Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® practice.

In each class, Ifátólú verbally guides you through a series of slow, gentle and integrated movements of the Feldenkrais® method. Calling upon your body’s capacities of neuroplasticity, each Feldenkrais® lesson helps you (a) more consciously & joyously inhabit your bodily self, (b) experience greater freedom & ease in your everyday movements, and (c) have more options (a wider range of possibilities) when engaging in any learning activity.

Through the Feldenkrais® method, movement becomes a practice of healing and joyous self-discovery — come experience it for yourself! Everyone is welcome!
A. Ifátólú Gardner, MD, MPH, Ph.D. is a healer, scholar, educator, & Indigenous spiritual elder (Iyánífá). She is also a dancer, yogini, & Feldenkrais ® practitioner and has experience teaching various somatic practices, including the Dunham technique, Qi Gong, Yoga, and the Feldenkrais® method.

Discovering the Feldenkrais® method after a rupture in her health in 2007, Ifátólú
enjoyed the lyricism of the movements, and immediately noticed greater ease in her
everyday movement and a wondrously renewed sense of her body as a source of joy. She was hooked! Entering the FRTI Berkeley professional Feldenkrais® training program in 2009, Ifátólú was certified – and began – teaching Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® classes in 2011.
All of Ifátólú’s work is an expression of her deep appreciation, & ongoing exploration, of the healing and transformative powers of somatic practices and of ancient indigenous wisdom traditions.

Classes are performed lying, sitting, &/or standing. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Healing Circles for People of Color with Cancer and their Supporters (8 week series)

A Healing Circle is a safe haven where patients and caretakers can find a place where they can have their feelings and experiences heard without fear and remorse. When undergoing an ordeal such as Cancer, the importance of an outlet of sharing can’t be understated.

Registration required.

This class offers a gentle sequence of seated poses, guided relaxation, breathing practices and meditation.

For women with cancer and their supporters.

Registration required.

Are you trying to reduce your stress? Consider tapping it out! Participants will learn an easy tapping sequence of acupressure points and be guided in tapping through layers of stress and into greater health and wellbeing. For women who have/had cancer and those women who are cancer care supporters!

Melbra Watts is an energy medicine health coach she provides coaching and training in wellness and holistic development to individuals and groups to help reduce stress, improve performance and lower healthcare costs. Everyone welcome. Registration is required for each individual class date.

Hatha Yoga is a gentle, traditional practice that encompasses breathing techniques, meditation and mindful movement. While stretching and strengthening the body, it can reduce stress and increase energy flow.

A yogi since 1994, Vanessa Doherty began teaching yoga in 2010. Certified in the traditional practice of Hatha Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Reiki.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Please join us for a peer-led cancer writing group. Research has shown that writing is therapeutic during cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Writing improves immune system function, reduces inflammation, and can potentially mitigate some of the stress and depression that a cancer diagnosis can bring.

Best of all, in a kind and non-judgmental group, we can write together, clarifying and/or organizing the thoughts that go with feeling overwhelmed, and then share them, so that the feelings are no longer just inside us. We will write for 20 minutes or so, and then anyone who would like to, can read and get supportive feedback.

Registration required.

Limited to 12 Participants – Reserve a spot

Tuesdays, January 14 to March 10, 2020

2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(retreat on February 18 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Mindful Self-Compassion is designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristen Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.

The key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, which opens our hearts to suffering so we can give ourselves what we need, a sense of common humanity, which opens us to our essential inter-relatedness so we know we are not alone, and balanced mindful awareness, which opens us to the present moment, which helps us accept our experience with greater ease.

Rapidly expanding research reveals that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying interpersonal relationships.

No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend. Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn’t receive enough affection in childhood or have difficulty and feel uncomfortable when treating themselves with kindness. It provides emotional strength and resilience, reduces self-criticism and isolation, and allows us all to be more authentically ourselves.

This class will be taught by Lynne Henderson, PhD.

Lynne Henderson, PhD., Lynne was trained to teach Mindful Self Compassion by Kristen Neff and Chris Germer, and trained to teach MBSR by Bob Stahl. She also incorporates Mindful Self-Compassion and Compassion-Focused Therapy in her clinical work. She is founder of the Shyness Institute and was director of the Stanford Shyness Clinic for 25 years. She authored the book, The Compassionate Mind Guide to Building Social Confidence in 2011. She has been a visiting scholar and lecturer in the Psychology Department at Stanford University.

All classes will be held at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center at 2908 Ellsworth Street, Berkeley, CA 94705. We ask that you commit to attend all sessions. This course is offered free of charge. The class is limited to twelve participants. Please register online at the link above. If you have questions please call Lynne at 650-814-9210 or email lhenderson@rivcons.com.

This class includes a gentle asana practice as well as restorative poses. No previous experience necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing. Especially for women who have/had cancer. Women supporters may attend as space allows.

Class instruction by Bonnie Maeda, Katherine McStravick,  Lee Mitchell, Debbie Gilman, Vanessa Doherty and Susana Renaud

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

The gentle yet powerful art of Qigong uses our breath, body movement, sound and meditation. All of these elements combined will help to stimulate the body’s natural healing. We will learn techniques which will help to boost our immune system, reduce stress, improve our sleep patterns and help us to feel better overall.

Willow Lune is a certified Medical Qigong instructor.  She believes it is very important that she help her students with self-empowerment  so that they can be more energized and at peace.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

 Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® practice.

In each class, Ifátólú verbally guides you through a series of slow, gentle and integrated movements of the Feldenkrais® method. Calling upon your body’s capacities of neuroplasticity, each Feldenkrais® lesson helps you (a) more consciously & joyously inhabit your bodily self, (b) experience greater freedom & ease in your everyday movements, and (c) have more options (a wider range of possibilities) when engaging in any learning activity.

Through the Feldenkrais® method, movement becomes a practice of healing and joyous self-discovery — come experience it for yourself! Everyone is welcome!
A. Ifátólú Gardner, MD, MPH, Ph.D. is a healer, scholar, educator, & Indigenous spiritual elder (Iyánífá). She is also a dancer, yogini, & Feldenkrais ® practitioner and has experience teaching various somatic practices, including the Dunham technique, Qi Gong, Yoga, and the Feldenkrais® method.

Discovering the Feldenkrais® method after a rupture in her health in 2007, Ifátólú
enjoyed the lyricism of the movements, and immediately noticed greater ease in her
everyday movement and a wondrously renewed sense of her body as a source of joy. She was hooked! Entering the FRTI Berkeley professional Feldenkrais® training program in 2009, Ifátólú was certified – and began – teaching Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® classes in 2011.
All of Ifátólú’s work is an expression of her deep appreciation, & ongoing exploration, of the healing and transformative powers of somatic practices and of ancient indigenous wisdom traditions.

Classes are performed lying, sitting, &/or standing. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Healing Circles for People of Color with Cancer and their Supporters (8 week series)

A Healing Circle is a safe haven where patients and caretakers can find a place where they can have their feelings and experiences heard without fear and remorse. When undergoing an ordeal such as Cancer, the importance of an outlet of sharing can’t be understated.

Registration required.

Guided meditation.

In this class we will begin with a practice of breathing awareness and somatic meditation, which is meditation which focuses on following the sensations of the body. This practice is invaluable as it can be practiced anywhere to start to calm down our thoughts, and bring us into our bodies and the present moment, and stimulates the parasympathetic response of our bodies, and out of fight or flight.
Next we will be lead through a guided meditation. After entering into deep relaxation we will explore deeper parts of ourselves within our bodies and souls, each month focusing on different topics, such as, self love, forgiveness, compassion, creating boundaries, finding our voice, creating space, reclaiming our bodies, and learning to listen to our bodies, minds and spirits. Afterwards, a few minutes to write about your experience and space to share.
Shannon Knorr has been teaching rehabilitative Pilates, Yoga and embodiment for almost 2 decades. She has completed a 500 hour advanced yoga training as well as having a degree in Dance/Movement Therapy. She has extensive knowledge of the body, it’s anatomy and the workings of the inner body. She believes that a movement practice truly is a dialogue with our own bodies.  Shannon is a breast cancer survivor and during her treatment and recovery found her movement practice to be her lifeline. Shannon believes that Pilates and Yoga are accessible to every body, and learning about our bodies puts our health and wellness into our own hands. Through our movement practice together, may we develop a stronger connection to ourselves and our bodies, which in turn deepens our connection to the greater world. Inhabiting our bodies brings us more into the present moment and more into our very own lives.
www.embodypilatesstudio.com

This class offers a gentle sequence of seated poses, guided relaxation, breathing practices and meditation.

For women with cancer and their supporters.

Registration required.

Are you trying to reduce your stress? Consider tapping it out! Participants will learn an easy tapping sequence of acupressure points and be guided in tapping through layers of stress and into greater health and wellbeing. For women who have/had cancer and those women who are cancer care supporters!

Melbra Watts is an energy medicine health coach she provides coaching and training in wellness and holistic development to individuals and groups to help reduce stress, improve performance and lower healthcare costs. Everyone welcome. Registration is required for each individual class date.

Please join us for a peer-led cancer writing group. Research has shown that writing is therapeutic during cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Writing improves immune system function, reduces inflammation, and can potentially mitigate some of the stress and depression that a cancer diagnosis can bring.

Best of all, in a kind and non-judgmental group, we can write together, clarifying and/or organizing the thoughts that go with feeling overwhelmed, and then share them, so that the feelings are no longer just inside us. We will write for 20 minutes or so, and then anyone who would like to, can read and get supportive feedback.

Registration required.

Limited to 12 Participants – Reserve a spot

Tuesdays, January 14 to March 10, 2020

2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(retreat on February 18 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Mindful Self-Compassion is designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristen Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.

The key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, which opens our hearts to suffering so we can give ourselves what we need, a sense of common humanity, which opens us to our essential inter-relatedness so we know we are not alone, and balanced mindful awareness, which opens us to the present moment, which helps us accept our experience with greater ease.

Rapidly expanding research reveals that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying interpersonal relationships.

No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend. Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn’t receive enough affection in childhood or have difficulty and feel uncomfortable when treating themselves with kindness. It provides emotional strength and resilience, reduces self-criticism and isolation, and allows us all to be more authentically ourselves.

This class will be taught by Lynne Henderson, PhD.

Lynne Henderson, PhD., Lynne was trained to teach Mindful Self Compassion by Kristen Neff and Chris Germer, and trained to teach MBSR by Bob Stahl. She also incorporates Mindful Self-Compassion and Compassion-Focused Therapy in her clinical work. She is founder of the Shyness Institute and was director of the Stanford Shyness Clinic for 25 years. She authored the book, The Compassionate Mind Guide to Building Social Confidence in 2011. She has been a visiting scholar and lecturer in the Psychology Department at Stanford University.

All classes will be held at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center at 2908 Ellsworth Street, Berkeley, CA 94705. We ask that you commit to attend all sessions. This course is offered free of charge. The class is limited to twelve participants. Please register online at the link above. If you have questions please call Lynne at 650-814-9210 or email lhenderson@rivcons.com.

This class includes a gentle asana practice as well as restorative poses. No previous experience necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing. Especially for women who have/had cancer. Women supporters may attend as space allows.

Class instruction by Bonnie Maeda, Katherine McStravick,  Lee Mitchell, Debbie Gilman, Vanessa Doherty and Susana Renaud

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Do you knit, embroider, cross stitch, crochet, hand sew, color, draw or have any other craft that travels easily? Or, just come and hang out.

Spend some time working on your art or craft in the company of others.

Registration required.

 Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® practice.

In each class, Ifátólú verbally guides you through a series of slow, gentle and integrated movements of the Feldenkrais® method. Calling upon your body’s capacities of neuroplasticity, each Feldenkrais® lesson helps you (a) more consciously & joyously inhabit your bodily self, (b) experience greater freedom & ease in your everyday movements, and (c) have more options (a wider range of possibilities) when engaging in any learning activity.

Through the Feldenkrais® method, movement becomes a practice of healing and joyous self-discovery — come experience it for yourself! Everyone is welcome!
A. Ifátólú Gardner, MD, MPH, Ph.D. is a healer, scholar, educator, & Indigenous spiritual elder (Iyánífá). She is also a dancer, yogini, & Feldenkrais ® practitioner and has experience teaching various somatic practices, including the Dunham technique, Qi Gong, Yoga, and the Feldenkrais® method.

Discovering the Feldenkrais® method after a rupture in her health in 2007, Ifátólú
enjoyed the lyricism of the movements, and immediately noticed greater ease in her
everyday movement and a wondrously renewed sense of her body as a source of joy. She was hooked! Entering the FRTI Berkeley professional Feldenkrais® training program in 2009, Ifátólú was certified – and began – teaching Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® classes in 2011.
All of Ifátólú’s work is an expression of her deep appreciation, & ongoing exploration, of the healing and transformative powers of somatic practices and of ancient indigenous wisdom traditions.

Classes are performed lying, sitting, &/or standing. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Healing Circles for People of Color with Cancer and their Supporters (8 week series)

A Healing Circle is a safe haven where patients and caretakers can find a place where they can have their feelings and experiences heard without fear and remorse. When undergoing an ordeal such as Cancer, the importance of an outlet of sharing can’t be understated.

Registration required.

This class offers a gentle sequence of seated poses, guided relaxation, breathing practices and meditation.

For women with cancer and their supporters.

Registration required.

Monica Berini is a San Francisco-based belly dance instructor at the Alonzo King Lines Dance Center. Monica teaches Egyptian raqs and old-school pan-Arab diaspora-style belly dance. These belly dances provide Monica and her students with ‘farha’—never ending joy, which is at the heart of the style.

For more information about, Monica Berini, and her current projects inquire at:

www.monicaraqs.com.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Enjoy a relaxing evening with coloring books, crayons, markers and colored pencils. We will color, chat, laugh, and tap into our meditative spirits. Basic supplies provided but please bring along your favorites. Everyone welcome. Registration required.

ABC (All Bodies Centered) Soul Line Dance class, with instructor Ifasina T. L. Clear, centers people of size and people with disabilities to encourage movement and joyful body engagement. The class has seated modifications and other modifications for varying ranges of motion to dance and move together in one space.

www.clear-understandings.com.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Reiki Healing Clinic Lead by Stephanie Drotter Seidell

Everyone welcome. Registration required. Schedule an appointment.*

*If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, we respectfully request it be released for others waiting for an opening.

Healing to the Rhythm of Spring Equinox

R Consuelo Inez is a Certified Sound healer who will guide you into a self-love healing journey.  Opening the heart of loving kindness for a sense of peace, balance, compassion and understanding. Immerse in the feelings of well-being, wholeness and joy through music, melodic tunes, and vibrations of unconditional love.

Everyone welcome. Registration required.

Are you trying to reduce your stress? Consider tapping it out! Participants will learn an easy tapping sequence of acupressure points and be guided in tapping through layers of stress and into greater health and wellbeing. For women who have/had cancer and those women who are cancer care supporters!

Melbra Watts is an energy medicine health coach she provides coaching and training in wellness and holistic development to individuals and groups to help reduce stress, improve performance and lower healthcare costs. Everyone welcome. Registration is required for each individual class date.