Individuals

Health and Wellbeing

The health and wellbeing of individuals and families within our communities is essential to ensure they can have happy and productive lives. We focus our support on health issues with a focus on prevention, healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.

Encore

Funded by NSW Health and supported by AVON, YWCA Encore is a unique gentle exercise program specifically for women who have experienced mastectomy, lumpectomy or breast reconstruction surgery at any time in their lives. The Encore program commenced in NSW in 1996 and it now reaches 20-25% of all women diagnosed in a total of 35 locations across the state, from Central Sydney all the way to Broken Hill.

YWCA Encore is an innovative and inspiring approach to recovery from breast cancer surgery. It aims to meet the exercise and support needs of women after the trauma of their treatment in a nurturing non-medical environment.

 

After surgery, many women experience numbness, pins and needles, loss of mobility, and discomfort in their upper bodies. Encore can help relieve these problems through gentle stretching exercises.

 

The 8 week program (two hours per week) incorporates gentle floor and hydrotherapy exercises. The exercises are specifically designed to improve movement, flexibility and strength after surgery. The sessions also provide a time and a space for relaxation, information sharing and discussion amongst women who have been though similar experience.

 

Benefits of the program include:

  • improved mobility and flexibility in your arms and shoulders
  • boosting your self esteem and self image
  • relieving any discomfort you may be experiencing as a result of surgery
  • reducing the potential risk of lymphoedema
  • assisting women with lymphoedema; and
  • creating a positive attitude to life and health

 

Contact

For more information please contact our team on 02 9285 6264 or email encore@ywcansw.com.au.

 

 

Alternatively, you can also visit the Encore website at www.ywcaencore.org.au

 

» To purchase the Encore CD and/or DVD click here.

 

YWCA Encore

 

 

 
In the 12 months from July 2010, we helped 25,000 people throughout NSW. Donate Now.