DFCI Zakim Center

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  • Description:




    Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, Director of the Zakim Center (left) with Dr. David Rosenthal (middle) previous Director of the Zakim Center, and his wife Judy (right).




    For many New Englanders, apple picking is a yearly ritual marking the arrival of fall. In the case of the staff, patients, and friends of the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber, a recent visit to the orchard also provided a chance to celebrate - and support - an integral part of cancer care.

    They were gathered on a recent sunny Saturday at Belkin Lookout Farm in Natick, Mass. for the Zakim Center’s annual Music Heals the Soul fundraiser. In addition to experiencing the healing power of music through a live performance by Savage Pianos, attendees enjoyed food and drinks, chair massages and ear acupuncture from Zakim practitioners, do-it-yourself mug painting and slime making, and a trip to the farm’s orchard for fresh-from-the-tree app...
  • Description:

    There are times when dealing with cancer - or any of life’s myriad challenges - can feel overwhelming. Emotions run high, and energy low. Situations seem hopeless.


    It is during such moments that a growing number of Dana-Farber patients, caregivers, and staff turn to lessons and techniques learned from Patricia Martin Arcari, PhD, RN. As program manager for Meditation and Mindfulness at the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living, Arcari creates and leads individual and group-based classes and programs to help build skills in stress management and resiliency. Her offerings include a Mind-Body Resilience Program for patients and caregivers, a similar program for staff, several weekly drop-in staff- and patient-only meditation sessions, and a Mind-Body Book Discussion where patients discuss books reflecting the principles of mind-body resilience and integrative health.

    Due to the compounded stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic and th...
  • Description: In this 30-minute class you will experience an alternative mindfulness meditation experience with the presence of live music. Research shows that listening to live music during meditation may help focus an active mind, decrease heart rate, anxiety and pain, and guide you to a deeper relaxation. 

    Songs: Resilient - Katy Perry Stand - Rascal Flatts Fight Song - Rachel Platten Brave - Sara Bareilles You Gotta Be - Des'ree Skyscraper - Demi Lovato The Climb - Miley Cyrus

    Tags: Expressive Arts, Meditation, Music Therapy, Video
  • Description: This 30-minute aerobic cardio workout class will help get your heart rate up and pumping in a fun way! Aerobic cardio exercise promotes cardiovascular endurance and helps improve cognitive skills, posture, balance, overall mental health and mood. Suited for beginner to intermediate levels with modifications available. 

    No equipment needed. For safety: make sure your workout area is cleared to avoid tripping/bumping; wear appropriate footwear that is secure and comfortable for walking/marching (low impact); if uncomfortable standing, seated & chair supported variations are offered
  • Description: This 45-minute chair yoga invites you to find movement in a way that is gentle and supportive. The practice invites awareness into the body and activates muscles in the spine that help you find length up through the spine for better posture and energy flow. If you are new to yoga, have difficulty getting down to the floor, experience pain in your muscles or joints, loss of energy, or balance issues due to peripheral neuropathy, this class is for you. All levels welcome. 
    Focus: lymphatic massage
  • Description: This 45-minute chair yoga invites you to find movement in a way that is gentle and supportive. The practice invites awareness into the body and activates muscles in the spine that help you find length up through the spine for better posture and energy flow. If you are new to yoga, have difficulty getting down to the floor, experience pain in your muscles or joints, loss of energy, or balance issues due to peripheral neuropathy, this class is for you. All levels welcome. 

    Focus: side body
  • Description: This 30-minute aerobic cardio workout class will help get your heart rate up and pumping in a fun way! Aerobic cardio exercise promotes cardiovascular endurance and helps improve cognitive skills, posture, balance, overall mental health and mood. Suited for beginner to intermediate levels with modifications available. 

    No equipment needed. For safety: make sure your workout area is cleared to avoid tripping/bumping; wear appropriate footwear that is secure and comfortable for walking/marching (low impact); if uncomfortable standing, seated & chair supported variations are offered
  • Description: This 30-minute aerobic cardio workout class will help get your heart rate up and pumping in a fun way! Aerobic cardio exercise promotes cardiovascular endurance and helps improve cognitive skills, posture, balance, overall mental health and mood. Suited for beginner to intermediate levels with modifications available. 

    No equipment needed. For safety: make sure your workout area is cleared to avoid tripping/bumping; wear appropriate footwear that is secure and comfortable for walking/marching (low impact); if uncomfortable standing, seated & chair supported variations are offered
  • Description: Eating With Cancer is Dana-Farber's nutrition podcast that explores how food and eating are impacted by cancer. Here, we sit down to candid conversations and seek integrative approaches to finding joy with food during cancer diagnosis and treatment. 
    It's Not the Same -- click here for the transcript!Being Kind to Yourself with Food -- click here for the transcript!Is it Okay to Eat This? -- click here for the transcript!
  • Description: In this 30-minute class you will experience an alternative mindfulness meditation experience with the presence of live music. Research shows that listening to live music during meditation may help focus an active mind, decrease heart rate, anxiety and pain, and guide you to a deeper relaxation. 
    Songs: No One Needs To Know - Shania Twain My Maria - Brooks & Dunn When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss & Union Station Neon Moon - Brooks & Dunn Blue - LeAnn Rimes Amazed - Lonetar
    Tags: Expressive Arts, Meditation, Music Therapy, Video
  • Description: Improving your Health and Martial Arts through focusing on your Spine and Ribs 
    The health of your spine and ribs is important for your general health as well as for your martial arts practice. Stretching, strengthening, lengthening, and relaxing the soft tissues around your spine and ribs will free them from being a prisoner of the skin, facia, muscles, and tendons. Deep breathing with self-massage through movement increases the flow of oxygen throughout your whole body and further helps loosen up the spine and rib cage areas. We will integrate the five building blocks, Body, Breath, Mind, Energy and Spirit into each posture or movement for a complete mind-body experience. 
    We will practice: • Three Chamber Breathing Meditation, standing • Rib Massage with Deep Breathing • The Rainbow Stretch Meditation • Snake Creeps Down • Snake Creeps Up • Stretch and Release the Bows, Spine, and Ribs • Baby Crane Flies • “Grind” Pelvis Circles Meditation • Eagle Flies ...
  • Description: Introduction to Meditation for Health and Martial Arts 
    In this class we will learn and practice regulating your brain waves. We will try to reach the brain waves between awake and asleep, Theta, which is meditation. When you are in the brain waves between awake and asleep you are in the zone, in the moment or experiencing Theta brain waves during which all your senses are alert. When you reach and stay in Theta brain waves, or meditate, you may be activating the production of the Happy Hormones. Spending time in deep levels of meditation allows the body and the mind to deeply relax, rejuvenate and heal. For more information about meditation and its many benefits you can go to my website or blog. 
    During this class, we will emphasis the Up and Down Forces or correct alignment with deep breathing while sitting and standing. We will learn and practice Zen meditation using the breath to quiet the Monkey Mind, the emotions and thoughts, while sitting. 
    Some of the meditations w...