Workshops & Seasonal Programs
Throughout the year, we offer workshops, talks and short-term programs to nurture, restore, and connect—supporting body, mind, and spirit. These workshops and series explore topics like cooking for nutrition, art, sexuality, journaling, sound healing, nature-based practices and thriving after cancer.
Like all our services, Cancer Connection offers programs free of charge for people living with a cancer diagnosis and their caregivers.
Confidentiality
All of the confidentiality norms and expectations of the standard Cancer Connection Confidentiality Agreement for participants and facilitators remains in effect for telephone, online, or in person activities. We ask all participants to keep confidential the identity of others they meet in group activities, and not to disclose any personal information that is shared in a support group or program to anyone outside of that meeting. We can talk about ideas outside of the group, but not about people.
Registration
Registration requirements vary by program. Please see below for details on each of our programs and information on how to join them.
Like all our services, Cancer Connection offers programs free of charge for people living with a cancer diagnosis, their families, and caregivers.
In addition to our workshops and seasonal programs, we offer weekly and once monthly classes that foster connection, creativity, and well-being all year long. Join body and movement practices like Embodied Dance & Movement, Feldenkrais and Qigong Yoga, or explore creative and reflective programs such as Gratitude Journaling, Knitting, Creative Writing, Rest to Heal (Yoga Nidra) and Mindfulness.
Visit our Ongoing Weekly Programs page for details, or check our calendar for the full schedule.
Workshops & Seasonal Programs
Gratitude Journaling: An Invitation to Creativity and Play
Gratitude Journaling: An Invitation to Creativity and Play with Sharon Rudnitzky
Every 3rd Saturday of the month. Next class: Saturday, May 16th, 11:00am - 1:00 pm
This program normally meets on the third Saturday of the month but this month we’re meeting on the 2nd Saturday due to logistics. Join one or all of them!
Discover the uplifting power of gratitude, creativity and play in Gratitude Journaling—a unique, hands-on workshop designed to nourish your spirit and bring more lightness into your life. Rooted in the proven benefits of gratitude journaling for mental and physical well-being, this class goes beyond words to engage your senses and spark your inner artist.
These workshops invite you to explore gratitude journaling as a practice for healing and emotional well-being. More than just writing, this joyful approach includes words of thanks, along with photos, colors, doodles, stickers, and inspiring quotes. It's a personal sanctuary you can return to again and again for comfort and delight.
Gratitude Journaling offers a nourishing blend of community connection and personal reflection. We’ll gather in a welcoming, relaxed space to share inspiration and creativity. There will be guided prompts, time to create, and gentle encouragement to help you get started—no experience necessary.
This program is free of charge, but registration is required. Call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 x104 to register.
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My name is Sharon and I moved to Florence 27 years ago and now I live in Haydenville with two daughters and four very friendly cats.
I seamlessly incorporate many of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) principles and values (i.e. Curiosity, Care, Consideration, Play, etc.) in my workshops.
I love being in nature and I enjoy reading and writing poetry. I am also a photographer and especially enjoy taking close-up pictures of flowers. And, of course, I LOVE to look through and add to my gratitude journals!
Mindful Movement in Nature
with Lynne Nicole Smith
Mindful Movement in Nature
1st & 3rd Fridays, May 1st through through September 18th, 1:00-2:10pm. In person
Join our Mindful Movement in Nature summer program where you can enjoy a gentle mind/body practice along with the beauty of the trees, water and sun! Join Lynne at Amethyst Brook parking lot on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month The session includes a 10-minute walk to a shaded labyrinth by beautiful sunlit streams and water. We will then practice Qigong which often mirrors movements in nature. Depending on interest from the group, we will change locations in June and July to add some variety to our experience outdoors. Standing practice only. Beginners welcome!
Note: Once registered for the class, you can come to as many of the classes as you wish- attendance to all is not necessary.
This program is free of charge, but registration is required. Call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 x104 to register.
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For twenty years, Lynne has been integrating Qigong into all of her Yoga classes and has witnessed many testimonials of the powerful benefits of the practice when Yoga and Qigong are integrated together. She is a Senior Trainer with the Institute of Integral Qigong and T’ai Chi and produced a Qigong Infused Yoga DVD in 2018. She leads online teacher training programs training other instructors from around the world. She is passionate about and committed to Qigong as she continues to experience the powerful benefits and deep transformation that the practice offers.
Whole food, plant-based Cooking
Whole food, plant-based Cooking with Paul Sustick of Paul & Elizabeth’s
Saturday, May 23, 10am to 1pm:
Eating a whole foods, plant-based diet is one of the most fundamental and accessible ways of promoting good health and living well through cancer treatment and beyond.
Come join Paul Sustick of Paul & Elizabeth’s restaurant, as we explore making delicious and nurturing foods that focus on nutrition and incorporating healthful eating habits into daily life.
These workshops will provide instructions on how to transform fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains into delicious healthy meals, empowering you to become a more skilled, confident home cook. Each workshop will include cooking demonstrations and hands-on work as well as practical cooking skills, tips and knife skills.
Bring an apron, cutting board and knife and let’s have some fun while making nourishing, supportive food
Priority will be given to participants that have not attended a cooking workshop before. This program is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis or is a primary caregiver and is free of charge. Registration is required. Call Cancer Connection to register: 413-586-1642 x104.
This program is generously donated by Paul Sustick of Paul & Elizabeth’s, Northampton’s beloved downtown mainstay restaurant, serving up pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan dishes since 1978.
Author Talk & Discussion:
Preparing For End of Life For Dummies
Author Talk & Discussion: Preparing For End of Life For Dummies with Virginia Chang
Tuesday, May 19th, 5:30-6:30pm. This is a remote program, and is open to the general public.
Join us for a thoughtful and accessible one-hour virtual author talk and discussion of the newly released book "Preparing For End of Life For Dummies" by Virginia Chang, certified end-of-life doula, educator, and writer.
This conversation-style program will highlight key themes from the book, share insights, and explore practical guidance for navigating end-of-life planning with clarity and compassion, exploring such topics such as:
• Navigating legal and logistical preparations
• Building a meaningful support network
• Exploring funeral and burial options
• Understanding the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of end-of-life care
End of life does not have to feel overwhelming or frightening. This conversation will open the door to a more grounded, thoughtful, and even empowering way to approach it.
The program is free of charge to anyone in the community, regardless of a cancer diagnosis. Registration required.
Call Cancer Connection to register: 413-586-1642 x104
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Virginia is a certified end-of-life doula, educator, and writer. She supports the dying and their loved ones to approach dying in a positive, affirming way. She teaches at the University of Vermont, for the End-of-Life Doula certification program. She was written extensively on death, mortality, and doula work.
Mirrors: Equine Assisted Mindfulness Workshop
Mirrors Equine Assisted Mindfulness Workshop with Colleen Campbell and Cris Carl
Sessions are held twice a month on the 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, from 10am- 11:30am.
Choose from one of these dates (participants can attend multiple sessions, space permitting):
NEXT DATE: May 23
Or sign up for one of these upcoming sessions:
June 13 & 27
July 11 & 25
August 8 & 22
September 12 & 26
October 10
Spend time at the Heroes, Horses & Hounds farm in Sunderland learning from and connecting with one of the wisest, most patient and forgiving teachers around, Horses. This workshop focuses on finding peace with your body, connection with yourself and others, sharing and processing lessons learned while going through treatments and finding not only joy but simple fun. Rediscovering play as a way of healing and building resilience. The workshop will consist of mindfulness and journaling exercises, hands on time with the horses and group sharing time. These workshops often help bring clarity and a shift in thinking. Helping people regain a part of themselves that may have been lost along their journey through cancer.
Mirrors takes place outdoors on a farm, so appropriate clothing and footwear will be required. Program details will be provided upon registration. Space is limited. Priority will be given to those that have not attended an Equine workshop before.
This program is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis or is a caregiver and is free of charge. Registration is required. Call Cancer Connection to register: 413-586-1642 x104
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Colleen Campbell is a certified trainer with the IAABC (international association of animal behavior consultants) and a graduate of UMASS Amherst with an Equine studies degree. At two years old she began asking for a horse. Needless to say Colleen was born with her passion of working with animals and has spent her life following that dream.
Mirrors and Paws for Joy equine and canine assisted therapy and service dog training programs have been developed from years of observations of and working with human and animal teams.
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Cris Carl, LADC1, is a licensed therapist who specializes in trauma, addiction and grief. She has been studying the brain and the effects of trauma and how the brain heals from trauma for over 25 years. Cris has a wonderful way of sitting with people and allowing them to open up in their own time. Allowing people the space they need to feel comfortable sharing whatever they want to share.
Cris loves the animals and has experienced the healing power of horses in the Mirrors program herself, originally starting as a student of the program in 2019. Then lending her gifts to help transform Mirrors into what it is today.
Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Series
4-part series: Yoga for Nervous System Regulation with Safara Fisher and Lexi Major
Wednesdays, June 3, 10, 17 & 24, 5:30-6:30 pm In-person only
Living with cancer—whether as a patient, survivor, or caregiver—can place ongoing stress on the body and mind. This gentle, supportive workshop offers space to reconnect with yourself and explore ways to regulate your nervous system through mindful movement and awareness.
Together, we will focus on cultivating a sense of inner steadiness and care by exploring:
Inviting choice and curiosity within your practice
Noticing physical sensations while following the rhythm of your natural breath
Practicing presence and mindfulness to support emotional well-being
Creating shapes or poses that meet your body where it is
Inviting playfulness and self-compassion
Safara and Lexi teach through the lens of Trauma-Informed Yoga. All practices are adaptable and designed to be accessible for a range of abilities and energy levels. Participants are encouraged to move at their own pace and listen to their bodies throughout.
This program is free of charge, but registration is required. Call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 ex 104 to register.
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Safara came to yoga through her mother’s lifelong practice and her own journey toward healing and well-being. Living in recovery from a long-term digestive condition, she brings a deep awareness of how illness and trauma can live in the body.
She teaches yoga as an accessible practice of self-love and is committed to fostering inclusivity and representation for diverse communities and those with invisible disabilities.
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Lexi is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and experienced teacher with over 25 years of practice. She specializes in gentle, mindful yoga, meditation, and yoga nidra, supporting individuals with chronic pain, recovery, anxiety, and overall well-being.
Her training began in India as a Fulbright Scholar, where she studied in a traditional Gurukula. She also holds a 200-hour yoga teacher certification with advanced training in therapeutic yoga.
Your Creativity Matters Art Workshop
Saturday, June 6th, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Join together to create your own art for expression and relaxation using a variety of art materials.(watercolor, ink, pencil, collage, etc) The act of creating art allows for individualized expressions and personal viewpoints of what you are seeing, feeling, and how you choose to express yourself visually.
No art skills are needed, just an interest and desire to use art materials and create something for yourself while together with others in a group.
The art group will be under the guidance of Kate Marion Lapierre, a local mixed media artist and retired art therapist, who enjoys doing art using a wide variety of media. She is excited to gather a group together to allow for creative self-expression and enjoyment.
Materials will be supplied. Space is limited to 6 participants- attend one or more workshops.
This program is free of charge, but registration is required. Call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 x104 to register.
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Kate Marion Lapierre is a local mixed media artist and retired art therapist who enjoys doing art using a wide variety of media. She has led groups in both hospital and school settings, as well as having her own art practice. She is excited to gather a group together to allow for creative self-expression and enjoyment.
Creative Wellness: Nature-Based Art & Relaxation
Creative Wellness: Nature-Based Art & Relaxation with Beth Montemagni
Friday, June 26th, 11 am - 12:30 pm. In person
Nature-Based Art & Relaxation is a gentle, restorative program designed to support emotional well-being through creative expression and calming, nature-inspired practices. In a welcoming and supportive space, participants are invited to slow down, engage in simple art-making, and reconnect with a sense of ease and presence.
Sessions are designed to reduce stress, support mindfulness, and foster a quiet sense of connection—with oneself, with others, and with the natural world.
Each session incorporates guided relaxation techniques alongside accessible, nature-based creative activities. Optional reiki support is woven into the session.
This program is free and open to individuals in treatment, recovery, or caregiving roles, and requires no prior artistic experience. Registration is required: 413-586-1642 x104
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With over 20 years of experience as a stained glass artist inspired by nature, Beth combines creativity, mindfulness, and holistic practices to support healing and well-being.
After a 30-year career in the medical field, she expanded her work into art therapy and Reiki, recognizing the powerful connection between creative expression and emotional restoration.
Today, Beth serves as an Art Therapy Practitioner at the Veterans Hospital in Leeds, MA, and as a Reiki Practitioner and Co-Facilitator at Cancer Connection. Through nature-inspired creative experiences, she helps participants reduce stress, reconnect with themselves, and experience the restorative power of art and mindful presence.
All Out Adventures programs
Join a program at All Out Adventures and Cancer Connection will pay your fees. This summer season they will have paddling, cycling, hiking, and pickleball.
These activities are a great way to move your body, connect with others, and enjoy the beauty of summer in good company.
Call us on 413-586-1642 to find out how to join an All Out Adventures program for free
Learn more about our other services
Befrienders
Befrienders are trained staff and volunteers who listen and support both those who have been diagnosed and caregivers through challenging times.
Integrative Therapies
We offer therapies that treat the symptoms of cancer and offer stress relief and comfort to those living with a diagnoses and the effects of treatment
Support Groups
Support groups offer a place where we can laugh, cry, celebrate, and use humor to find relief in the universality of our experiences.