Donna Karan's Urban Zen Offers Integrative Therapy To Cancer Patients And Their Families

When one thinks of the medical oncology unit at a major hospital, the inhalation of uplifting aromas, a feeling of sanctuary, opportunities for centering and relaxation, and guidance through restorative yoga poses are usually not what first comes to mind.

It could be a reality if you were at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, where integrative therapists are assisting doctors and nurses in providing comfort and care to cancer patients.

World-famous fashion designer Donna Karan, in conjunction with her Urban Zen Foundation, is developing this unique program which provides support to cancer patients and their families, as well as the hospital staff itself. Urban Zen trains the "integrative therapists," who facilitate the support in the form of yoga, meditation, and aromatherapy to comfort those in the inpatient oncology unit at Beth Israel. The integrative therapists also act as patient navigators, hand holding the patients and their families throughout the often rocky and scary road from diagnosis through treatment.

The program is the result of inspiration from Donna Karan, who lost her beloved husband Stephan Weiss, an artist and her business partner, to lung cancer in June 2001. Karan shares that while she is grateful for the wonderful doctors who treated her husband, something she noticed was a need to provide care and comfort for patients as well as treating the disease. This new program grew from the complementary modalities she added to Weiss's care from her knowledge of Eastern approaches.

When Donna Karan has an inspiration, watch out! After recognizing the need to help others, she sponsored a 10-day Well-Being Forum at the Urban Zen studio, discussing health care needs with doctors, nurses, and others. They pondered, "How could we best serve this community?...How do we deliver the optimum care for patients and their loved ones?"

A decision was made to utilize the yoga community, a group aware of integrating the mind, body, and spirit, of looking at the whole person.

Dr. Woodson Merrell, Director of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center, shares that "the goal here is really to allow the patient modalities that will promote self-healing and promote relaxation and relief from many of the symptoms: pain, anxiety, nausea."

During an interview for NBC Nightly News, Dr. Martin Karpeh, a surgeon at Beth Israel, admitted that he was skeptical at first of the program. But when he saw how aromatherapy and acupuncture could reduce nausea after an extensive bowel surgery, for instance, Karpeh recognized that these approaches could be complementary to the hospital's treatments.

Part of creating an optimal healing environment has been creating a separate and calm "sanctuary" space, where patients, loved ones, and hospital staff can hang out. This sacred space offers a peaceful escape from the hustle, bustle, and beeps of the busy oncology unit.

Urban Zen is sponsoring a clinical study at Beth Israel to document the benefits of the integrative therapy and its effectiveness in reducing symptoms of P.A.N.I.C. (panic, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and constipation) as well as fatigue. The intention is to create a model for integrative care that could be implemented elsewhere in the health care community. An initial test in the Emergency Room "was miraculous," says Karan. "People came in to the ER completely nervous, and just needed to be calmed." But then the people experienced the help of the integrative therapists. Karan reports that afterwards, the people were aware of dealing with an emergency but feeling in a better place emotionally to handle it.

Donna Karan, the founder of Urban Zen, shares her absolute heartfelt dedication to be of service to the most vulnerable in this inspiring video:

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From the time the patient receives the diagnosis, the integrative therapists will be there--patient navigators, working at bedside with patients and loved ones. Right now, a hundred integrative therapists are being trained, including doctors, nurses and other health professionals. The idea is to absolutely be of service and to tap into the compassionate aspects of healing.

In the program at Beth Israel Hospital, the integrative therapists assist those who have dedicated their lives to service (the medical professionals who are already there) as well as the patients who are vulnerable and their loved ones. The entire environment is positively influenced by the integrative therapists' presence and work.

Staff members report that involving themselves in yoga and meditation has helped them to be less stressed and better able to provide a healing environment.

What I find particularly impressive about this project is its essence of humility. There is not an East versus West mentality nor a condemning of the medical profession. Instead, there is a respect for the doctors who dedicate their lives to helping the cancer patients and a willingness to assist.

In fact, the project is the answer to the question posed by a true servant: How can I best be of service?

Shana Kuhn-Siegel, the Yoga Coordinator of the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program at Beth Israel shares how being of service at the hospital has had a profound impact on her life:

I've always thought that there's not just one way to assist in healing. Having the tools from the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program has been most profound in helping me access the most fearful and deepest part of myself. Doing that helps me to assist others going through their own fear. These tools give me richness and confidence in offering my care to patients who are suffering.

As a patient there's only so far you can go alone. That's why I want to sit with patients and help them confront their own vulnerabilities. To just be with someone and help him/her to be with their own body and show them how to confront their fear is quite a gift. To be an empty container for family and loved ones to pour their own emotions and fear into has been very gratifying as well.

And as a yoga teacher, being in the hospital allows me to see the body in a whole new way. Taking it "laying down," literally doing yoga with those limitations, has given me a new perspective on my practice. Working with caregivers and hospital staff initially had a lot of unknowns. I didn't speak their language and they didn't speak mine. I was a foreigner listening to them, but by acknowledging their efforts and contributions and offering information to them about the integrative therapies, it was amazing to see them accept the therapies and me as well.

Donna Karan shares elements of her inspiration for Urban Zen:

"Urban Zen for me is finding the calm in the chaos... in the chaos of disease, where is the calm in it? How do we calm ourselves so we can deal with the disease?..."

"I had an idea to do something about it. And to think that I had an idea, and I didn't do everything I could have possibly done to make a difference... I couldn't get up every morning. It's just who I am."

Eastern influences complementing Western medicine: The Urban Zen Integrative Therapist program.

Thanks, Donna! You've been making us look good on the outside for many years, now you are taking care of our deepest, innermost needs--to be seen, heard, felt, and cared for. Your dedication to service and inspiring others to be of service in this capacity is extraordinary.

For more information, go to urbanzen.org.

Comments

[LordMoon]

Sometimes when a person is very sick there comes a time when they begin looking for something, anything, searching for a way to heal themselves. It can be an opportunity, to change and sometimes heal.

Many people involved in alternative healing, have their own stories to tell, of how they cured themselves, and how they found hope because of their involvment in alernative healing. This includes many medical professionals as well.

It's also an opportunity for medicine to change, to become medicine again. To get out of the "head", and respond. To be a part of the healing process, instead of being insensitive.

[R2D22]

It seems like only the "Rich and Famous" can volunteer services to the Urban Zen. I have contacted to volunteer services, a follow-up and no one ever got back in touch with me. My background 32 years in "Wellness Mind-Body" hearling arts.

[HalleT]

I also never heard back from them after trying to reach them for months.

Try YogaBear.org. They also offer yoga to cancer patients in NYC and across the US.

[RobinSeattle]

This is all well and good, but I think it would be better if Donna Karan stops using overseas sweatshops to produce her clothes.

[tgv4567]

I am always inspired by your articles as they always leave me informed, enlightened and more positive that good in the world is flourishing all around.Tha­nk you so much Patricia, and keep it coming!

[euthman]

There is nothing mysterious about this program. Patients, like all humans, respond positively to those who spend time with them and act in a supportive manner. The aromatherapy, acupuncture, etc, are just expensive ways of elaborating on the placebo effect.

[wisewoman7]

Where is it said that there is anything mysterious about this program? How are acupuncture needles and essential oils so expensive if they help a patient feel better? The patients aren't paying for this extra compassionate care-Urban zen is. I think that the program seems to be one that can reduce stress in both the hospital staff and patients. I agree that patients respond positively to those who spend time with them and act in a supportive manner. I think that is the main focus of the program. Adding yoga, meditation, aromatherapy etc. is an extension of that caring. What a wonderful thing for overworked and underappreciated hospital staff to have extra care as well as overwhelmed patients.

[jwander1]

You're simply wrong. Look up the studies - acupuncture works and clinical studies show it. Your placebo argument is completely wrongheaded.

[hmsbeagle]

excellent work Donna .

[davidwayneosedach]

It sounds like Karan's intention is to make a "buck" out of it.

[sfm123]

I have attended a few of Donna Karen's events pertaining to integrative therapy and it's not about making a buck...(al­though I have nothing against anyone doing good and doing well at the same time) ...you are way too cynical. She is committed and dedicated and is an amazingly sharing person. Her recognition that there "was a need to provide care and comfort for patients" is no different from Jill Bolte Taylor, the neuroscientist who had a stroke and in her recent book "My Stoke of Insight", noted that although her left brain was severely wounded and she was unable to walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life, her right brain was fully aware and observed the lack of compassion that existed in some of her caregivers in the hospital. She concluded that is is critically important to be touched, to be spoken to gently and to be comforted when one is a patient in the hospital. Keep up the good work Donna....

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***Eastern influences***


Translation = Pseudo-Science.

[LOCUTUS13]

Yep, that's about it!

[Neco223]

This is a piece about people trying to help those in need. Helping doctors, nurses and caregivers as well as patients to feel some calm within the chaos that naturally happens in the course of their treatment. Not sure where "pseudo-science" fits in, as nobody here is trying to replace what Western medicine is offering the patient, but to assist and help to reduce stess. I was very touched by the article and what Donna Karan is doing and I don't see how anything scientific or not is exactly the point of the article--people offering comfort and care is the focus.

[TheBlackCat]

Thank you for this article!

I work at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, a non profit hospital and one of the top cancer centers in the world. We also have incorporated alternative practices such as meditation and acupuncture into our treatment of patients, and they have produced some really fabulous results both in pain management and in mental health of our patients. I hope this program becomes more popular at our own facility (as right now it is only utilized by a minority of our patients) and that it is replicated in hospitals wherever possible. It's advantages cannot be understated. And you don't have to believe in Eastern religions or philosophies to take advantage or something like meditation. Though our meditation guides ARE Buddhists, they have had much success in teaching people of ALL religious stripes how to use meditation to help the healing process.

[ArtLiquidBlogspot]

Beautiful,the souls marvel for everyone..­.........B­RILLANT! hEALING & coping for all !

[AngieMom57]

I have been a fan of her designs and always felt myself fortunate to be able to afford a piece or two. Now I know that the artist behind the design is also a like minded humanitarian.

[Pema]

I went to the site, excellent, we need more things like this, heck lets make all healing centers, hospitals like this, detox, yoga wonderful stuff!...b­ut why she used the word zen when no zen teachings or practices are listed on the page...i was looking forward to seeing some application of zen in this field of healing. oh well its "zen by accident".
good luck donna!

[Halsey]

WOW...that­'s sounds wonderful.­..huge kudos to Ms. Karan...3 months ago, I completed a rough stretch of very aggressive chemo (then radiation)­...and while I was treated at a world famous hospital in Santa Monica...I must say, the chemo room...wel­l...ugly, cold...and most nurses very good..but one was Nurse Ratchett..­I mean when she plugged my chemo needle into my port...she literally SHOVED it in..like it was a chore she didn't want....sh­e even got angry when I asked for dry ice to freeze the port, thus lessening the pain of insertion.­.. I was floored..a­nd though..th­is is NOT a good place for her...
Our room, just some lazy boy chairs...a­nd nothing else...no crackers for nausea..(b­ring your own)... nope..just a sad bunch of cancer patients..­.sitting for hours and hours...

I hope this study gains momentum..­I'm sure it will help... I have NO plans on recurrance (and probably wouldn't go through it again anyway)...­but my gosh..."if­" I did..I'd want it at Beth Israel...

thank you Donna...

[lymphomaniac]

First of all I would llke to commend Dr. Fitzgerald for sporting some amazing articles that open new arenas for people to learn about. This article is opening up a new front for Western medicine to come together with alternative medicine! This is what the world needs NOW! Good health is an inside job...and dealing with Ms Karan's ideas, people are able to be a part of their own healing, as opposed to leaving it up to others, who can't do the part of the inner healing of the patient. My utmost appreciation to Ms. Karan, for her dedication to making a difference and to Dr. Fitzgerald for exposing a wonderful option for those in need.