Tag: strength

Please visit https://2unstoppable.org/events/month/2023-05/ to register.

In Partnership with 2Unstoppable

In this class, Paola will guide you through a series of exercises designed to help you increase the strength and endurance of your muscles, as well as the strength of your bones with the use of weights, resistance bands, and your own body.

Equipment needed: exercise mat, resistance bands, light weights like dumbbells, bottles of water or food cans, a pilates ball or a thrown pillow, and a chair. Keep a bottle of water nearby to hydrate.

En esta clase Paola te guiará a través de una serie de ejercicios diseñados para ayudarte a aumentar la fuerza y resistencia de tus músculos, así como la fortaleza de tus huesos con el uso de pesas, bandas de resistencia y tu propio cuerpo.

Equipo necesario: colchoneta de ejercicio, bandas de resistencia, pesas ligeras como mancuernas, botellas de agua o latas de comida, una pelota de pilates o un cojín y una silla. Mantenga una botella de agua cerca para mantenerse hidratada.

NOTE:  If you are experiencing any difficulties on the day of class, please email info@2Unstoppable.org (please check your Spam folder just in case the Zoom email got delivered there instead of your inbox).

Click here to learn more and register.

About 2Unstoppable

2Unstoppable

2Unstoppable is a non-profit whose mission is to encourage and support exercise among women who have had a cancer diagnosis. Free online fitness buddy matching, oncology fitness resources, and community events at www.2unstoppable.org. Please visit https://2unstoppable.org/events/ for a list of upcoming events.

Please visit https://2unstoppable.org/events/month/2023-05/ to register.

In Partnership with 2Unstoppable

Join Paola for a bilingual (English/Spanish) full-body workout class blending aerobics warm-ups with low-impact, modified movements for cancer survivors to help improve flexibility and balance while strengthening and toning your body safely and in a FUN environment.

Equipment Needed:  a stable surface to use as your “barre”, such as a wall, a sturdy chair or a countertop.  You will also need a mat or a carpeted surface for floor work.  A pilates ball is recommended but not required and you could substitute a throw pillow.  You will want something to add resistance such as light hand weights, cans of food, or water bottles.  Gliders will be used for this class and you can use household items such as a sock or a paper plate as your glider.  Be sure to have water nearby and remember to work at your own pace!
Spanish Description:

Únete a Paola en su clase Bilingüe (Inglés/Español) de entrenamiento de cuerpo completo donde se combinan calentamientos aeróbicos con movimientos de bajo impacto modificados para sobrevivientes de cáncer para mejorar la flexibilidad y equilibrio mientras se fortalece y tonifica su cuerpo en un ambiente seguro y DIVERTIDO.

Equipo necesario: una superficie estable para usar como su “barra”, como una pared, una silla o una mesada (encimera).  También necesitará una colchoneta o una superficie alfombrada para el trabajo en el piso. Una pelota de pilates es recomendable pero no necesaria y se puede sustituir con un cojín.  Querrá algo para agregar resistencia, como pesas ligeras para las manos, latas de comida o botellas de agua.  Discos deslizantes se utilizarán para esta clase y puede usar artículos para el hogar como un calcetín, un plato de papel para deslizar.  ¡Asegúrese de tener agua cerca y recuerde trabajar a su propio ritmo!

NOTE:  If you are experiencing any difficulties on the day of class, please email info@2Unstoppable.org (please check your Spam folder just in case the Zoom email got delivered there instead of your inbox).

Click here to learn more and register.

About 2Unstoppable

2Unstoppable

2Unstoppable is a non-profit whose mission is to encourage and support exercise among women who have had a cancer diagnosis. Free online fitness buddy matching, oncology fitness resources, and community events at www.2unstoppable.org. Please visit https://2unstoppable.org/events/ for a list of upcoming events.

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 Kenneth Johnson

A Healing Circle: Gay Men with Prostate Cancer

We are a group of gay men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or who are recovering from treatment that offer support to each other. In a peer-led community, we share our experiences and understanding to help one another best deal with our own personal situations.

The Healing Circle for Gay Men with Prostate Cancer meets Monthly on the 4th Thursday from 7:00pm – 8:30pm ET.

Upcoming Dates: 

    • May 25
    • June 22

About Kenneth Johnson

Kenneth Johnson

Kenneth Johnson, of Washington, D.C., is a co-facilitator and founding member of the Healing Circle Supporting Gay Men with Prostate Cancer hosted at the Smith Center since October 2018. Kenneth was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 at the age of 50 and treated with surgery and radiation. Before volunteering with the support group, Kenneth volunteered with many LGBTQ+ organizations and community non-profits in Atlanta, GA. Now, when not enjoying his book club’s latest selection or trying to keep his heart rate up at the gym, Kenneth can be found enjoying time with his vibrant parents who will soon celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary. Kenneth is nearing the end of a 34-year career in federal service as an information technology analyst and looks forward to hitting the highways to visit family and friends around the country.

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.

Qigong

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 Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:00pm ET.

Upcoming Dates:

  • May 24
  • June 14 & 28

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 Julia Rowland, Ph.D.

Cancer Caregiver Support Group

This cancer caregiver support group, led by a licensed psychologist, is designed to provide cancer caregivers with the opportunity to meet other caregivers, learn about useful tools for self-care, and explore ways to thrive in the caregiving role.

Julia’s Caregiver Support Group meets Bi-Monthly on Mondays from 6:00 – 7:30pm.

Upcoming Sessions:

  • May 15
  • June 5 & 26

About Julia Rowland

Julia Rowland

Julia Rowland, PhD, who joined Smith Center in October 2017, comes to this position as a long-time clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of psychosocial aspects of cancer. She has worked with and conducted competitively funded research among both pediatric and adult cancer survivors and their families, and published broadly in psycho-oncology, including co-editing, along with Dr. Jimmie Holland, the ground-breaking text, Handbook of Psychooncology.  She has also been a frequent speaker on cancer survivorship, or life after cancer, for both professional and lay audiences.

Julia received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in psychosocial oncology. While at MSKCC, where she held joint appointments in pediatrics and neurology, Julia helped to develop and was the first Director of the Post-Treatment Resource Program, one of the first non-medical survivorship care programs to be offered by a major cancer center in the U.S. In 1990 she moved with her husband and two young children to Washington, DC to become founding Director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Georgetown University and the Lombardi Cancer Center. There she helped expand services to meet the psychosocial needs of cancer patients and families, launched some of the first quality of life clinical trials, and also introduced a program to enable first year medical students to learn the art of caring for those living through and beyond cancer from survivors themselves and Lombardi faculty. Nine years later, in September of 1999, she was recruited to the National Cancer Institute to become the first, full-time Director of the Office of Cancer Survivorship, a position in which she served for 18 years, championing the growth of survivorship research and care, before stepping down in September 2017 to assume her new role at Smith Center. Although new to the team, Julia is no stranger to Smith Center. She knew Smith Center’s founder, Barbara Smith Coleman, and has volunteered her expertise across the years as a speaker, group leader and staff member for both the 1-day and weeklong residential retreats. Julia brings to her new role a passion to translate what research has taught us about healing in the context of cancer to the broader community, in essence, taking the science of survivorship from the lab bench to the park bench.

This program has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled for a later date. 

with Liz Carren

This workshop will help you understand that by using your inner strength – your instincts – your courage – your “Dragons!” – and your imagination – you can find your inner strength to help you heal from the stresses that illness has created for all that are surrounded by it.

We will use quick timeouts of meditation(s) quietness for our minds and then use the ART you create as your muse, outlet, and expression. Fast projects will help to learn and experience how to “let it out” and let it go…. Ultimately, each participant will have a paper representation of the experience.

It’s fun, and no art background is needed. No need to be “an artist” -it’s free form, and no experience in art, painting or drawing is required or needed. All you need is yourself and an open mind.

The purpose of this workshop is to get used to thinking about what you feel in visual ways. Metaphors of colors, shapes, things, words, whatever! Having an outlet is essential –Dance, Music, Writing, “art,” whatever you choose is fine– I select drawing! In this workshop, we do two art projects/activities. The first uses watercolor for its freeing – and no one has to feel like they need to be a painter for our activity. Watercolor can go on the paper and do its own thing – with you as its guide. The second art project is using a continuous line at first, then addinI more lines, and maybe even color -scribbling to see what comes up and out.

We will look at our art pieces and discuss/chat/talk about feelings and fears that the drawings express and what we see in our art, but also, importantly- what others may see we may be missing. We will touch on fears, and the language we use to talk to ourselves and others, and how it can affect us.

Depending on how many participants want to share –  how many of us there are, and how much people want to share,  this workshop will be about 2 hours.

Suggested Materials:

  • Watercolor paper (6-8 sheets – of any size size)
  • Watercolor set … below are from https://www.michaels.com/search?q=watercolor
  • Sharpie-like-pen (preferably NOT Ultra fine point- a “regular” one would be easier to use/see )
  • Plain white paper

Suggested Donation: $10

About Liz Carren

I am a regular woman, artist, and a cancer patient/warrior survivor/thriver. Images and imagination got me to where I am today. During treatments, I started using visualizations to create my art. I began digging into the connection between creativity and healing. Art helped me sort out and understand what was happening in my body and life. I still use art for that purpose. I continue to create and run a small business called Caring Arts: The Intersection of Art, Medicine, and Healing. I create drawings as my journal and a “sorting” of my present life. I teach workshops on using creativity for stress release and to help overcome the fears of the unknown, Cancer -and otherwise. I give seminars on how art helped heal me. I also sell The Cancer Courage Card deck – 48 cards of positive life-affirming thoughts and prompts for discussion and journaling. I know that art is a powerful and courageous tool. I am lucky and living proof that art can help heal.

Social media: https://www.instagram.com/caring_artist/

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.

Qigong

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 Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:00pm ET.

Upcoming Dates:

  • May 10 & 24
  • June 14 & 28

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 Mindy Brodsky, LCSWA

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.

Loss of a Loved One to Cancer Support Group

This monthly support group, facilitated by a Licensed Graduate Social Worker, is for anyone who has lost a loved one to cancer. As a group, we will explore the impact of loss and find ways to cope with grief together.

The Loss of a Loved One to Cancer Support Group will meet Monthly on the first Wednesday from 6:00 – 7:00pm ET.

Upcoming Dates:

  • May 10
  • June 7

Sponsored by The Washington Home

The Washington Home

This support group is sponsored by The Washington Home.

The Washington Home (TWH) is a DC-based foundation that seeks to improve the lives of the elderly and those facing end of life, strengthen senior communities and reduce inequality in access to care. Our philanthropic vision is grounded in a commitment to pursue caregiver support, enhance connection and foster respect and dignity for seniors. We invest in local, community efforts to address social isolation, caregiver relief, food insecurity and specialized health care for seniors and the critically ill.

About Elizabeth Belanger

Elizabeth Belanger is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in Washington DC. Elizabeth received her BA in Psychology with minors in Women’s Studies and Sociology from Elon University and a Master’s in Social Work from Simmons University. Elizabeth strives to provide therapy that is client lead and trauma-informed. She is continuously seeking education on the latest techniques in culturally humble and trauma-informed therapy practices. Elizabeth currently works here in DC at Capitol Hill Consortium for Counseling and Consultation (CCCC) with young adults and adults, with issues pertaining to anxiety, depression, chronic illness, trauma, LGBTQ, and women’s issues.

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 Project Knitwell and Friends

Knitting Circle on the Couch

Join us weekly to enjoy knitting in a safe and welcoming environment. Knitting can provide a respite from one’s immediate situation, serve as a way to productively pass the time, and have a positive effect on reducing stress symptoms.

 

Knitting is:

  • relatively easy to learn,
  • requires no artistic talent or prior experience,
  • portable,
  • and results in a useful product.

Sometimes referred to as the “new yoga” — plain and simple — knitting is good for you.

 

Trained volunteers will provide knitting instruction and quality materials in an effort to foster wellness, comfort, and community. Beginner and experienced knitters are welcome. Starter kits are available, as is a small selection of yarn and knitting supplies.

 

Stone Soup Films and Project Knitwell created a beautiful 3-minute video highlighting the health benefits of knitting. Watch the video here!

Our Knitting Circle meets Weekly on Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:30pm ET.

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.

Looking for more intimate knitting instruction? Check out Project Knitwell’s new program, Knitwell in the Cloud, for ongoing, one-on-one knitting instruction via Zoom.

About Project Knitwell

Project Knitwell

Project Knitwell offers knitting as a tool to promote wellness and help people cope with stressful situations at more than a dozen hospital and community settings.

All of Project Knitwell’s programming is provided by volunteers, and services and supplies are provided free of charge to the people we serve.

Project Knitwell volunteers provide knitting instruction and quality materials in an effort to foster wellness, comfort, and community among those we serve.

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 Project Knitwell and Friends

Knitting Circle on the Couch

Join us weekly to enjoy knitting in a safe and welcoming environment. Knitting can provide a respite from one’s immediate situation, serve as a way to productively pass the time, and have a positive effect on reducing stress symptoms.

 

Knitting is:

  • relatively easy to learn,
  • requires no artistic talent or prior experience,
  • portable,
  • and results in a useful product.

Sometimes referred to as the “new yoga” — plain and simple — knitting is good for you.

 

Trained volunteers will provide knitting instruction and quality materials in an effort to foster wellness, comfort, and community. Beginner and experienced knitters are welcome. Starter kits are available, as is a small selection of yarn and knitting supplies.

 

Stone Soup Films and Project Knitwell created a beautiful 3-minute video highlighting the health benefits of knitting. Watch the video here!

Our Knitting Circle meets Weekly on Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:30pm ET.

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.

Looking for more intimate knitting instruction? Check out Project Knitwell’s new program, Knitwell in the Cloud, for ongoing, one-on-one knitting instruction via Zoom.

About Project Knitwell

Project Knitwell

Project Knitwell offers knitting as a tool to promote wellness and help people cope with stressful situations at more than a dozen hospital and community settings.

All of Project Knitwell’s programming is provided by volunteers, and services and supplies are provided free of charge to the people we serve.

Project Knitwell volunteers provide knitting instruction and quality materials in an effort to foster wellness, comfort, and community among those we serve.