Press release submitted by the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, 145 Bolton Road, provides a community of support, therapeutic services and education to facilitate healing for those experiencing cancer. All programs require pre-registration. Please call 978-456-3532. More information www.healinggarden.net.
SUPPORT GROUPS
All support groups are FREE and require pre-registration.
- YOUNG WOMEN – 2nd and 4th Mondays, 9:30 – 11am
- IN TREATMENT – 1st and 3rd Mondays, 1 – 2:30pm
- POST TREATMENT – 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11am – 12:30pm
- LIVING WITH METASTATIC CANCER – 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 11am – 12:30pm
- LIVING WITH METASTATIC CANCER – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5pm
- OVARIAN GROUP – 3rd Thursdays, 12 – 1:30pm
Oneness Blessing
Open to the community
Sunday, March 26, 3–5 p.m.
Sunday, April 23, 3–5 p.m
At this Oneness Blessing event you will receive a transformative blessing proceeded by a meditation.
Young Women Support Group
Open to the community
Monday, March 27, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Monday, April 10, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
The group meets twice per month and focuses on the many physical and psychological challenges young women face including: body image, fatigue, fertility, chemo brain, coping with fear of recurrence.
Drop-In Meditation: Mindful Mondays
Open to the community
Mondays, 12:30–1:00pm
Sit in the beautiful Garden Room and try out different meditation practices ranging from Meditation for Anxiety and Depression to Radical Self-Acceptance.
Caregiver Support Group
Open to the community
Monday, March 27, 6–7:30 p.m.
Monday, April 10, 6–7:30 p.m.
Monday, April 24, 6–7:30 p.m.
Every session will have a theme especially relevant to caregiver issues. Some of those themes will include understanding the role of caregiver, building a support network, self-care and building your self-confidence.
Ovarian/Gynecological Cancer Support Group
Open to the community
Tuesday, March 28, 1–2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25, 1–2:30 p.m.
Support group for women who are in any stage of ovarian/gynecologic cancer treatment or recovery. The group meets once per month and focuses on issues specific to ovarian cancer.
Meditative Drumming
April 25, 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Use soft drumming techniques to induce a meditative state.
Afternoon Metastatic Cancer Support Group
Open to the community
Tuesday, March 28, 3–4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11, 3–4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25, 3–4:30 p.m.
The group meets twice per month and focuses on issues associated with living with metastatic cancer and all the related treatments, changes in lifestyle and relationships, learning to ask for help.
Evening Drop In Meditation
Open to the community
Tuesday, March 28, 4:30–5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 4, 4:30–5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11, 4:30–5 p.m.
Sit in the beautiful Garden Room and try out different meditation practices ranging from Meditation for Anxiety and Depression to Radical Self-Acceptance.
Spring Book Club
Open to the community
Tuesday, March 28, 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25, 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23, 6–7:30 p.m.
Leaves Falling Gently is a comforting guide to practices that will help you embrace the present moment, despite illness. Deepen experiences that bring you joy and enhance your capacity for gratitude, generosity, and love.
Walking Group
Open to the community
Wednesday, March 29, 9–10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 5, 9–10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 12, 9–10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 19, 9–10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 26, 9–10 a.m.
Meet at the Healing Garden at 9:00 am on Wednesdays throughout the year, as weather permits, and come for a walk.
Meditative Mandalas
Wednesday, March 29, 1–3 p.m.
Cost: $10; limited to 9 participants
During this one hour workshop, we’ll explore several ways to harness the energy of mandalas to help us slow down, release tension, and nurture our body’s innate healing powers.
Mat Pilates for Building Strength
Wednesday, March 29, 3:45–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 5, 3:45–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12, 3:45–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19, 3:45–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26, 3:45–4:45 p.m.
Pilates is a system of controlled exercises that engage the mind and condition the total body. The blend of strength and flexibility improves posture and reduces stress.
Yoga for Self Care
Thursday, March 30, 9:30–10:45 a.m.
Thursday, April 6, 9:30–10:45 a.m.
Thursday, April 13, 9:30–10:45 a.m.
Thursday, April 20, 9:30–10:45 a.m.
Thursday, April 27, 9:30–10:45 a.m.
This series of yoga classes is designed to help you increase your awareness of your body, breath and energy flow.
Writing for Wellness Morning Class
Thursday, March 30, 9:30–11 a.m.
Thursday, April 6, 9:30–11 a.m.
Thursday, April 13, 9:30–11 a.m.
Thursday, April 20, 9:30–11 a.m.
Thursday, April 27, 9:30–11 a.m.
For those on a healing or spiritual path, writing can be soul soothing. This workshop is designed to inspire and support you on your individual writing journey.
Writing for Wellness Afternoon Class
Thursday, March 30, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday, April 6, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday, April 13, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday, April 20, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday, April 27, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
For those on a healing or spiritual path, writing can be soul soothing. This workshop is designed to inspire and support you on your individual writing journey.
Knitting and Needlework
Thursday, March 30, 1–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 6, 1–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 13, 1–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 20, 1–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 27, 1–3 p.m.
Join the Healing Garden community and friends in an open knitting circle.
In Treating Support Group
Monday, April 3, 1–2:30 p.m.
Monday, April 17, 1–2:30 p.m.
The group meets twice per month and focuses on issues of new diagnosis and treatment including: navigating the medical and health care systems, filtering information, adjusting to identity.
Morning Metastatic Cancer Support Group
Open to the community
Tuesday, April 4, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
A focus on sharing emotional concerns, such as family reactions and communication, and learning to have a full life while living with cancer. Medical and treatment issues and resources may be shared among members.
Caregiver and Client Support Group
Open to the community
Tuesday, April 4, 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2, 6–7:30 p.m.
There are many common issues that people experience when faced with cancer. Often people feel that they are asking too much of their family and friends but especially the need for ongoing daily support.
Post Treatment Support Group
Open to the community
Wednesday, April 5, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
The group meets twice a month and focuses on issues like cancer rehabilitation, strength-building, shifts in identity, intersecting factors (financial, work, relationships), management of anxiety, and making meaning of cancer in their lives.
QiGong with Jeff Cote
Thursday, April 6, 2–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 13, 2–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 20, 2–3 p.m.
Thursday, April 27, 2–3 p.m.
Combining the vehicles of Tai Chi and Qigong, this practice incorporates ancient healing art practices to promote living mindfully.
Mindful Yoga
Saturday, April 8, 10–11:30 a.m.
This yoga class integrates mindfulness techniques with yoga healing practices.
Circle of Healing & Song with the Threshhold Choir
Tuesday, April 11, 4:30–5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9, 4:30–5 p.m.
Raise your voice in community singing! Join the Threshold Choir to sing, listen and receive the power of song.
Evening Post Treatment Group
Tuesday, April 11, 6–7:30 p.m..
Group for people who are past their treatment phase and are working to reevaluate their lives. They wonder how to articulate and understand how they have changed. They hope that they will feel lighter and trust in their health.
Mindfulness with Watercolors
Wednesday, April 12, 1–3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19, 1–3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26, 1–3 p.m.
Will help dispel the myth that when we paint we must produce art worthy of sharing with others. Together you will explore the calming properties of watercolor painting and playing with color to feel more relaxed and happy.
Mind-Body Sound Therapy with Bernadette Yao
Wednesday, April 19, 10–11 a.m.
Wednesday, May 17, 10–11 a.m.
Join us for this monthly workshop is designed to help you relax, unwind and bring your attention to the music as a meditative tool. As a musician for over 30 years and a certified energy practitioner.
Clay Vessels & Plant Impressions
Wednesday, May 3, 1–3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 10, 1–3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 17, 1–3 p.m.
Practice mindfulness in nature, finding plants and objects in the garden that you can embed in clay pottery under the lead of a ceramics artist.
Meditation with Horses
Thursday, May 18, 12:45–2 p.m.
Learn a visualization meditation and then walk next door to practice with the horses at Sheriffmuir Farm.
