Healthy Lifestyle Classes

Our Healthy Lifestyle Classes include physical activity and nurturing the mind-body connection, with proven benefits including:

  • Reduce stress, depression, and anxiety
  • Help individuals manage pain from the side-effects of treatment
  • Improve well-being

CSCLA’s volunteer instructors pay special attention to the needs and physical capabilities of the class attendees, including those who are actively in treatment, and will offer modifications to anyone who requires it.

Healthy Lifestyle Classes are open to anyone affected by cancer, including patients, survivors, loved ones and caregivers. Newcomers must first register as a Cancer Support Community participant—click here to get started!

Art Class (In-Person)
Meets on the 4th Friday of the month from 12 – 2pm

You don’t need to know how to draw to enjoy making art! Come for an hour and a half of fun exploring different materials, stretching your creativity, relieving some stress, and expressing yourself. You’ll be supported in learning how to use art materials to make something uniquely you, even if the last time you made art was in the 6th grade. All supplies provided!

Breathe, Move, Meditate (Online)
Meets on Tuesdays from 10 – 11am

Feel better! Naam Yoga is a therapeutic practice that uses dynamic and relaxing breath techniques, specific movements and micromovements, and voice-generated sound vibration meditation for targeted healing. Each class will work on a particular area of health such as nervous system regulation, detoxification, digestion, brain health, kidney or liver function, heart health, and more. Modifications can easily be made to practice in a chair, on a mat, or standing.

Drum Circle (In-Person)
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month from 11am – 12pm

Learn how to play various hand drums and percussion to create and maintain a healing sonic groove to uplift the soul. Feel the different frequencies and vibrations of the drums in an interactive group drum circle activity.

Easy Yoga (Online)
Meets on Saturdays from 9 – 10am

A beginner yoga class to stretch, strengthen, breathe, and move consciously and with love. No experience is necessary.

EFT—Emotional Freedom Techniques (In-Person)
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 2:30 – 4pm

Got Stress? Let’s Tap About It! Relief at Your Fingertips! EFT (also known as tapping) is a powerful modality for quickly neutralizing emotional upset. The basic technique combines focusing your thoughts on a specific stressor and verbalizing the situation while self-tapping through a guided series of acu points to restore the flow of balancing energy so you can feel calm.

Feldenkrais (Online)
Meets on Wednesdays from 12:15 – 1:45pm

In this class, participants will be guided through gentle, pleasant, functional movement patterns. As connections between breath and unnecessary muscular effort are explored, participants will notice their stress melt away, flexibility increase, and posture improve. 

Gentle Yoga (Online & In-Person)
Online- Meets on Thursdays from 10 – 11am
In-Person- Meets on Mondays from 1:15 – 2:30pm

Join this class to stretch, strengthen, breathe, and move consciously and with love. Modifications and the use of props enable all to participate, no matter their physical condition. Each class includes a few minutes of poetry reading or yoga philosophy and discussion. Participants will need a yoga mat, 2-3 blankets or towels, and a sturdy chair. 

Mindfulness as Medicine (Online)
Meets on Tuesdays from 3:30 – 4:15pm

Mindfulness as Medicine skillfully combines cutting edge mindfulness practices, current neuroscience, integrative models of health and healing as well as liberating Buddhist psychology into a powerful evidenced-based blend proven to boost immune function and biological/emotional healing for those touched by cancer. This weekly online class will include experiential mindfulness practice, education on relevant themes, such as stress/pain management, Q & A, support and group sharing.

Mindful Moments: Drop-in Class for Cancer Relief and Resilience (Online)
Meets on Thursdays from 12 – 12:45pm

A welcoming 45-minute weekly drop-in session designed to meet you wherever you are in your cancer journey. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, in active treatment, in recovery, or caring for a loved one, this class offers practical mindfulness tools you can use to find relief and resilience.

No prior experience is necessary, and there’s no need to commit to a series – just come when you can and as you are.

Mindful Self-Compassion (Online)
Meets on Wednesdays from 5:15 – 6pm

Join together in community to practice mindful self-compassion. These practices cultivate the ability to hold ourselves with kindness and compassion while being present for whatever arises. This drop-in class incorporates a 5-10 minute introduction with a 25-minute meditation and 10-minutes of sharing.  

Pilates (Online)
Meets on Mondays from 5 – 6pm

Pilates is for every body. This mat class combines core-focused movement with breath, alignment, and intention, to build strength from the inside out. Expect modifications and progressions to allow for adaptation to all levels of practice, and mindful pacing to help you feel centered and energized. Please try to have a yoga/pilates mat and a small kitchen/hand towel on hand.  

Qi Gong (Online)
Meets on Tuesdays from 5 – 6pm

Qi Gong is a low impact, mind-body practice that integrates meditation with movement. All levels are welcome. 

Reiki Healing Experience (Online)
Meets on Sundays from 9 – 9:45am

Reiki is life force energy that promotes stress relief, anxiety release, and mind, body, and spirit healing. This Reiki class will consist of a short guided meditation to induce a receptive state, followed by reiki focused on each individual’s need in the moment. Reiki experiences are a wonderful way to set aside some time that is just for you!

Restorative Yoga (In-Person)
Meets on Tuesdays from 1 – 2pm

Restorative yoga is a gentle, calming practice that helps the body and mind recover from the effects of chronic stress. We will use props to support the body in restful postures and we will stay for longer amounts of time in each pose. We also will explore mindful breathing exercises to clear our minds and energize our bodies. All are welcome – no prior yoga experience necessary.

Strength and Stability Training (Online)
Meets the 1st Wednesday of the month from 2:30 – 3:30pm

A great workout to increase overall stability, posture, and functionality in your life. You will learn how to connect to your body in a way that can prevent injury and improve your awareness of movement in space.

T’ai Chi (In-Person)
Meets on Fridays from 10:15 – 11:15 am

T’ai Chi is slow-moving, gentle, relaxing and meditative. Recent research suggests that it improves sleep quality, balance, energy and feelings of well-being (mayoclinic.com). CSCLA members report a decrease in stress that lasts long after class has ended.

Therapeutic Yoga (Online)
Meets on Mondays from 11am – 12pm

Therapeutic Yoga is a gentle yoga class designed to assist students in managing side effects and boosting immunity. Participants will learn modifications for poses based on their ailments that they can bring with them to other yoga classes. Focus and attention will be on the breath – a vital tool in calming the nervous system and bringing the body back into balance. 

Vinyasa Yoga (Online)
Meets on Saturdays from 10:15 – 11:15am

This Vinyasa Flow Yoga class is designed to build strength, balance, mobility, and body awareness through mindful movement. Modifications will be offered throughout class to support a range of experience levels and energy needs, and the use of props such as towels and yoga blocks (optional) is encouraged. Participants will need a yoga mat and 2-3 towels.

Yoga of Breath (Online)
Meets on Wednesdays from 11 – 12pm

Yoga of Breath, also known as Pranayama yoga, is a unique and gentle yoga class that teaches participants how to still the mind through breath regulation while attaining deeper awareness of the body and mind. Join this online class to increase oxygen intake, release tension and to promote clarity of mind and feelings of physical well-being!

Sponsors

Tuesday Qi Gong

*Sponsored by: Tower Hematology Oncology 

**Sponsored by: Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute 

See calendar for additional quarterly offerings!

Upcoming Healthy Lifestyle classes