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 integrative therapies consultations, acupuncture, and massage appointments in-person at Dana-Farber’s main campus, with some services available at the Chestnut Hill location. Group programming is mostly held virtually on MyZakim, an online wellness platform, with some in-person movement classes available at Dana-Farber's main campus.
The Zakim Center’s virtual live and on-demand classes are available on MyZakim. If you don't already have an account, please use these steps to request one:​
  1. Fill out and submit our MyZakim signup form. Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox are the preferred browsers.
  2. Please allow up to one business day for account activation. You will then receive an email from [email protected] 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 have any questions or technical difficulties, please email [email protected].

​*A limited number of classes are available to the general public without creating an account.
Integrative Therapies
  • Integrative Medicine Consultations are designed to educate Dana-Farber patients about integrative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, and meditation. You will meet one-on-one with a medical provider who will review how integrative therapies can help manage treatment-related side effects and improve overall wellbeing and quality of life. These sessions also provide an opportunity for those using supplements to review these with a trained provider who can help assess potential risks and interactions with traditional cancer 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. ​​

    ​To schedule an appointment for any of the above offerings, please call 617-632-3322 or email [email protected].
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Expressive Art Therapies
​Individual Expressive Arts Consults are led virtually by a board-certified art therapist to support goals related to stress-reduction, relaxation, self-expression, and more. These sessions are personalized to your interests and no prior experience with the arts is required. Currently expressive arts consults are available for select patients and are offered at no cost. To schedule, please contact the Zakim Center at [email protected].

​The Zakim Center also currently offers virtual expressive arts group classes such as: creative arts workshops, Doodling for Stress Reduction, and Journaling for Self-Care (an 8-week program).
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​Read more about the expressive arts therapy program. 
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. 

View the MyZakim Class Schedule to see upcoming classes and programming, along with descriptions of these activities. Access the Digitial Library on MyZakim to view on-demand programs. Remember to sign up for a MyZakim account for access to our full class schedule!
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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. To schedule, please contact the Zakim Center at [email protected]. 

Exercise ​
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* ​
*Also available in-person at our Mind Body Studio, located in the Zakim Center at Dana-Farber's main campus in Boston. 

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 tips and tricks and develop flexible and sustainable nutrition plans.

There are two nutrition classes, called Ask the Nutritionist and What's Cookin' with Zakim, that are hosted monthly. Read the program description. A MyZakim account is required to join these classes.

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 and email the Zakim Center at [email protected] to join the next session.
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​For more resources and information, visit the MyZakim nutrition page. If you require more individualized nutrition guidance, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dana-Farber’s Nutrition Services team. Learn how to schedule a nutrition appointment.
Eating With Cancer is Dana-Farber's nutrition podcast that explores how food and eating are impacted by cancer. Discussions include integrative approaches to finding joy with food during cancer diagnosis and treatment.​

Meditation and Mindfulness Resources​

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  • Mind Body Resilience 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.
  • 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 once a month and registration is required for each meeting. The book of the month will be provided and mailed free of charge.
  • Listen to guided meditation sessions.
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.​
(617) 632-3322