DFCI Zakim Center

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  • Description:
    In this 6-minute video, Ramel Rones, Tai Chi Master, demonstrates Qigong and Tai Chi tapping techniques that may help ease discomforts related to neuropathy, such as pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or the “pins and needles” sensation. Tapping stimulates nerve endings and can be done with your hands or various household items to increase energy and blood circulation throughout the body. Focusing on the breath and emptying the mind from any thoughts is a part of tapping meditation which may also help reduce anxiety and negative thoughts. These tapping techniques are drawn from the ancient philosophies of Qigong and Tai Chi to lead energy and impurities out and away from the body, using the power of the mind for a complete mind-body approach for dealing with neuropathy and its side effects.

    Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of cancer treatment. The techniques employed and/or described in this video may help alleviate symp...
  • Description:
    In this 13-minute video, Ramel Rones, Tai Chi Master, demonstrates Mind-Body techniques from the Eastern health and martial arts philosophies, such as Qigong (Chi Kung), Tai Chi, and Meditation, that may help relieve cancer-related fatigue symptoms. 

    According to Qigong and Chinese medicine, fatigue may result from an excess of Yin (passive, negative) or Yang (active, positive) energy. 

    In this video, Rones guides you in strengthening your muscles and energetic system to relieve Yin fatigue and relaxing your mind and body with restorative postures and deep breathing to relieve Yang fatigue. 
    Remember, it’s important to speak with your cancer care team to report any side effects and concerns to create a treatment plan that works for you. 

  • Description: Fatigue is an extreme feeling of tiredness or exhaustion, and is one of the most commonly reported symptoms of cancer and its treatments. Between 80% and 100% of people with cancer report having fatigue, and approximately one-third of cancer survivors report that fatigue can last months or even years after treatment ends. How much fatigue you have, and how long it lasts, may be related to your type of cancer, what treatments you are getting, and your general health. To help you manage cancer-related fatigue symptoms, the Zakim Center has developed a "toolkit" of short educational and self-guided videos. Here you'll find self-acupressure, music therapy, meditation, exercises, and more. The techniques employed in these videos may help alleviate symptoms, but remember, it's important to speak with your oncology team to report any concerns and create a treatment plan that works for you.For more information, see below linked Dana-Farber articles:
    Managing cancer-related...
  • Description: In this 22-minute Walking Meditation, Patricia Arcari, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, guides you in awakening your senses by meditating in motion. When feeling fatigued, especially due to cancer treatment, a Walking Meditation may help boost energy levels and improve mood; it can be practiced outdoors or indoors, wherever there is space to walk. Please be mindful of your surroundings.Remember, it’s important to speak with your cancer care team to report any side effects and concerns to create a treatment plan that works for you. This video is part of a comprehensive Fatigue Toolkit. For more of these types of videos and resources, visit myzakim.dana-farber.org/fatigue-toolkit
  • Description:

    In this 7-minute video, Heather Woods, MA, MT-BC, leads you through an upbeat and interactive Body Percussion exercise to help fight cancer-related fatigue and boost your mood! Active music-making and drumming have been shown to have a positive impact on wellbeing and are a fun way to relax and connect with your body.
    Remember, it’s important to speak with your cancer care team to report any side effects and concerns to create a treatment plan that works for you. This video is part of a comprehensive Fatigue Toolkit. For more of these types of videos and resources, visit myzakim.dana-farber.org/fatigue-toolkit
  • Description: In this 4-minute video, Dongyan Yu, MS, MS, LicAc, demonstrates simple and self-guided acupressure techniques that may help improve cancer-related fatigue. Although more research is needed, acupressure has demonstrated a short-term effectiveness in alleviating cancer-related fatigue, particularly for patients undergoing chemotherapy. 
    Remember, it’s important to speak with your cancer care team to report any side effects and concerns to create a treatment plan that works for you. This video is part of a comprehensive Fatigue Toolkit. For more of these types of videos and resources, visit myzakim.dana-farber.org/fatigue-toolkit

  • Description: In this 6-minute video, Nancy Campbell, MS, explains the traffic light system – a way to gauge your energy levels and move your body when you might be experiencing cancer-related fatigue. 
    Remember, it’s important to speak with your cancer care team to report any side effects and concerns to create a treatment plan that works for you. This video is part of a comprehensive Fatigue Toolkit. For more of these types of videos and resources, visit myzakim.dana-farber.org/fatigue-toolkit

  • 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: In this class we will learn and practice sitting with correct alignment while focusing on deep breathing. We will practice deep breathing and dissolving. Deep breathing stimulates different parts of our lungs with oxygen: the front, back and sides (left and right) or what I call North, South, East and West. We will focus on visualizing the Lower Energy Center as a trick to quiet the mind and to awaken the energetic system. Physical and mental relaxation are especially important for the health of the joints and for removing stagnant energy which improves our energetic system, as well as oxygen and blood circulation. 
    Using what I like to refer to as the Power of the Mind, we will massage the joints and relax the muscles around them. We will practice isolating joints and through movement and meditation we will dissolve them and the soft tissues around them. The ligaments are the boosters of our energetic system. By first isolating them and then creating gentle movements in the...
  • Description: The upper body includes the fingers, palms, wrists, forearms, elbows, arms, shoulders, neck, head, face chest, lungs, upper back, spine, and the soft tissues. 
    In this class we will stretch and relax our entire upper body. We will use different postures, deep breathing and a focused mind, or meditation, to help improve upper body health. We will tap into the power of the mind to dissolve, relax, and melt both the physical and energetic bodies. We will scan for impurities and dissolve them using the metaphor, Ice to Water and Water to Gas or Solid to Liquid and Liquid to Gas. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: Emperor/Empress Position, Soft Tissue Dissolving, 1, 2, 3, 4 Finger movements, Silk Weaving – Wrists, Shoulder Rotation, 4 Points Touch the Wall, The Pretzel, Rhinoceros Looks to The Moon, Back Bends, Eagle Drinks the Water 
    Most exercises in this class can be practiced Sitting, Standing, or Lying down.

  • 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: To improve physical balance we will practice flexibility, strength, and balance exercises sitting and standing (on both legs and on one leg). Balancing the body helps balance the mind and emotions since the body and mind are one. Deep breathing and meditation, either while moving or when being still in various postures reduce both physical and mental stress which leads to better balance physically, mentally, and emotionally. 
    Some of what we will learn and practice: Meditative Shaking ,The Hula Hoop, Knee Massage Upper Back - Back Breathing, Lower Energy Visualization, Cleansing and Nourishing, One Leg Balancing, Cooling the Upper Energy Center, Leg Swings, The Heron, Chair Twist 
    Most exercises in this class can be practiced Sitting, Standing, or Lying down.