Pink Ribbon Pilates For Breast Cancer Research

As a breast cancer survivor Barbara Hoffer is passionate about working to support and strengthen women on their journey to thrive again after breast cancer. 

When Barbara Hoffer came to San Francisco in 1984 she helped to found the first Sivananda Yoga Centerand became a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor, she has been passionate about health and wellness for over 25 years.  Her passion for healing others drew her to the study of Massage Therapist before discovering Pilates after a cancer diagnosis in 1997. As a breast cancer survivor, she’s compassionate about “helping others gain and maintain a healthier body at each stage of life.”

Hoffer often sees cancer is often a turning point for change. Given tools and insights for healing the body, she finds that many thrive after treatment and truly enhance their quality of life. Her Pink Ribbon classes are Pilates-based strengthening classes for post treatment success and lifestyle management. They are designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles most affected by breast cancer surgery as well as enhance physical energy level and mental well being. Pink Ribbon Pilates courses are for women of all levels, who are seeking to regain full range of motion of the upper body in order to move efficiently in every day activities. Barbara’s courses help women to live stronger and with passion after cancer.

Over the past eight years Hoffer has served on the Executive Board for San Francisco’s cancer hospital, UCSF Mt. Zion. Hoffer’s community service has been dedicated to speaking and fundraising for programs dedicated to direct services to patients and to cancer research. Her work has inspired her to become certified to work with post surgery rehab to help other women thrive. In addition to her Hatha Yoga certification, Hoffer is a certified massage therapist from the International School of Massage Therapy, a Certified Pilates instructor from the Physical Mind institute NYC, and a Certified post-rehab breast cancer exercise specialist.

As a devotee of the 5 Rhythms dance discipline, she finds inspiration through movement, often referring to Pilates as “dancing yoga.’Passionate about dance as a spiritual practice, she is a student of the Anna Halprin’s Tamalpa Institute, a movement-based expressive arts approach that integrates movement/dance, visual arts, performance techniques and therapeutic practices. Learning to thrive after breast cancer enhances Barbara’s work as a healing teacher who understands firsthand the impact of stress on the body. Her mission is to push her clients past places where they may be stuck through compassion and a helping hand. What gets her up in the morning is her desire to help others gain and maintain a healthier body at every stage of life.

“Because I understand personally the negative side effects of a stressful and sometimes sedentary lifestyle, I am better able to show people how to use Pilates to move more efficiently every day. Pilates is more like a dance, flowing from movement to movement just like our lives. I  love to push others through compassion and a helping hand past places where they may be stuck and toward movement where they might not have gone on their own.”

-Barbara Hoffer

“She absolutely loves what she does, which is evident in every session she teaches, which helps me to continue training because with her it’s fun.”

-Dr. Sam Rhame

Pink Ribbon Pilates Image for Breast CancerOur pro bono community work aka “Pink Ribbon Pilates” raises money through monthly participation in charity golf tournaments. As a breast cancer survivor grateful to be thriving, Barbara is passionate about contributing what she can to fund cancer research and to provide direct services to survivors.

She aligns with strategic partners attracted to helping others regain strength of body and mind to bring their passions into action in the next stage of life.

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Presenter Barbara Hoffer at Inaugural West Coast Conference

The Annie Appleseed Project
September 14-15, 2012
San Francisco Event Center
1111 Gough Street San Francisco, CA 94109-6686
Friday, September 14, 2012
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Workshop: “My Resilient Body”

Overview:

To support and strengthen women on their journey to thrive again after breast cancer, this 90-minute experiential workshop offers a reeducation to renew the body. From postural movements to breathing, the session is for those ready to see themselves getting stronger in their day-to-day activities. The workshop offers at-home tools for each participant to:

  • Alleviate fatigue and enhance energy levels 
  • Regain strength and mobility in areas restricted from surgery
  • Reduce feelings of stress and tension
  • Enhance overall  physical and mental well being
  • Reconnect to the woman they were before cancer

Presenter: Barbara Hoffer, Founder of Pink Ribbon Pilates, is an Oakland based Pilates/Yoga Instructor who specializes in postoperative rehab. A breast cancer survivor and coach, Hoffer is passionate about helping her “Bosom Buddies” move from surviving to thriving. Contact Barbara: 510-985-1861 or email her now.