The mission of The
Wellness Community-West Los Angeles
is to ensure that all
people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge,
strengthened by action, and sustained by community. All programs and
services are provided free of charge.
In
TWC-WLA's mind-body classes, community members learn and
practice relaxation skills that are often helpful in reducing stress,
managing pain and the side effects of treatment. Click on the name of a
class to read a more detailed description. All classes are held in
Suite 1020 unless otherwise noted. See our
calendar
to confirm meeting dates for classes.
Circle Singing: 4th
Saturday of each month, 10:30 - 11:45 am
Core Strength: Every Wednesday of each month, 6:15-7:15 pm
Drum
Circle: 2nd Saturday of each month, 10:30 - 11:45 am
(Suite 1040)
Medicine Dance:
1st Tuesday of each month: 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Meditation:
Every Thursday, 6:00 - 6:45 pm (Suite 1040)
If you can walk you can dance; if
you can talk you can sing. Zimbabwean proverb.
In this circle, Patricia will lead the group in creating a one-of-a-kind
instant symphony. This particular call and response improv technique is
an outgrowth of Bobby McFerrin’s original voicestra; and Patricia
studied with two of the original members of his group. The benefits of
singing are many: it exercises the brain, helps reduce stress, and can
lower blood pressure. Making music in a group has been shown to increase
the activity of white blood cells so important in fighting cancer. But
don’t do it just because it’s good for you -- singing is fun! No
experience necessary, no reading music required. Enjoy the uplift, the
fun and community of singing with a group -- the more people, the more
fun it is!
Patricia Bahia (pronounced ba-he-ah) is an LA-based singer songwriter,
recording artist, music educator and coach. She was a soloist with the
acclaimed Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir--recording with Linda
Rondstadt, performing with Joan Baez, and opening for Bonnie Rait. You
can hear her voice on numerous recordings including backup vocals on
Grammy- and Emmy-winning recordings. She studied improv singing with
Patti Cathcart and Rhiannon in the 1980s. A former litigation attorney
and tech entrepreneur, Patricia left the corporate world after a
successful battle with ovarian cancer caused her to re-examine her
priorities and discover her “inner songwriter”. She credits her illness
with the discovery of her songwriting voice, and credits music with her
recovery. Currently she is getting a Masters in Music in Commercial
Music at Cal State LA.
We’ve all heard references made to
our ‘core strength’. But what is it? Where is it?! Well, it’s the region
of the body that consists of all the muscles that stabilize the spine
and pelvis. If your core is strong, you will be less likely to fall, a
problem for those cancer patients with neuropathy or weakness in
general. As a physical therapist, Eileen Johnson uses her background in
pilates, yoga and dance. She is also trained in lymphedema
therapy, which can be a concern for not just breast cancer
patients--anyone who has had surgery or chemo might have difficulty with
lymphedema. Eileen will use all these aspects of her training to sculpt
a class to help you stay strong and prevent injury during and after
cancer. All levels and caregivers welcome!
Eileen Johnson, MPT, is clinical director of a small outpatient
orthopaedic clinic in Santa Monica. She has been practicing for over 10
years, and draws on her background in dance, yoga and Pilates in
implementing a holistic approach to patient care. Eileen also manages
post-cancer and mastectomy patients, and recently became a certified
Vodder trained lymphedema therapist. She is grateful to be a new member
of the Wellness Community team.
Research is showing that drumming
or active music-making (as opposed to passively listening to music) can
help provide relief from daily stressors by directing focus and
increasing awareness of the whole person. It can help you feel better
physically and emotionally and increase confidence and positivity. Join
us for our drum circle led by a trained Health Rhythms instructor!
Medicine Dance explores present
moment thoughts, feelings and sensations that are allowed spontaneous
and fluid expression through the body. Though this process, stress and
tension can be released. Verbally guided and music-accompanied, Medicine
Dance focuses on the power of placing attention on physical sensation
and trusting its natural impulses. Participants will gain self-awareness
through simple body movement at their own pace and ability.
Fred Sugerman has been a consultant and the interventionist for the past
two years on a research project entitled “Mindful Movement Program for
Breast Cancer Survivors,” funded by the California Breast Cancer
Research Program in collaboration with the City of Hope, and WISE &
Healthy Aging. He created and teaches “Moving Meditation” at Inner Power
Yoga in Calabasas, offers CEUs for healthcare providers at Magic of
Healing West, and has been teaching the Medicine Dance Workshops that he
developed for over ten years.
MEDITATION
with Malcolm
Schultz, JD, MFT
Every Thursday, 6 - 6:45 pm
Meditation may improve your quality of life and fight for recovery by reducing
stress, promoting relaxation, enhancing your immune system, and empowering you
to regain more control over agitating or depressing thoughts and emotions. In
these weekly sessions you will have an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of
meditation, experiment with a variety of techniques, ask questions and share
experiences. Malcolm Schultz, JD, MFT, a TWC facilitator, brings many years of
multidisciplinary study and practice to these sessions; combined with his warmth
and humor, this series promises to be a wonderful addition to your tool-kit for
the fight for recovery.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION AS MEDICINE with
Lisa LaCorte-Kring, LCSW
One
Wednesday of each month, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm,
see
calendar for specific dates
Mindfulness meditation is a secular
practice that actively facilitates the mind/body connection by
cultivating present moment awareness, without judgment. In hospitals and
clinical settings throughout the country, it has been proven to
effectively enhance health and well being with people experiencing
stress, pain, anxiety, depression and/or illness, such as cancer. This
group will provide a foundational experience of mindfulness, within a
supportive setting. It is designed for individuals who have or have had
cancer, with the aim of reducing cancer-related stresses while enhancing
the quality of one’s life. These sessions will include mindfulness
meditation experiences, sharing and education. Caregivers welcome!
Lisa LaCorte-Kring, LCSW, has a background in family mediation, and is a
committed mindfulness practitioner for over 8 years. She teaches MBSR
classes through Insight LA, under the guidance of Trudy Goodman and
Christiane Wolf, and mindfulness meditation at the UCLA SIMS/MANN Center
for Integrative Studies.
NIA
with Susanne
Conrad, Beck Brown, Cheryl Byrne, Colette Sherouse
(Held
offsite @
2901 Ocean Park Blvd.
#103, Santa Monica, CA 90405)
Tuesdays, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Thursdays,
9:30 - 10:30 am
Sundays,
9 - 10 am
Nia is a pleasure based fusion of dance, yoga and martial
arts that uses The Body’s Way to achieve physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual fitness and well-being. Nia is a
lot like the Tao -- it cannot be defined by any one word or
by a single phrase. It is always evolving and changing,
uniquely touching each person who experiences it. It’s like
Chocolate: you have to taste it! All levels welcome. This
program is held at Capoeira Besouro Studio at 29th &
Ocean Park across the street from TWC-WLA and free to our
members.
Every Monday & Friday, 9:30-11:00 am @
Clover Park next to picnic tables
Every Thursday, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm@
Roxbury Park,
471 S Roxbury Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212-4113
Take an active role in your health
with Walking Qi Gong! Guo Lin (1906-1984), diagnosed with cancer in the
1940s, developed this style of qi gong and by practicing it was able to
stabilize her health. The physical benefits of qi gong can be numerous
and include increased blood circulation and oxygen supply to the body.
Through slow, gentle movement, we can also obtain a meditative state and
not be distracted by depressing thoughts or worries. A positive attitude
emerges and the confidence to maintain a fighting spirit takes hold;
through group practice, we can become further strengthened. Experience
firsthand this ancient healing art with instructor, Michael Sieverts, a
brain cancer survivor since 2000. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes!
3rd Tuesday of each month, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
with Denise
Neumark-Reimer, L.Ac.
1st Thursday of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm with
Thea Parsons
Reiki is a Japanese method in which you learn how to access
"Rei Ki" or "Universal Qi". Learn how to activate personal
healing potential at any time, from wherever you are, or for
family and friends with simple techniques. TWC-WLA's circle
will meet the third Tuesday of every month and will teach
you how to use Reiki in a grounded, safe and supportive way.
Class time will also involve a guided group Reiki healing
and time for questions.
Denise Neumark-Reimer, L.Ac. has been a licensed
acupuncturist for the past 20 years and a certified Reiki
teacher or Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki for the past thirteen. She
has been a teacher of Oriental Medicine at both Yo-San
University and Emperor's College and is skilled in helping
people understand their personal energy patterns and in
showing them techniques to maximize healing.
Every Thursday12:00 - 1:00 pm (Held
in Suite 1020)
Numerous studies have addressed the benefits of exercise for cancer
patients in regaining range of motion, enhancement of energy, reducing
the side effects of treatment, and creating a general sense of
well-being.The instructor is not only a 3-time Olympian athlete but an ovarian
cancer survivor since 1993.
T'AI CHI
with Marianne Lu
Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30 pm
(Held in
Suite 1020)
Tai chi is slow-moving, gentle, relaxing and meditative. Recent research
suggests that it improves sleep quality, increases balance, energy and feelings
of well-being (mayoclinic.com).
Participants at TWC-WLA report a decrease in stress that lasts long after class
has ended. Come join the slow-moving ranks of T’ai Chi practitioners at TWC-WLA
and let it work its magic on you! Wear comfortable clothing.
EASY YOGA
with Adelaide
McClain
Saturdays 9:30 -10:30 am
(Held in Suite 1020)
Current research indicates that stretching, movement and breathing can
be beneficial to one's physical, mental and emotional health. Yoga is
wonderful for releasing the stress of stored up tension and can be
helpful for regaining strength. No experience is necessary. Wear
comfortable clothing.
YOGA 1
(Held in Suite 1020)
Mondays 1:30 - 2:30 pm
with Amy Drucker
The physical postures, Hatha, and deep breathing facilitate development of a
more flexible and relaxed body. Philosophically, a "release" occurs in the
body's physical realm, it automatically transfers to the body's mental and
emotional realm. As the physical body enjoys the release, the mind and emotions
follow.... moving students into being more wholly flexible. All levels are
welcome, from limber as a noodle to stiff as a board, for we practice opening up
from where we are now.
RESTORATIVE YOGA
with
Joyce Dvoren
Wednesdays
5:00 -6:00 pm
(Held in Suite 1020)
This is a gentle, therapeutic style of yoga that focuses on supportive
and relaxing postures for stress management and nourishment of the
nervous. It is a soothing and nurturing practice that promotes the
effects of conscious relaxation.
Yoga
2 is a mixed level class where we will continue to practice basic yoga
poses to increase flexibility, build strength, and create a balanced
body and mind. Learn to let go of tension and stress. Beginners are
welcome, though some prior experience with Yoga is
recommended.
ZUMBA
with
Rita Ashton
Every Saturday, 11:45 am - 12:30 pm
Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance fitness
class that incorporates Latin and international music with simple dance
movements. This class format combines fast and slow rhythms in an
aerobic/fitness fashion to achieve a unique blended balance of cardio and muscle
toning benefits. The ‘basic steps’ formula makes it easy and fun for any fitness
level.
Rita Ashton is a cancer survivor and has been involved in the fitness and
wellness fields for 20 years. She is also an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer,
Group Fitness Instructor, and Zumba/Zumba Gold Certified Instructor.
