 weeks)

Exercise Medicine is safe and proven to improve outcomes including helping you:

Manage treatment side effects
Improve physical function
Reduce the risk of cancer recurrence
Enhance overall quality of life.

Delivered by Accredited Exercise Physiologists, this program progresses gently and includes education and guided activity. Exercises can be modified to suit your needs.

Facilitators: Claire Mason & Emma Wilson, Accredited Exercise Physiologists

External provider: Vario Health Clinic at the Exercise Medicine Research Institute Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer, newly diagnosed and in treatment

Venue: Online via Zoom

Duration: Exercise works on dose; it really is a medicine! To get the benefit from this progressive program, we ask for your commitment to attend all 12 sessions.

2 x 1 hour sessions per week for 6 weeks

Tuesdays and Fridays 6am (Intermediate level)
Tuesdays and Fridays 10am (Introductory level)

Introductory Level – For those who have not been exercising in the past three months and/or have bone metastases and/or movement limitations. If you have bone metastases or other risk factors, we request a Medical Clearance Form.

Intermediate Level – for those who are generally well and able to exercise.

Equipment: You will need an internet connected device with camera and audio functionality. Set yourself up in a quiet space at home, with a mat/towel and resistance band, also known as a theraband. If you do not have a resistance band, contact us, and we can send you one.

Maximum participants: 10

Wellness activities

All of our wellness activities are delivered by qualified facilitators who have additional training in supporting people with cancer. All physical activity comes with some risk and in order to provide the safest and most suitable programming.

We require a Physical Activity Application Form from all participants and a Medical Clearance Form if you have bone metastases or other concerns about whether exercise is safe for you.

Living Well Physical Activity Application Form Medical Clearance Form

Yoga Therapy Program

Yoga is beneficial for cancer recovery by helping manage physical and psychological side effects of treatment, such as fatigue, pain, and anxiety. It can improve sleep. digestion, reduce stress, enhance mood, and promote a sense of well-being and control.

Yoga therapy, unlike general yoga classes, is tailored to meet your unique needs, health situation and goals. Yoga Therapists are experienced yoga teachers with additional training in delivering programs tailored to meet health needs. You can attend in person for our 8-week Cottesloe program or join our online therapeutic yoga classes anytime.

To tailor the practices appropriately, you will be asked to fill out a Physical Activity Application Form and have an intake interview with our yoga therapist.

Living Well Physical Activity Application Form

Metastatic Wellness Day Retreat

You are invited to spend a reflective day in quiet communion exploring gentle chair yoga, guided mindfulness, creative therapies, sound healing, massage, and a light vegetarian lunch in the garden.

Facilitators: Julian Silburn, Natalia Fidyka, Metastatic Breast Care Nurses, with Dr Chandrika Gibson, Yoga Therapist.

Guided Chair/Mat Yoga mediation
Therapeutic Massages
Nature-bathing
Sound Healing facilitated by Julian Silburn
Creative expressive therapies led by Natalia Fidyka

Venue: Cottesloe

Date: October 27th

Duration: 5 hours

Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer

Max participants: 24

Note that a current health history form is required to confirm registration.

Online yoga

Facilitator: Dr Chandrika Gibson, Yoga Therapist

External Provider: Surya Health

Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer, newly diagnosed and in treatment.

Duration: 1 hour per class

Venue: Online via zoom

Equipment: You will need en internet-connected device with camera and audio functionality. A quiet space at nome were you can set up your yoga mat, yoga block, bolster, blanket and eye pillow.

Maximum participants: 10

When: Start anytime

Choose from different styles of yoga at the following times:

Monday 7pm Gentle Yoga – Start slowly and limber every joint in your body before moving through standing and seated sequences designed to improve strength, stability and balance. Ample relaxation and breathing included in this welcoming class.

Tuesday 6:30pm Yin Yoga – A mellow, meditative style of yoga where shapes are held for up to 5 minutes. No weight-bearing and ideal when feeling fatigued. Light a candle. gather your props and get cosy.

Wednesday 7pm Gentle Hatha – A non-flowing class with time to explore alignment and build strength and mobility gradually. Ideal for recovering after treatment and for days when you feel all the aches and pains too.

Thursday 9:30am slow flow vinyasa – The most active class on offer which includes weight bearing on arms as part of Towing sequences where each shape is held for around 5 breaths. Options are offered so you can adapt this class to suit yourself, however a moderate level of fitness will make this more enjoyable.

Yoga Therapy Program – Cottesloe (8 weeks)

This is a progressive 8-week program using yoga asanas (postures), breathwork (pranayama), meditation and relaxation techniques.

Facilitator: Angela Black, Yoga Therapist

External Provider: Wisdom Yoga Institute

Suitable for: People living with metastatic breast cancer, newly diagnosed and in treatment

Venue: Cottesloe

Equipment: Mats, bolsters, pillows and blankets are provided. Dress in stretchy layers you can move in, and wear shoes you can easily remove.

Duration: 1.5 hours per week for 8 weeks

Yoga therapy works on dose! To get the benefits from this tailored, progressive program, your commitment to attend all 8 sessions is requested.

Max participants: 12 per class

Exercise, when prescribed as part of cancer care (exercise medicine), is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for breast cancer...

18th August 2026