As cancer patients, you may find yourself limiting your social connections. This is may be a due to lack of energy, treatment symptoms, concerns about germs. Which can lead to anxiety, stress, loneliness, and frustration. And now, due the global pandemic, social distancing has been nationally enforced.
As we continue to face challenges related to COVID-19, Penn Medicine continues to support you during these uncertain times. There are many free teachings, practices, and other resources being shared online by compassionate teachers and organizations.
May you find all the forms of support that you need to take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community. Here is a list of resources that can help you cope:
- Mindfulness Resources to Find Calm and Nourish Resilience During the COVID Outbreak
Whether you’re looking for live guided meditations connecting you to others, a quick practice to help you find your ground, or a free course on how to meditate, here’s how the Mindful community is coming together to serve in the days and weeks ahead.
- Live Online Practice Sessions — Tricycle
Join teachers Jack Kornfield, Pema Chödrön, Sharon Salzberg, and others for a free series of live-stream meditations to help ease anxiety amid our social-distancing efforts
- Being Resilient During Coronavirus — Dr. Rick Hanson
A short video message, guided practice, 45 minute podcast episode, weekly Live sessions, and other resources.
- Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus — Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley
Practices, resources, and articles for individuals, parents, and educators facing COVID-19.
- Coronavirus Sanity Guide — Dan Harris / Ten Percent Happier
Daily live practice sessions w/ Q&A, plus podcasts, blog posts, meditations and talks.
- 4 Live Meditation Gatherings Each Day — Open Heart Project / Susan Piver
15-20 Minute sit followed by a discussion to share our hopes, fears, ideas, and predicaments
- Pandemic Care Resources — Tara Brach
A wealth of talks and guided practices, including some specific to the pandemic, as well as a free half-day home retreat. Tara also leads a weekly class each Wednesday night at 7:30 eastern time live on Facebook and Youtube.
- How to Work with Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic — NICABM
Three therapists share ways to help clients reduce anxiety and find some relief from ruminating thoughts.
- Healthy Minds Program – Free Mindfulness App — Dr. Richard Davidson / Center for Healthy Minds
Neuroscience-backed meditation app / training program. By donation.
- Live Online Meditation Teachings and Community Gathering — Boulder Shambhala Center
Nightly live dharma talks & meditation sessions, plus a variety of weekly offerings and special programs including BIPOC Meditation Collective, and Learn to Meditate class. Plus, a COVID-19 Support & Process Group if offered every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday Noon–1PM MDT: Click here to join via Zoom.
- Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche message on COVID-19 outbreak — Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche shares his thoughts on the coronavirus outbreak around the world and offers an inspiring message to all those learning to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.
- Creating a Home Retreat: Finding Freedom Wherever You Are — Tara Brach
A heartfelt message from Tara Brach in response to the coronavirus pandemic, guidelines and advice for creating a home retreat, and a link to a free half-day program (below)
- Free Half-Day At-Home Mindfulness Retreat — Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield / Sounds True
The material is divided into three segments of approximately 45 minutes each. With the scheduled breaks and walking meditation sessions, you will need a little more than three hours to complete this retreat.
- Free Mindfulness Apps Worthy of Your Attention — Mindful
Recommendations and reviews of five free meditation apps.
Thank you to Olga Kofman, Oncology Social Work intern (MSS), Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital. We appreciate her work on providing these online sites.