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The Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living

HOME > ABOUT > CLINICAL SITES AND SERVICES > THE LEONARD P. ZAKIM CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES AND HEALTHY LIVING
The Zakim Center promotes an enhanced quality of life during cancer care through integrative therapies and healthy living programs. The programs, services, lectures, and seminars offered help patients feel better by reducing the pain, stress, and anxiety during cancer and treatment. ​
Currently, the Zakim Center offers acupuncture and massage appointments in-person at Dana-Farber’s main campus, and ear acupuncture at the Chestnut Hill location. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person group programming is held virtually on MyZakim, an online wellness platform for live and on-demand virtual group programs such as meditation, dance, yoga, strength training, tai chi, and more.
The Zakim Center’s virtual live and on-demand classes are available on MyZakim, Dana-Farber's virtual wellness platform! If you are a Dana-Farber patient or caregiver, please follow the below steps to request an account.
​
  1. Visit myzakim.dana-farber.org/sign-up and sign up as a patient or caregiver. We recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge as your web browsers while using the site. 
  2. Submit your sign-up form and allow up to one business day for the team to verify and activate your account. You will then receive an email from notifications@dialogedu.com asking you to create your password.
  3. Log into MyZakim and click on “Class Schedule” at the top of the screen to sign up for a live class, or the “Digital Library” to view previously recorded classes. If you do not fully log in to your account, you will not have access to the full* class schedule.

​*A limited number of classes are available to the general public without creating an account.
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Integrative Therapies
  • Acupuncture is an adjunctive treatment that involves hair-thin needles being gently inserted into acupoints on the skin to correct and rebalance physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional energy. Many patients who have received acupuncture describe it as a calming and invigorating experience that helps manage symptoms and side effects.
  • Oncology Massage uses therapeutic touch to support the muscles and soft tissues of the body. This integrative therapy helps to ease symptoms of cancer treatment, such as pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and nausea. ​​
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Expressive Art Therapies
​Individual Music Therapy Sessions are led virtually by a board-certified music therapist to increase quality of life by changing your awareness of pain, reducing anxiety, and supporting and developing positive coping skills. No prior musical experience is required to benefit from this therapy.

​The Zakim Center currently offers virtual expressive arts group classes: drop-in Meditation with Live Music, creative arts workshops,
Journaling for Self-Care (an 8-week program), and Music Therapy for Better Sleep (a 6-week program). ​
​​
​Read more about our creative arts and music therapy programs.

Virtual art therapy sessions are also offered for breast oncology patients undergoing infusion treatments. Learn more here.

The Zakim Center's Healthy Living Program offers programs, classes, and education around exercise and nutrition during and after cancer treatment to promote mind and body healthy living. ​

Exercise ​

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The virtual exercise and mind/body movement classes offered free of cost through the Zakim Center include:
  • Beginners Aerobics/Cardio
  • Chair Stretch & Strength
  • Chair Yoga Flow
  • Core Strength
  • Dance & Movement
  • Qigong and Meditation
  • Strength Training
  • Tai Chi ​
  • Yogalates
  • Yoga Flow ​
View the MyZakim Class Schedule to see upcoming classes and programming, along with descriptions of these activities. Access the Digital Library on MyZakim to view previously recorded programs. Remember to sign up for a MyZakim account for access to our full class schedule!
​

If you would like more personalized guidance, virtual exercise consultations are available with an exercise physiologist who can answer your fitness-related questions and provide exercise tips.

Nutrition​

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Eating during and after cancer treatment can be difficult. Through virtual group classes, the Zakim Center offers opportunities for patients and families to learn easy and tasty meal preparation tips and tricks, and develop flexible and sustainable nutrition plans. If you require more individualized nutrition guidance, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dana-Farber’s Nutrition Services team.

Zakim’s Kitchen is hosted the first Wednesday of the month and you can access the meeting through the Class Schedule on MyZakim. A
 MyZakim account is required to join these classes. Previously recorded workshops can be viewed on the Digital Library.

13 Weeks to Wellness is an online nutrition program that will help provide you with the tools and guidance needed to establish new routines that meet your health and wellbeing goals, in a supportive small group environment. Read the full program description here.

​Topics related to general health and wellness, as well as management of cancer-specific symptoms and side effects, are offered throughout the year.

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Eating With Cancer is Dana-Farber's nutrition podcast that explores how food and eating are impacted by cancer. Hosted by nutrition manager Stephanie Meyers, MS, RD, LDN, this podcast explores integrative approaches to finding joy with food during cancer diagnosis and treatment.​
Listen

Meditation and Mindfulness Resources​

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  • Mind Body Resilience Online is a virtual eight-week program designed to teach patients coping skills to manage stress and nurture resilience. Topics that are covered in the program include the science of stress physiology, creating a regular meditation practice, developing awareness with mindfulness, and cognitive strategies to build positive emotions. Read the full program description here.
  • The Mind/Body Book Discussion is open to all Dana-Farber patients. This group reads books that discuss concepts related to well-being of mind, body, and spirit from popular culture, as well as a few classics. This group meets twice a month and registration is required for each meeting. The book of the month will be provided and mailed free of charge.
  • The Meditation Audio Series consists of mediation guides that may be able to help you discover your inner peace.

The Integrative Therapies Education Series is a great resource to learn more about the benefits of the services offered by the Zakim Center. To schedule appointments or consultations, use the contact information below.​
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zakim_center@dfci.harvard.edu​
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(617) 632-3322
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©2020 Young and Strong Progam at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • Clinical Sites and Services
    • Research Studies
    • Supporting the Program
    • Contact Us
  • Newly Diagnosed
    • Understanding your Diagnosis
    • Genetics and Family History
    • Treatment Types >
      • Chemotherapy
      • Surgery
      • Radiation
      • Hormone Therapy
    • Building Your Network of Support
    • Coping with Your Diagnosis
    • Coping As A Family
  • Life with Cancer
    • Treatment and Symptom Management >
      • Menopause and Menopausal Symptoms
      • Fertility
      • Sexual Health
      • Lymphedema
      • Tips for Managing Symptoms
    • Supporting and Engaging Your Body >
      • Nutrition
      • Physical Activity
      • Style and Comfort
      • Health and Wellness Tips
    • Logistics: Managing the Details of Your Life >
      • Work and School
      • Financial Supports
      • Getting Organized
    • Finding Community >
      • Early Stage
      • Inflammatory Breast Cancer
      • Metastatic Breast Cancer
  • Survivorship
    • Survivorship Clinic
    • Life Post-Treatment
    • Continued Support
    • Pregnancy After Breast Cancer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Caregivers
    • Resources for All Caregivers >
      • Getting Organized and Managing Logistics
      • Expanding Your Circle of Support
      • Coping: Cancer Impacts Everyone
    • Resources for Family Members >
      • Family Connections
      • Genetic Testing
    • Resources for Partners >
      • Future Pregnancies
  • News & Events
    • 2023 Forum Events
    • Upcoming Virtual Events
    • Webinars
    • 2022 Forum Recordings
    • 2021 Forum Recordings
    • Newsletters
    • Insight Blog
    • COVID-19 and Breast Cancer