We offer a variety of classes and workshops to promote healthy living, cancer prevention, and quality of life through creativity, movement, education, and activism. Many workshops are reserved for women with cancer, while others are open to everyone.
All workshops and classes are free of charge but registration is required. For more information, call us at (510) 809-0211.
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Here is our complete schedule of workshops:
(MPR) ABC Soul Line Dance with Ifasina T.L. Clear
ABC 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.
(MPR) Reiki Healing Clinic with Stephanie Drotter Seidell
Reiki Healing Clinic Lead by Stephanie Drotter Seidell
Reiki is a gentle hands-on healing practice that helps to relax and de-stress the body, mind and spirit. It is an excellent compliment to traditional medicine, supporting the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Commonly reported benefits of Reiki include stress relief, inner calm, improved sleep, and pain relief. After a brief orientation, each participant will receive a mini Reiki treatment while lying clothed on a massage table.
The clinic will be lead by Stephanie Drotter Seidell, a Reiki Master practicing in Oakland.
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.
(SGR) The Healing Sounds for the Season of Giving with R. Consuelo Inez
The simple sound of a bell or crackling of a fire can stir your memory and emotions instantly to a special time and place. These memories bring up visions, scents, joys, laughter and tears. Inez will gently guide you through a journey of sounds to reflect on, open your voice and heart and share the sounds of love.
Everyone welcome. Registration required.
(SGR) Mindful Tapping Meditation with Melbra Watts
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.
(MPR) Weekly Women’s Writing Group
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.
(MPR) Gentle Yoga Wednesdays with Rotating Instructors
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.
(MPR) Feldenkrais® Awareness through Movement® Practice with A. Ifátólú Gardner
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.
(SGR) Chair Yoga with Vicky Griffin
This class offers a gentle sequence of seated poses, guided relaxation, breathing practices and meditation.
For women with cancer and their supporters.
Registration required.
(MPR) Monthly Expressive Arts Group with Francisca Lizana
Our group offers an opportunity to delve into art-making, as we listen to music and work in the company of other wonderful women. We use a variety of materials to collage including painting. The aim is to enjoy the process of making your own art without the pressure of producing a finished piece.
Francisca Lizana, MFT, is from Chile and is fully bilingual in both Spanish and English. She received a Fine Arts Bachelor Degree (Chile) an MA in Design & Media Arts (England), and an MA in Counseling Psychology, specialized in Expressive Arts Therapy, through the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.
Everyone welcome. Registration required.
(SGR) Mindful Tapping Meditation with Melbra Watts
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.
(MPR) Gentle Hatha Yoga with Vanessa Doherty
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.
(MPR) Weekly Women’s Writing Group
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.
(MPR) Gentle Yoga Wednesdays with Rotating Instructors
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.
(MPR) WCRC Craft and Social Club (Stitch & B*tch )
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.
(MPR) Medical Qigong with Willow Lune
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.
(MPR) Feldenkrais® Awareness through Movement® Practice with A. Ifátólú Gardner
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.
(SGR) Chair Yoga with Vicky Griffin
This class offers a gentle sequence of seated poses, guided relaxation, breathing practices and meditation.
For women with cancer and their supporters.
Registration required.
(MPR) ABC Soul Line Dance with Ifasina T.L. Clear
ABC 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.
(MPR) Goddess Earrings Workshop with Terri Keith
Celebrate the Goddess in You!
Join us for a 3-part workshop celebrating the Goddess in you.
We will be making beaded goddess earrings with charms and specially – chosen beads. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring any you would like to add, plus jewelry tools if you have them. You may attend one, two or all three workshops.
Terri Keith is one of our beloved administrative volunteers who has graciously offered to share her passion for beading. If you are experiencing some manual dexterity concerns there will be a volunteer at the workshop to help you with your beading.
Everyone welcome. Registration required.
(SGR) Writing for Wellness with Elana Dykewomon
We will focus on using all of our senses for healing, community-building and creativity. We’ll go deep and wide, explore and share in a safe space. For women with cancer and other chronic/acute illnesses. All experience levels welcome!
Elana Dykewomon has published seven books of fiction and poetry, taught writing at SF State and gives private memoir and fiction classes.
Registration required.
(SGR) Mindful Tapping Meditation with Melbra Watts
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.
(MPR) Gentle Hatha Yoga with Vanessa Doherty
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.
(MPR) Weekly Women’s Writing Group
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.
(SGR) Mindful Tapping Meditation with Melbra Watts
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.
(MPR) Gentle Hatha Yoga with Vanessa Doherty
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.
(MPR) Weekly Women’s Writing Group
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.
Shamanic Journey Drumming Circle with Claudia Mar Ruiz
Shamanic Journey Drumming Circle with Claudia Mar Ruiz
Are you feeling lonely, disconnected or dispirited? Shamanism can help you build a foundation upon which you can regain your energy and focus your life force. It is an ancient and non-religious practice that utilizes journeying with the drum to invite supporting spirit guides or ancestors.
Please join us for eight 90-minute consecutive weekly classes. During these 90 minutes, we will create a sacred circle in order to receive and experience loving, healing guidance. This is an opportunity to practice and use the tools of each important step toward obtaining effective ways to communicate, connect, collaborate, coordinate and make changes for a more wholesome and joyous life journey.
For your visit:
Wear comfortable clothing
Bring a drum or rattle
A bandanna or scarf
A yoga mat if you prefer your own
A journal and pen
It is of utmost importance to attend the first class, the foundation for further teachings. Completing all classes in the series will help you with complete integration of shamanistic healing practices. Please arrive on time, try not to miss any classes, but do not be discouraged if you miss a class.
Claudia, your shamanic instructor, has been practicing and studying shamanism since 2004. Through her journey as a breast cancer patient, in 2014 she committed to share this ancient path with others. Spiritual and healing support received from her spirit guides gave her tools for a deeper understanding of healing through honoring women in our lives and recognizing trauma that has been passed on. She recently co-founded Our Red Road, a non-profit organization committed to support tribe family lives and to preserve their ancient healing work in the Valley of Sibundoy, Putumayo, Colombia. More information at www.vivalavida.wordpress.com