This program is being offered in-person. To register, please click the RSVP button above or email programs@smithcenter.org.

with Tina Scott Lassiter

Our bodies have stories to tell us, ones that we know and, more importantly, ones deep inside that we may not be aware of. Join us as we explore the conversations our bodies want to have with us using Yoga Nidra guided meditation and writing prompts to bring forth a dialog intended to help uncover your own personalized messaging for daily living. No writing or previous experience with meditation required.

Please Note: This workshop is being hosted in-person at the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.

LOCATION: 1632 U Street NW, Washington DC 20009

Suggested Donation: $15

This program is offered for free or at a low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis. Contributions are not required to attend, ensuring accessibility for everyone. If you’re able to donate, we deeply appreciate your support—every contribution directly funds our cancer support programs.

About Tina Scott Lassiter

Author/writer, collagist, photographer, podcaster, and Creative Wellness Consultant, Tina Scott Lassiter uses the arts, senses, life experiences, education, and certifications in several mind-body disciplines to curate innovative trainings/workshops/private sessions for organizations and individuals. She also teaches virtual or in-person writing classes, is always humbled when someone in any of her sessions has a moment of enlightenment. National publications feature her artwork and photographs while her writings appear on several literary platforms and in various anthologies. Tina completed the Arts in Medicine Intensive at University of Florida Center for the Arts in Healthcare Research & Education, holds an MBA in Marketing from NYU’s Stern School of Business, and a BA in Communications from Howard University.

WEEK 33

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Phebe Duff

A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Wednesday beginning September 18th from 5-6pm EST.

Beginning in January 2025, this class will meet from 5-6pm EST.

Please Note: This class will began at Week 1 on September 18th.

Suggested Donation: $15/session

About Phebe Duff

Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Beth Lawrence, RYT 500

When life gets hard or movement and meditation would be helpful, come to yoga! Our chair yoga class offers a place to relax and let go mentally while stretching and exercising physically. We’ll start with a simple warm-up that you can do standing or seated, then move through stretches and exercises for your whole body, all with the support of your chair. We’ll finish with a deep calming relaxation. You’ll leave feeling balanced and ready to take on the rest of your day!

All levels welcome.

Our Chair Yoga class meets Weekly on Tuesdays from 12:00 – 1:00pm.

Suggested Donation for 1 Class: $15

Suggested Donation for 1 Month of Classes: $45

Our programs are open to the community, and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

About Beth Lawrence

Beth discovered yoga in early 2002 as a mother of six month old twins. She was looking to get back into shape after their birth. In yoga, she found far more than she anticipated- an age old practice designed to help people relieve stress- both mental and physical. After a few years of regular practice, she knew she wanted to share her positive experiences with others. She has been leading yoga classes in the DC area since 2007 after completing her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Nth Degree Yoga with Martha Rosen. In 2011, she went back to earn her RYT500. Her personal practice is inspired by Integral Yoga and Sivananda Yoga, both of which incorporate body and mind into the practice.

This program is hosted virtually via Zoom. No prior registration required.

with Susan Salek

Come together as an LGBTQIA+ community for a weekly morning meditation sit.

We will settle in for a few minutes, then meditation (guided and silence) for 20 minutes and end with around the virtual circle with a few words of gratitude.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88468692145?pwd=U1lhSHBpdXpXS0N3QzBxOFNwdi9sQT09

Meeting ID: 884 6869 2145

Passcode: 917135

Note: Because this is an online sit, participants are encouraged to find space of relative quiet, limiting the amount of interaction with others in the environment as much as possible. Participants may join by internet or via phone.

Suggested Donation: $10/session

Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

About Susan Salek

Susan is a compassionate practitioner who embraces the healing nature of presence and kindness. Her lived experience and bearing witness to this wild, difficult and beautiful life motivates her to teach mindfulness meditation and serve as a death doula, in particular as a support to LGBTQIA+ communities. She is retired from working in healthcare information technology.

Susan is a graduate of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program at Upaya Zen Center. Her thesis, Tending to the Soul, explored the gaps in healing for LGBTQ cancer patients due to disengaged care and discriminatory systems. As a breast cancer survivor, she is committed to supporting others on their healing journey.

Susan is a graduate of the Going with Grace Death Doula program lead by Alua Arthur and a certified meditation teacher having completed the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher program taught by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Kevin Mutschler

in partnership with Tigerlily Foundation

*Please note that by registering for this program, you consent to have your name and email shared with Tigerlily Foundation. Tigerlily only collects this information for data purposes and it will not be shared with any other parties.

This is an all levels introduction to the practice of Qigong. You will learn about the human energy system, also known as the subtle body.

In the tradition of Qigong, we will learn practices to shape and sculpt this system for our highest good in 3 ways:

Purge or clear stagnant energy

Tone or nourish energy to replenish our internal resources

Regulate our energy system

Our practice will include discussion and movement in addition to an energetic transmission and meditation.

Qigong will be hosted Bi-Monthly on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 7:00 – 8:00pm ET.

Suggested Donation for 1 class: $15

Suggested Donation for a month of classes: $45

About Kevin Mutschler, L.AC.

Kevin Mutschler

Kevin is a board-certified acupuncturist (NCCAOM) and Qigong educator with over twenty-five years experience in healing arts practice, research and education, including work in medical anthropology, somatic therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Kevin has special interests in working with patients living with chronic illness, migraine, MS and cancer. He is a Smith Center fellow in Integrative Cancer Care Navigation and is a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Jessica Gelfarb, MSW, LICSW & Sara Richman, LICSW, Joslyn Trovati, LICSW, OSW-C, GW Cancer Center

Developing mindfulness skills can help combat stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in everyday life. Join us for regular sessions to help you better understand and transform your mind.

All experience levels are welcome to attend! Open to patients, survivors, caregivers, medical professionals and the community. This group welcomes all levels, including those who have not tried Mindfulness and Meditation before.

The group is hosted by and offered in partnership with the GW Cancer Center.

The Mindfulness & Meditation Group meets twice a month on Wednesdays from 12:00-12:30pm ET (new time beginning April 2025)

Suggested Donation: $10/session

About Jessica Gelfarb, MSW, LICSW

Jessica is a licensed clinical social worker who has experience working with patients and families facing a range of medical diagnoses in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Michigan and her masters degree in social work from University of Maryland with a focus on clinical and medical social work. Jessica recently joined the team at the George Washington University cancer center as an oncology social worker. Prior to her role at GW Jessica worked extensively with organ transplant patients at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute and co-led the institute’s transplant support group. She has also spent time working on cardiology and intensive care units throughout her career. Jessica initially became interested in pursuing oncology social work after attending the Association of Oncology Social Work’s annual conference a number of years ago as well as observing first- hand the widespread impact that cancer has on so many individuals and families. She is passionate about partnering with patients in order to provide psychosocial and emotional support as they navigate their diagnosis and treatment.

About Sara Richman, LICSW

Sara Richman, LICSW is a licensed and certified oncology clinical social worker (OSW-C). She received her masters in social work (MSW) at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Prior to working at GW, Sara was an oncology clinical social worker at MedStar Washington Hospital Center where she worked with all types of blood cancers and disorders.

About Joslyn Trovati, LICSW, OSW-C

Joslyn Trovati MSW, LICSW, OSW-C is an Oncology Social Worker at the George Washington University Cancer Center, where she provides emotional support and resources to people with cancer and their caregivers. Joslyn earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from The George Washington University. Joslyn’s professional interests include the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer community, fertility preservation, and grief work. In her free time, Joslyn enjoys traveling, going to museums and concerts, playing word games, singing with her local choir, and exploring DC’s vibrant culinary scene.

WEEK 32

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.