DFCI Zakim Center

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  • Description: Cold and Snowy Days 
    When it is cold and dark many of us experience negative emotions and a lack of energy or motivation. Physically the blood circulation slows down, the hands and feet get cold. The soft tissue (skin, muscles facia and tendons) shrink and the skeleton and joints are under physical stress. In this class we will gently stretch the soft tissue using deep breathing and the dissolving meditation to deeply relax and release both physical and mental tension and stress. We will massage the abdominal area and the internal organs through movements or with our palms and hands to increase circulation and remove stagnation. This will create warmth and a deep feeling of relaxation throughout the entire body as well as the internal organs. Correct alignment, deep breathing, emptying the mind and evoking the spirit may improve mood, reduce anxiety and lead to better health. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice in this 45 minute class: Internal Organ Dissolving, Kidney Ma...
  • Description: Join Nancy Campbell, MS, an exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber, for a 45-minute workout focusing on strengthening the whole body.


    Tags: Beginner-intermediate, Bone, Full body workout, Muscle, Weight lifting, Weights
  • Description: Lower Back and Kidneys 
    Sometimes when you experience physical and mental stress it gets stored in your lower back and kidneys. In this class we will stretch and strengthen the lower back while at the same time cleanse and nourish the kidneys. We will open the Ming Man, kidney doors, to release impurities from the kidneys. We will stretch and release the six bows in our bodies: the 2 leg bows, the 2 arm bows, the spine bow, and the chest bow. Stretching and releasing the bows with deep breathing, gently moving the abdominal and back muscles, utilizing the mind and evoking the spirit will cleanse not only the lower back and the kidneys but the entire body. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice in this 45 minute class: The Rainbow, Chair Twist, Shake the Carpet, Stretch and Release the Bows, Kindness Dissolving, Rock the Baby, Rhinoceros Looks to the Moon, Wind Over the Ocean, Octopus Swimming 
    Most exercises, in this class, can be practiced sitting, standing, or lyin...
  • Description: Massage and Nourish your Internal Organs
    Eastern philosophies such as Qigong and Tai Chi measure good health by the health of the internal organs. In the east, it is common to tap the abdominal area to show strength while in the western world we flex and point to our biceps. In this class, we will massage our internal organs and spine through movement to all directions: forward, backwards, left, right, up, and down. Using the mind, deep breathing, and a gentle movement of the abdominal and back muscles we will first cleanse and then nourish our internal organs. Eastern philosophies believe that some of the traumas that we go through in life can get stored in our physical and energetic bodies, especially in our internal organs. To dissolve that tension or what eastern philosophies refer to as “energy stagnations” or “impurities” we will melt away stress with our mind using the ancient Chinese metaphor “Solid to Liquid and Liquid to Gas” the same way that an ice cube melts int...
  • Description: Join Nancy Campbell, MS, an exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber, for a 45-minute workout focusing on strengthening the whole body.


    Tags: Beginner-intermediate, Bone, Full body workout, Muscle, Weight lifting, Weights
  • Description: Free the skeleton from stress with deep breathing and meditation In this 45 minute class, we will first free the upper body skeleton (neck, shoulders, arms, and wrists) and then we will free the lower back while stimulating the lungs and massaging, through movements, the internal organs. We will stretch the ribs and lung area while breathing deep and emptying the mind. We will practice standing meditation (Yi Chuan) with elbows over our heads and breathing deep while evoking the spirit. We will stretch the neck to six different angles with the goal of increasing the range of motion, if needed, or to maintain the full range, if you still have it. Then we will work on freeing the most stubborn group of muscles in our body, the hamstrings, which will also help reduce stress on the knees and lower back. We will finish with twisting and rotating to continue freeing the lower back while stimulating movement in the digestive organs.  
    Some of what we will learn and practice: Hold the...
  • Description: Join Nancy Campbell, MS, an exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber, for a 45-minute workout focusing on strengthening the whole body.


    Tags: Beginner-intermediate, Bone, Full body workout, Muscle, Weight lifting, Weights
  • Description: Join Nancy Campbell, MS, exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber's Zakim Center, for a 45-minute workout focused on strengthening the whole body. This workout includes a cardio warm-up, followed by 35 minutes of strength training which can be done standing and on the floor or on your bed. This class is designed for patients with breast cancer and suitable for all cancer diagnoses. 

    Equipment needed: Yoga mat, chair, 1 block, hand weights. If you don’t have equipment available, try swapping these items: 
     Hand weights – soup cans, water bottles 

     Yoga mat – move to carpet, take off socks 

     Blocks – small cushion, stack of books 
    For Dana-Farber patients interested in scheduling a free exercise consultation, please call 617-632-3322. We would like to extend a special thank you to our philanthropic partners whose continued generosity supports the Zakim Center's group programming and to Molta Media for helping to make this video possible.
  • Description: Massage and Nourish your Internal Organs - In this class I will teach you and you will practice the spine wave. We will coordinate the spine wave with movement of the abdominal and back muscles. Both will massage your vertebrae as well as the internal organs. We will practice the Buddhist Breath and use it to scan, collect and cleanse impurities from the internal organs. We will practice moving the ribs and lungs like a see-saw to massage the internal organs. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: Massage your internal organs Reduce physical and mental stress Stretch and Release the bows Empty-Full Moon Cleanse impurities Lower back stretches Climb the Ladder Rock the Boat Twisting left and right Tap and nourish the liver, spleen and kidneys Solid to liquid, liquid to gas Most exercises can be done sitting, standing or lying down.
    Tags: Breathing, Chi Kung, Healing, Mindfulness, Relaxation
  • Description: Increase oxygen intake, boost your energetic and immune system - In this 45 minute class, we will learn and practice the emperor/empress position (sitting) with deep breathing and visualization of the lower energy center. We will work on reducing physical, mental and energetic stress. We will relax the face. We will practice Samson Holds or Pushes the Pillars to boost your energy and immune system and work on evoking the spirit to stimulate the pituitary glands to release endorphins and serotonin. Some of what we will learn and practice: Deep breathing - North, South, East and West Samson Holds the Pillars Baby Crane Flying (sitting and standing) Stretch and Release the Bows Front and Back 3 Chambers Breathing The Cat and the Cow Snake Creeps Down Snake Creeps Up Spider Climbs the Wall Diving for Pearls Most exercises can be done sitting, standing or lying down.

    Tags: Breathing, Chi Kung, Healing, Mindfulness, Relaxation
  • Description: This Yoga Flow class is designed for participants that have had practiced yoga and have less range of motion limitations. The class is moderately paced to cultivate strength, flexibility, and balance within a gentle, continuous sequence of postures. Focus: shoulder/chest opening.

    Tags: Beginner-Intermediate, Blanket, Block, Rfm, Strap
  • Description: Join Nancy Campbell, MS, an exercise physiologist at Dana-Farber, for a 45-minute workout focusing on strengthening the whole body.


    Tags: Beginner-intermediate, Bone, Full body workout, Muscle, Weight lifting, Weights