By Annette Montalvo
Correspondent
—
ROCKPORT — Saskia Roell, a naturopath and life coach nicknamed the "Courage Coach" by some of her clients, is beginning a series of afternoon workshops titled, "Courage to Heal — Women Moving Through Breast Cancer."
The first six-week series begins this Wednesday and runs through June 23.
Roell said her work as a naturopath focused on medical healing; now, as a life coach, she is focusing on the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spiritual health.
"It's a great benefit for me that I got that original (medical) background of how the body functions," Roell said, "but now I work with the emotional and spiritual piece."
The "Courage to Heal" workshop, she said, was developed through the Women Moving Through Breast Cancer program at the Stillpoint Foundation in Peterborough, N.H. Roell was trained by Dr. Meredith Young-Sowers, creator of the program.
"Studies have shown that when you come to terms emotionally and spiritually with the diagnosis, it is really a key part of the healing process." Roell said. The "Moving Through..." program helps women to understand and connect the different pieces of their physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
For the past eight years, Roell has worked through similar workshop exercises, dealing with people on a one-on-one basis.
"I saw how powerful it was and felt a calling to offer it to a group," said Roell.
She believes it is empowering to hear others in a group setting.
"With this program we look at how do we deal with (a breast cancer diagnosis), how do we move forward in life and see more opportunity," she said.
Roell said breast cancer is a disease that seems to invoke more anger in women than other diseases.
"The breast, for a woman, is such an immensely important body part," she said. "It represents nourishment and giving life and giving birth.
"In this program we learn how to deal with that and finding new ways of being ourselves," she said.
Roell has opted to teach this workshop series in her Rockport home.
Anyone seeking more information about the program may contact Roell at saskia.roell@verizon.net.
"It's a more intimate setting that gives a sense of security," said Roell.
She is also running a second series of workshops in Newburyport beginning on Thursday. The local workshop is being offered at a cost of $120 for all six sessions.
Over the course of the six weeks, Roell said, participants will work through a variety of exercises.
One of Roell's favorite exercises is called the 12 o'clock exercise — "12" representing both hands of a clock pointing up. The exercise focuses on remembering to end a sentence with a positive thought.
"For example," said Roell, "if you were to say 'well, the doctor didn't really understand what was going on with me,' you would add, 'but I will make sure in the next appointment we take another look at it.'"
Roell, who has studied the subconscious mind and hypnosis, said that thoughts have an impact on the body, and that ending the sentence with a positive feeling will move you in that direction.
Another exercise has a person step into the center of the group.
"The circle represents life, and it's an exercise where you're thinking 'well, now I am going to step into the circle of my life,'" said Roell.
The program is approved by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and is open to everyone — those who have breast cancer, those who are in treatment, and those who would like more information.
"Sometimes when you have cancer, you look at the end of the road," Roell said, "and we still have so many roads we can still walk."
