Slow Down & Find Mindful Movement in Downtown DSM’s Parks

If there was a job for “Des Moines Concierge,” I would apply. But, NOT until I retire from my current role as Program Director for Above + Beyond Cancer, which I love.

In a given week, my job may lure me on a morning hike through a wooded city park, then guide a mindfulness stretch by a pond, whispering sounds of the wild. Another day, lead a Cycle Club that traverses city trails along the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers with a crew of cancer survivors, pedaling bikes through recovery and beyond. Then, cap the week teaching Urban Pole Walking Classes in Water Works Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation.

One-of-a-Kind, Free Outdoor Programming in Greater Des Moines

Cancer survivors and residents in the Greater Des Moines (DSM) area have unique and free opportunities for medical programming, scattered in different locations, enhancing accessibility and promoting moving, community and the love of outdoors.

Mary Kacere, one of our regular attendees says, “I look forward to Hike + Yoga each week. It gets me up and moving early in the morning, my favorite part of the day. The park is a serene nature-filled space where the birds chirp and the trees stand tall. The camaraderie is wonderful, and I especially enjoy the every-other-week partial walk in silence. After a good hike and some stretching, I leave with a feeling of positivity and gratefulness.”

As a Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide, I encourage cancer survivors and the community to submerge themselves in nature and reflection, which can boost their physical and emotional wellbeing. Just steps from the bustle of an energetic human world, we can slow down and befriend the Old Oak Tree, Ms. Blue Bell and Mr. Cardinal.

 

Forest Bathing might be a new concept for you, and our approach to the practice is inviting and open to the community.

Another avid Hike + Yoga participant, Brian Lynner, says, “Once a week I join a group of cancer survivors to hike up and down the forested hills that surround Greenwood lagoon for a pleasant hour of moderate exercise and fellowship. We often converse as we hike. We have become friends and enjoy sharing the details of our separate lives. Yet mindfulness happens as well. Sometimes we walk in silence and allow the still, green hush of the forest to enter us. The towering oak and elm and linden trees arch over the path so the hike is like striding through a great green cathedral. It’s my favorite time of the week.”

 

If you’ve noticed more people walking around town with hiking sticks, it just might be an Urban Poler, ramping up the benefits of walking by utilizing specially designed Urban Poles.

Lynn Sandoval, who has been Urban Poling with our Above + Beyond Cancer class for a year, says, “When you combine the correct form with the brisk walking you can get quite a workout that regular walking does not supply. My posture, biceps, upper back and stamina have all increased. And doing the activity in the beautiful Water Works Park with a community meditation and stretching makes it so enjoyable. The outdoor air and scenery clears the mind and keeps me coming back.”

Our Urban Polers also like strolling in their neighborhoods, around the shimmering waters of Grays Lake and along the Principal Riverwalk.

 

For people who like to move on two wheels, you are speaking my language! Personally, I’ve been commuting to work, with my fat bike, year-round, for nearly three years. I’m grateful for the bike lanes and city trails. Being part of our Tuesday night Above + Beyond Cancer Cycle Club is another way to get the heart pumping and muscles stronger. (And you get to hang out at locally owned patios!) Cycling is another way to meet new friends.

One of our regular cyclists, Louise Crall, says it best, “Above + Beyond Cycling Club feeds my soul by connecting me to a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy biking and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs. The time on and off our bikes with the Above + Beyond Cancer crew has helped me form cherished friendships over the years – a common interest in biking got me there, but it’s the camaraderie that keeps me coming back every year.”

 

These three programs are just a fraction of the 20+ free offerings Above + Beyond Cancer offers for the community. We are helping people find their WellPower, during treatment and after.

As you can tell, I’m proud to live in Des Moines, and I’m thrilled to lead programs for Above + Beyond Cancer that encourage residents and cancer survivors to savor our parks and trails, all while building community and respect for nature and one another. Come join us!

 

Above + Beyond Cancer is a non-profit whose mission is to elevate the lives of those touched by cancer to create a healthier world. To get involved in programs or learn more. email mary@aboveandbeyondcancer.org or visit our website at aboveandbeyondcancer.org.

Don’t miss out! This July we are launching the first evidence-based rowing program for cancer survivors at Easter Lake. To learn more about this 12-week Row + Renew class contact us soon, as registration will be capped.