Cancer patients build momentum at fitness center.
By: Lisa Pettit
Personal experience and passion were the seeds of the Cancer Wellness Program at Momentum Fitness.
For Tony Vlahovic, president and co-owner of the Princeton fitness center, it was a matter of giving back to the community which has supported Momentum since 1997. Mr. Vlahovic knows first-hand the turmoil that a cancer diagnosis creates in people’s lives those of the patient and their loved ones. Mr. Vlahovic fought cancer as a teenager, but it was his father’s death from cancer in September that propelled him to launch the Cancer Wellness Program.
"My goal was simply to reach out and help those in the community. Anyone who has been treated for cancer in the last five years or is currently undergoing treatments is welcome to join for a 10-week session, free of charge. Gaining control, renewing confidence and vitality, and providing a support network are tangible outcomes," Mr. Vlahovic said.
The Cancer Wellness Program is a comprehensive wellness program for people recovering from or under treatment for cancer. A team of fitness experts guides participants through an array of educational segments and exercise programs to increase their mental and physical stamina an important ally in their fight against cancer. Many of the instructors come with their own personal passion and empathy. Some are cancer survivors.
Momentum staff participating in the Cancer Wellness Program are Susan Stoltzfus, massage therapist; Sally Jenkins, yoga instructor; Beth Young, registered dietician; Kate Appel, meditation instructor, and Bernadette Mansfield, aquatics instructor.
The program consists of hour-long sessions, twice a week for ten weeks. Participants are enlightened on a wide variety of means to strengthen their minds, bodies and spirits, including cardiovascular and strength training, yoga, Pilates (a body-conditioning program based on anatomical balancing), aquatics, meditation, massage and nutrition counseling.
At the end of the 10-week session, participants are armed with the knowledge and the experience to design an ongoing fitness routine to help them stay strong during cancer treatment and recovery.
Mardi Considine of Princeton, who was diagnosed with uterine cancer last February, speaks highly of her involvement.
"I admire how (Momentum takes) a comprehensive view of health, embracing fitness, meditation, and even spirituality. The group is another support mechanism for me; we are bonded together by the cancer cells we share. There is an immediate bond (between participants and instructors), and we share a common focus regarding what really matters in life," Ms. Considine said.
Ursula Kaplowitz of Hopewell shares similar insights.
"Throughout my various treatments for breast cancer, I have always walked for exercise. Now I am toning my whole body with an emphasis on increasing strength, flexibility and balance. This type of program would have been wonderful during my chemotherapy last year. Not only all the fitness programs, but also the friendship and support from the instructors and participants, is invaluable," Ms. Kaplowitz said.
Dr. Peter Yi, a medical oncologist with Princeton Medical Group, serves as a member of Momentum’s medical advisory board.
"It is a constant challenge to learn how to live with cancer. Patients search for whatever they can do to improve their quality of life, during and after treatments. This program is an excellent community service, especially since it is offered free of charge," Dr. Yi said.
Dr. Yi generally prescribes exercise to his patients to help fight fatigue and to gain more control. "Better circulation means better oxygen supply to the body, and, in turn, people generally feel stronger both physically and mentally," he said.
Dr. Yi encourages other physicians to refer patients to Momentum’s Cancer Wellness Program so as to reap the benefits of increased vitality, an unconditional support network, and tools to cope with the battle against cancer.
Momentum Fitness is located at 377 Wall St., Princeton. Phone: Tony Vlahovic, (609) 430-1050, ext. 17. Web site: www.mofit.com