Consumer Classes & Events
The Center is interested in helping patients learn about approaches and strategies to improve health and prevent illness. The Center is located at 245 Fifth Avenue (between 27th and 28th Streets) in New York City.

Mindfulness Meditation Sessions.
The Rev. Koshin Paley Ellison, a Zen Buddhist priest from the Village Zendo (www.villagezendo.org), trained at the Chaplaincy Department at Beth Israel Medical Center, is offering Zen meditation to patients, practitioners and the general public at the Center for Health and Healing. He is the cofounder of the Buddhist Psychotherapy Collective (www.dharmateam.com).

Sessions consist of brief instruction followed by a 25-minute meditation session. All are welcome. There is no charge for these sessions. They are held on Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:00 P.M.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Modeled on the Stress Reduction Program at UMass Medical School

At The Continuum Center for Health and Healing

Each course cycle lasts eight weeks and consists of:
•Weekly Classes of 2 1/2 hours each
•One day-long class on a Saturday
•Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
•Gentle, mindful stretching and Yoga
•Group dialogue and inquiry to enhance everyday awareness
•Daily home practice assignments
•CDs with guided instruction and a workbook

Spring 2010 Cycle:
Orientation Session (required for participation in the course):
Thursday April 22nd
7PM – 9:30PM

8 Thursday Evening Sessions:
April 29th – June 17th
7PM – 9:30PM

Saturday Session:
June 5th
10AM-5PM

Research has shown that participants in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programs report:
•Lasting decreases in symptoms such as pain and anxiety
•Increased ability to cope with chronic pain
•Greater ability to relax
•Increased energy
•Improved self-esteem
•Improved ability to cope with stressful situations

Registration and Information:
To register, contact Bonnie Everhart at 646-935-2248
Cost: $400
For more information or for specific questions on this course, contact the course instructor Elaine Retholtz at 212-967-6291 or by email at elaine.retholtz@gmail.com.

Elaine Retholtz has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1988. In 2004, she completed the internship in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and in 2005, the Teacher Development Intensive at the Center for Mindfulness in Worcester Massachusetts. She is also a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders Program. Elaine has been teaching the traditional 8 week MBSR program at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan since 2005.

In addition, she adapted the MBSR program into a 3-day model suitable for use in institutions. At Tri-State College of Acupuncture, she teaches MBSR to first year students. Here she also guides students in cultivating mindfulness of the experience of learning to be acupuncturists and taking on the identity of healers.

As part of a facility-wide staff stress reduction initiative, she trained the staff at Rivington House, a residential facility for people living with AIDS. Pre and post measures of participating staff showed significant decreases in perceived stress and emotional exhaustion, and increases in self-compassion. As a result of her experience at Tri-State and Rivington House, she is very interested in using MBSR as a vehicle for institutional culture change.

Elaine is an associate teacher at New York Insight Meditation Center.

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Bone Builders
This exercise and educational class for people with or at risk for osteoporosis is given by the Department of Rehabilitation Therapies at Beth Israel Medical Center

WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

WHERE: Beth Israel Medical Center, 16th Street and First Avenue
3rd floor, Linsky Building, Department of Rehabilitation Therapies

COST: $130 for a 5-week session (Total of 10 classes that meet twice a week)

CLASS SIZE: Limited to 12 people

Class leader: Barbara Schildcrout has a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University. Her 13 years of experience at BIMC includes work with all types of patient groups including patients with geriatric, orthopedic, cardiac, neurological and musculoskeletal diagnoses.

Learn about osteoporosis, be guided through gentle and progressive exercises, improve walking patterns, enhance balance through exercise, learn a safe model for a walking program, learn about the use of free weights and theraband,and more.

To learn more about the program or to be on their mailing list,
call: (212) 420-2010, after the message press option 2

Professional Classes & Events
The Center will contribute to the evolution of an integrative medical model by providing high quality health professional educational opportunities through lectures, certification courses and continuing education. We believe that highly educated practitioners will be able to claim a stronger voice in shaping this new health care model.

Click here for more information about professional education offerings.

Content last modified on Feb 25, 2010