Jennifer’s Everyday Retreat

For all of you who thought that you’d have to wait until next year’s Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer to see master yoga instructor, Jennifer Schelter, in action…you thought wrong! Jennifer is ready to make her TV debut with a new television talk show, “Jennifer’s Everyday Retreat.” Could Jennifer Schelter be selected for the “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star” competition?


With your help, it’s possible to welcome a show that highlights and offers everyone a guide to practice the basics of health and well-being. Jennifer aims to inspire viewers and get them moving in a healthy direction today, tomorrow, and for years to come. The show entices you to try new things and be a beginner in the wonder of learning, expressing, thinking, feeling and communication. “Jennifer's Every Day Retreat” will support those who are looking to ease and relieve stress, anxiety, isolation, health-related issues and depression. It encourages balance, gratitude and fulfillment in your own skin while motivating others to share in the journey.

Please support Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer's Jennifer Schelter as she follows her dream to get her own talk show. Vote today!

Jennifer Schelter leads over 1,000 people at the largest yoga class in Philadelphia. All proceeds benefit LBBC's education and support programs.

Thank you for helping us go BEYOND our $200,000 fundraising goal

Thank you for all those who helped to contribute to the lives of the 200,000 women who will be affected by breast cancer this year! Over 1,000 dedicated men, women and children followed prominent yoga instructor, Jennifer Schelter's lead and reached for the sun on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on May 16. By then, LBBC was proud to announce that we raised over $170,000 for LBBC's education and support programs! To date, we are over our initial $200,000 goal and are estactic to announce that with the support of you, your generous donations, and our committed sponsors, we have raised over $219,000! What a success! Donations will continue to be collected until June 30th.

Help us continue to provide education and support at little to no cost by texting a small donation right from your mobile phone! Text “LBBC” to the number 20222, and a one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging and data rates apply; all charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Spread the word to your friends, family and via social networking sites.

Spread the word! Help LBBC get to $230,000! We can do it!

Team Dreams...in honor of my mom

This entry was written by 15-year-old Ari Shanon, the daughter of a breast cancer survivor:

Ari's Mom, Dorel, is a breast cancer survivor and attended this year's Yoga Unites for LBBC, alongside her daughter, Ari, team captain of 'Team Dreams.'

My mom brought me to my first Yoga Unites for LBBC when I was 7 years old. I'm 15 now. When I was looking for a service project for my bat mitzvah I thought of LBBC first. The reason I chose LBBC is because my mom had breast cancer when I was six, and it was a hard time. I remember cutting off her hair with my brother at a hair-cutting party before it fell out. Even though that's one of the only memories I have of that time, I know that LBBC was extremely helpful because my mom always talks about them. I'm really grateful to them for being there for my mom. So I decided to create a team for Yoga Unites for LBBC called Team Dreams and raise money for LBBC. Ever since, I've been creating a team filled with friends and family, and friends of friends. Even people I don't know support our team, and I'm so glad and honored that they join us on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Team Dreams raised over $5,000 for LBBC's education and support programs.

I really enjoyed my experiences with Yoga Unites for LBBC because, first of all, it's really cool to see so many people doing yoga together while looking out over the beautiful skyline of Philadelphia. Second of all, I love my team and they're all really great people for supporting me and LBBC, and for coming out every year. A bunch of my friends come every year and they really enjoy it. We have such a great time together. Third, the yoga is amazing. I don't usually get to do yoga during the year, though I did take a class when I was in fourth grade. During and after the Yoga Unites class I feel so strong. And I look at Jennifer and she looks really strong, and it makes me look forward to next year.

Ari (left) and her mom, Dorel, feel strong together as they practice yoga on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

I mostly raise money for Team Dreams by emailing friends and family over and over, and asking them to email their friends and family. I also emailed my entire school this year. A few years ago our local paper did an article about Team Dreams and Yoga Unites for LBBC, which helped raise money. My grandmother is a huge help and emails all of her friends, and she usually comes and cheers us on along with my grandfather, my Dad and my brother. (They're the official Team Dreams photographers.) I'm really lucky to be surrounded by people who want to help this cause. Each year we've raised more money than the last. This year we raised more than $5,000, which was our goal. It feels really good to raise so much money for such a great organization.


One way LBBC can get more young people involved is by getting parents to bring their children and their children's friends to Yoga Unites for LBBC. Also by trying to get high schools to organize teams to raise money. A lot of young people have family members who've been affected by breast cancer, so this would be a good group to get involved. I think once they saw how much fun it is to be at Yoga Unites for LBBC and how easy it is to raise money, they'd want to do it every year.

Yoga Unites for LBBC is a fundraising activity that is open to everyone, even young high school students like Ari. You want to share your story? Email stacia@lbbc.org. It's not too late to donate!

Last Minute Decision...No Regrets

Talk about a last minute decision! LBBC caught up with Sandi Selzer who decided to come out to support the 8th Annual Yoga Unites for LBBC event just hours before the event took place! She wouldn't regret her efforts!

This entry was written by Sandi Selzer: 

I wanted to share my experience and pictures from this year’s Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. I’ve heard about the event for the past two years and decided at 10pm on the Saturday night before to pack my yoga mat and take part. It was the best decision I’ve ever made! Seeing over 1,000 beautiful people doing yoga was obviously an amazing site. What I wasn’t prepared for was the incredible feeling of love, support and HOPE that surrounded us.

When we did our first pose and the clouds move away to let the sun shine on us, I realized that this was bigger than just a yoga class. I’m not a breast cancer survivor, but two of my close friends are and I will be sure to bring them with me next year. They are not “yogis,” but I will convince them that this event is more than just yoga—it’s a life changing experience. Thanks to all of you who made this happen—hope you like the pictures!

LBBC wants to hear about your experience too! Send your story to stacia@lbbc.org. Share your most fascinating, interesting or touching moment that you experienced at the 8th Annual Yoga Unites for LBBC. Thank you for your donations!

Dr. Kathryn Schmitz impressed with new yoga study

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is hosting its annual meeting in one week. Over 30,000 clinicians will be in attendance at the annual meeting responding to and offering information as it relates to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. LBBC caught up with Dr. Kathryn Schmitz who was invited to speak at the meeting. She will be presenting guidelines for exercise testing and prescription for all cancer patients based on an expert panel brought together by the American College of Sports Medicine.


“Doctors are concerned about doing the best they can for their patients. There was a time, not so many decades ago, when cancer patients didn’t live as long as they do now, so doctors were teaching ‘take it easy,’ says Dr. Kathryn Schmitz as she discusses why most doctors don’t associate exercise with being the best option for cancer patients.

Dr. Schmitz conducts research that is based on the findings of the benefits of physical activity. While she targets those who suffer from obesity, she also has extended research to women affected by breast cancer as well. She supports a new study that ASCO released that shows evidence that yoga may help cancer patients with treatment side effects.

Dr. Schmitz is impressed with the way Dr. Karen Mustian went about conducting the yoga benefits study. “What’s lovely about this study is that Karen went through the oncologists. The challenge with dealing with cancer patients is getting clinicians involved…the oncologists have to know that it’s safe,” said Dr. Schmitz. “Until we provide information to physicians that women want this, women benefit from this and women will not be harmed, nothing will change,” she says.

Dr. Mustian was the lead author in a study that revealed that yoga had sustainable benefits on sleep quality, fatigue, and overall quality of life in cancer survivors. A total of 96% of the participants of the study were women and 75% of them had breast cancer.

“People [cancer patients] are living, and for a long time, particularly breast cancer patients. It turns out the talk of ‘take it easy’ is associated with worse risk than exercise itself. In my opinion, [doctors] should stop recommending patients avoid exercise,” says Dr. Schmitz. Primarily, doctors rely on medication to assist their patients with side effects of treatment and are more reluctant to “prescribe” exercise.

According to Dr. Schmitz, doctors don’t have time to investigate and encourage their patients to explore the benefits of exercise. “Women are talking to their doctors about arm pain, scar pain, side effects, and the best ways to prevent recurrence. By the time they are done with all of what is on their agenda, the allotted time for the appointment is over or even long past. And then Doctor’s are supposed to say ‘oh, there’s an exercise program you can do?’ There just isn’t enough time,” she said.

Financial issues also factor in when doctors consider suggesting exercise programs to their patients. “Cancer patients are tapped out financially. The financial burden of cancer treatment creates stress, and on top of that, many patients have taken as much time off as they are allotted at work. On top of that, they have to PAY for yoga classes? Cost can be a real barrier,” said Dr. Schmitz.

Dr. Schmitz and a team at the University of Pennsylvania are looking into disseminating an at-home yoga work-out video for breast cancer survivors as a way to assist with the high out-of-pocket costs for those undergoing treatment.

Dr. Schmitz herself has been practicing yoga since she was in elementary school. “People who have been doing it for the longest are the least likely to say they’re good at it, including me. I’m really still just a beginner,” she ends.

Dr. Schmitz has heard from people across the world who are pleased with the programs that LBBC provides. She has even offered to help LBBC promote more physical activity programs on a day to day basis for women affected by breast cancer.

To hear about the latest findings revealed at ASCO’s annual meeting, register for LBBC’s teleconference scheduled for June 11th: Breaking News from ASCO.

Are you having trouble sleeping? Are you suffering from fatigue after treatment? Talk to your doctor about practicing yoga at your local yoga studio and about any other options that may assist with treatment side effects. Tell us what your doctor suggested on our facebook page.

Moving Meditation

This entry was submitted by LBBC staff member Stacia Weaver:

Jeanne Egan vicariously lived through her grandmother’s diagnosis of breast cancer. After finding three benign tumors, the dreaded fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer had somehow become a reality. In October of 2007, Jeanne had a bilateral mastectomy which revealed that she had a 1.6 cm malignant tumor.


“I always had a fear of cancer. I always thought I would get it. It was just a part of my story,” said Jeanne.

Jeanne attended the 8th Annual Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer event. She joined over 1,000 people as they all joined together on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to support women affected by breast cancer. But Jeanne’s presence at the event was even more significant when she learned that she was the top individual fundraiser, raising over $2,000 for LBBC’s education and support programs. It was the first year that Jeanne participated in the event and accounts the benefits of yoga to helping her heal, cope and find peace, grace and divinity.

“When I do yoga [the instructors] talk about grace. They tell you ‘you’re one with the divine. The divine is within you and there, you will have grace.’ Yoga is a moving meditation. It keeps you in the present. You’re so aware of everything in your body,” said Jeanne as she admits that she’s not afraid of recurrence. “Yoga is a big part of it,” she says.

Participating in an outdoor yoga class would have been a “no, no” for Jeanne when she first finished treatment after her 2007 diagnosis. Jeanne admits that she felt so intimated by yoga that she practiced at home with a beginner’s yoga work-out tape for about a year. However, now Jeanne practices yoga three to four times a week and admits that she can even do the advanced classes.

“Whether you’re taking a yoga class on the Art Museum steps or a yoga studio, you’re trying to achieve being one with the universe. Yoga is where I find peace,” said Jeanne.

But Jeanne also finds peace in her female support system that helped her during her breast cancer diagnosis. Jeanne’s blog, Sisterhood and Survival: A Breast Cancer Blog, is a reflection of the bond of women and the power of the female connection. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Jeanne credits her significant relationship with her women friends with helping her get through the tragic time. Her blog is a symbol that represents that “women help each other get through crisis and happy times as well.”

“The illness has changed my family,” says Jeanne, mother of two. “It was very difficult for my son. It didn’t change our relationship, but more so, our lives,” she says as she acknowledges the very women were able to step in and take action for her family during this traumatic experience. “My women friends were a web of caring, a safety net that lifted me up. We [my family] got here because of my women friends, my sisters.”

One of her ‘sisters’ attended the event with her. Jeanne and her team, “Sisterhood and Survival,” were deeply moved by master yoga instructor, Jennifer Schelter’s performance. “When Jennifer talked about love and grieving and that connection, we were crying. It’s so true. We grieve because we love. This event resonates to breast cancer survivors’ lives, recovery, and living beyond breast cancer.”

“This event is a movement,” she ends.

Did you attened LBBC's 8th Annual Yoga Unites for LBBC and you want to share your experience? Email stacia@lbbc.org. Remember, it's not too late to donate. Visit http://www.yoga4livingbeyondbreastcancer.org/.

8th Annual Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer a Definite Success!

This entry was written by LBBC staff member Stacia Weaver:

Over 1,000 men, women and children participated in, connected with and supported the 8th Annual Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) partnered with Jennifer Schelter, master yoga instructor and founder of Yoga Unites as she lead the largest yoga class in the city of Philadelphia on the morning of May 16, 2010. While participants followed Jennifer’s lead, the cloudy skies transformed into bright blue skies with a hint of yellow from the bright sun. With every yoga pose, Jennifer  instructed each participant to reach for the sun’s rays.

Yoga Unites for LBBC is an annual fundraising event that provides a way for individuals and teams to support women affected by breast cancer and spread the word about healthy living, while raising funds and awareness for LBBC’s education and support programs. So far, we have raised over $185,000 for our education and support programs. However, we are still receiving generous donations from the participants of the event who are dedicated to helping us reach our ambitious goal of $200,000 for the 200,000 women who will be affected by breast cancer this year.

This year, Lu Ann Cahn, NBC 10 investigative reporter was the honorary chair of the event. The 18-year breast cancer survivor put down her reporter microphone and picked up her yoga mat for the 8th Annual Yoga Unites for LBBC. She talked about her journey with breast cancer and how she, herself, is living beyond the disease. Right after the hour-long class she took the stage. She told all participants it wasn’t too late to join in on the cause if they hadn’t done so already. She urged participants to take part in LBBC’s latest text-to-give initiative and text “LBBC” to 20222 to make a $10 donation. With everyone's help, we will reach our $200,000 goal.

The therapeutic and intimate outdoor yoga class was also lead in song by Yvette Pecoraro and her talented musicians who chanted soothing lyrics that coincided with each yoga pose. Participants were instructed to close their eyes, feel and release their energy, and internalize all emotions of love. Jennifer’s grandmother died from breast cancer. Throughout her class, she expressed her love for her grandmother and explained that her grandmother is in fact one of the reasons why Yoga Unites for LBBC is a special event for her.

Philadelphia Eagles mascot, ‘Swoop’ participated in this event and helped LBBC celebrate May 16, which had formally been declared Living Beyond Breast Cancer day in the city of Philadelphia. He put his wings to work on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum with over 80 formed teams by his side. 

The half-day event included an outdoor yoga class and Healthy Living Expo, where participants were engaged in informative conversations that highlighted yoga and exercise, healthful foods, natural cosmetics and goods and services to improve quality of life. Olga and Warners, one of the sponsors for the event, offered bra-fitting tips as they offered women free bras.

Click here to view pictures of the 8th Annual Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Enter password: yogaunites.