DFCI Zakim Center
Sleep Hygiene & Resources
In this 4-minute video, Heather Woods, MA, MT- BC, shares tips that may help you establish healthy sleeping habits and get a good night’s sleep.
Download Heather's Sleep Hygiene Tips here!
Music-Guided 2-2-4 Breathing Exercise
In this 9-minute video, Heather Woods, MA, MT- BC, guides viewers in a 2-2-4 breathing exercise with relaxing live music. 2-2-4 breathing is a simple exercise using a long exhale which is shown to trigger a relaxation response.
Qigong Breathing Exercises for Sleep & Relaxation
In this 13-minute video, Ramel Rones, Tai Chi Master and Mind/Body Consultant, leads you through three breathing exercises rooted in the Qigong practice that may aid in calming the nervous system and putting you to sleep.
Guided Body Scan Meditation for Sleep & Relaxation
In this 16-minute meditation, Patricia Arcari, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, guides you through a body scan meditation designed to help release physical tension in the body and promote a sense of peace and relaxation.
Gentle Yoga for Sleep& Relaxation
In this 17-minute video, Juliana Berfield, PhD, E-RYT 500, CPT, leads you through a gentle yoga flow designed to put you in a state of calm and relaxation before bedtime.
Welcome to your Sleep & Relaxation Toolkit
Regardless of age or diagnosis, insomnia is one of the most common side effects cancer patients experience during or after treatment. It is important to speak with your oncology team if you are experiencing sleep problems.
To help you get a good night’s rest, the Zakim Center has developed a Sleep and Relaxation Toolkit with videos of guided meditation, yoga, qigong, self-acupressure, and self-massage - all less than 20 minutes long! In these videos, Zakim staff demonstrate evidence-based techniques for reducing stress and anxiety, calming the nervous system, and promoting relaxation.
We’d love to hear your feedback. Please share directly by emailing Zakim_Center@dfci.harvard.edu.
Self-Massage for Sleep & Relaxation
In this 7-minute video, Bambi P. Mathay, LMT, BCTMB, RMT, leads you through self-massage techniques, accompanied with a breathing exercise, to help promote relaxation and sleep.
Self-Acupressure for Sleep & Relaxation
In this 12-minute video, Anne Drogin, M.Div., M.Ac., Lic.Ac., Dipl. (NCCAOM), demonstrates how to identify and stimulate certain pressure points on the body that may help calm the nervous system, promote relaxation, and induce sleep.