THE FRIENDS IN DEED BLOG

Restorative Yoga Workshop with Nick Potenzieri - December 1st at 7pm

Don't miss this article published in The Body written by Roger Kimpton.

To read Roger Kimpton's article in The Body, click on the link below the photo.

Friends In Deed: 20 Years of Service

HIV-Positive Writer Roger Kimpton Reflects on the Impact That New York City's Friends In Deed Has Had in the HIV/AIDS Community for the Past Two Decades

By Roger Kimpton
From The Body

 

Friends In Deed: 20 Years of Service 

 

WRITING TO HEAL, WRITING TO GROW - Workshop on August 18th at 7pm with Nina Howes

FRIENDS IN DEED

SPECIAL WORKSHOP

 

WRITING TO HEAL, WRITING TO GROW 

with

NINA HOWES

 

DATE:        THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

TIME:        7:00PM-9:00PM

PLACE:        FRIENDS IN DEED

                  594 BROADWAY, SUITE 706

PHONE:       (212) 925-2009              

 

Research shows that writing about stressful life issues or events can help people relieve stress, have a more positive outlook, and even boost their immune systems.

You don’t have to be a “writer” to participate.  This workshop is for anyone looking for new ways to address the challenges of life-threatening illness, care giving, or grief over the death of a loved one.  We will have the opportunity to share and perform our pieces to teach and inspire others.

 

NINA HOWES is a nurse, a political activist, and a writer.  Her stories have been published by University of Iowa Press and Kaplan Publishing.  Her plays have been presented off-off Broadway; and at the NYC Public Libraries with Around the Block.  She loves theatre; and has performed and produced off-off Broadway.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

All services are free of charge.  Donations are gratefully accepted.
All workshops are subject to change or cancellation, please call to confirm.

 

Laughter Yoga Workshop with Francine Shore on July 21st at 7pm.

FRIENDS IN DEED

SPECIAL WORKSHOP

 

LAUGHTER YOGA

FIND OUT WHAT EVERYONE IS LAUGHING ABOUT!!!

 

facilitated by

FRANCINE SHORE

 

DATE:        THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2011

TIME:        7:00PM – 8:00PM

PLACE:        FRIENDS IN DEED

                    594 BROADWAY, SUITE 706

PHONE:       212-925-2009           

 

Join laughter yoga teacher and coach and counselor, Francine Shore for this healthful, innovative and fun cardio-vascular exercise.

Laughter Yoga has been in the news a lot and (performed standing up or seated -- no yoga mats) is based on yogic principles that involve: laughter exercises, some stretching and intermittent deep breathing.  In these challenging times, laughter yoga is the perfect elixir to reduce stress!

Laughter Yoga has many health benefits: It strengthens our immune system, lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins, decreases depression and anxiety, is a natural pain analgesic, boasts team morale, increases productivity and creativity, alleviates arthritis, asthma, etc.

 

 

FRANCINE SHORE, a practitioner in the field of Laughter Yoga and counseling, is dedicated to sharing the benefits of Laughter Yoga with adults, seniors, and children across the nation. Francine has led Laugher Yoga workshops for corporate America and the healthcare world, including workshops at many hospitals and organizations. Francine has received training from Dr. Madan Kataria, the originator of Laughter Yoga, and is the recipient of Dr. Kataria's Laughter Ambassador Award. As Event Director, she spearheaded World Laughter Day for many years. She has also been a presenter at the American Society of Aging conference in Washington, DC and several conferences on Ageing.  Her work has been featured in a range of media publications and TV programs. For more information visit her website at www.grabbagiraffe.com.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

All services are free of charge.  Donations are gratefully accepted.
All workshops are subject to change or cancellation, please call to confirm.

 

Your Relationship to Work - a workshop with Emily Neustadt on April 7th at 7pm

FRIENDS IN DEED

SPECIAL WORKSHOP

 

YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO WORK:

YOUR VALUES AND YOUR WORK

with

Emily Neustadt

 

DATE:          Thursday, April 7, 2011

TIME:          7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

PLACE:          FRIENDS IN DEED

                 594 BROADWAY, SUITE 706

PHONE:          212-925-2009           

 

Are you satisfied with your work and your life? Do you feel like the activities that fill your calendar reflect your values?

In this workshop, you’ll learn tools that can help you create a better relationship to work and help you bring more of what you truly believe into your life. We’ll look at your current relationship to work and create a plan to make desired shifts.

You are the primary mentor and coach in your life and for your career.

Even when your life is impacted by critical illness, caregiving and grief, you are making choices every day that affect the level of engagement, creativity, fun and aliveness that you feel.  Come and learn skills that help you to be a better coach for yourself and make your choices work for you. The tools help you to:

• Recognize what your current values are and how they affect your life
• Connect with your skills and abilities in a new way
• Create a customized plan for your own development

 

   

Emily Neustadt is an Executive Coach and Organizational Development Strategist for major entertainment companies and investment banks. The values-based process she uses encourages a holistic view of work as a part of your life, not separate, and is focused on meaning as well as results. You can learn more about Emily on www.neustadtconsulting.com.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

All services are free of charge.  Donations are gratefully accepted.   

All workshops are subject to change or cancellation, please call to confirm.

 

BEING Your Best Friend: Would you rather be perfect or present? - workshop with Samuel Kirshner on March 31st at 7pm.

FRIENDS IN DEED

SPECIAL WORKSHOP

 

BEING Your Best Friend

“Would you rather be perfect or present?”

 

facilitated by 

SAMUEL J. KIRSCHNER

 

DATE:    THURSDAY, March 31, 2011

TIME:    7:00PM – 9:00PM

PLACE:    FRIENDS IN DEED

                594 BROADWAY, SUITE 706

PHONE:    212-925-2009

 

There is joy in all of us, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. This inner joy allows us to go on even when our life circumstances become so intense that they seem to suck the life right out of us. This joy can be found right under our noses – inside our breath, in our bodies, at the center of our Being – in the present moment.

Being your best friend – is breathing kindness and compassion into your struggles, and finding the joy of being alive in each moment. Transforming loss to love, and trusting that you’re worthy of being who you are - regardless of your circumstances or condition.

Practice:

• Slow things down and calm your world
• Move through trauma, loss, and struggles gracefully,with self-compassion
• Return to the joy of your existence
• Dance for life, moment by moment, breath by breath
• Source your trust, power and creativity from the Present

 

Samuel J. Kirschner, teacher, counselor and group facilitator for 25 years, is the founder of Artists Of Living, which he teaches and demonstrates through classes, workshops, individual sessions, and on-line coaching. He is a staff member at Friends In Deed. Author of the book-CD’s “The Joy Of Being”, “Practice Confidance” and his new practice CD  “BrEathING – Your Best Friend”.  (Buy on line) www.ArtistsOfLiving.com

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

All services are free of charge.  Donations are gratefully accepted.

 
All workshops are subject to change or cancellation, please call to confirm.

 

WRITING TO HEAL, WRITING TO GROW - Workshop on March 24th at 7pm with Nina Howes

FRIENDS IN DEED

SPECIAL WORKSHOP

 

WRITING TO HEAL...

WRITING TO GROW

 

with 

NINA HOWES

 

DATE:    THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011

TIME:    7:00PM-9:00PM

PLACE:    FRIENDS IN DEED

                594 BROADWAY, SUITE 706

PHONE:    (212) 925-2009              

 

Research shows that writing about stressful life issues or events can help people relieve stress, have a more positive outlook, and even boost their immune systems.

You don’t have to be a “writer” to participate.

This workshop is for anyone looking for new ways to address the challenges of life-threatening illness, care giving, or grief over the death of a loved one.  We will have the opportunity to share and perform our pieces to teach and inspire others.

 

NINA HOWES is a nurse, a political activist, and a writer.  Her stories have been published by University of Iowa Press and Kaplan Publishing.  Her plays have been presented off-off Broadway; and at the NYC Public Libraries with Around the Block.  She loves theatre; and has performed and produced off-off Broadway.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

All services are free of charge.  Donations are gratefully accepted.
All workshops are subject to change or cancellation, please call to confirm.

 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT regarding Big Group changes starting March 7th.

Friends In Deed introduces Big Group changes starting the week of March 7th

-- with groups focused on HIV, cancer, caregiving, and grief & bereavement.

 

Tuesday night Big Group to remain the same.

 

Friends In Deed is pleased to announce that beginning the week of March 7^th, we’re making changes that will give our clients the option to attend Big Groups that are focused on one of our core areas of work -- with Big Group meetings focused on HIV, cancer, caregiving, and grief & bereavement.

We’ve discovered that not having specifically focused groups is an obstacle that prevents many people from coming to Friends In Deed.  We believe these changes will help make our groups and services available to a wider population who can benefit from our emotional and spiritual support.

However, the Tuesday night Big Group will remain the same -- where we encourage diversity and gather everyone in the same room -- whether one is living with life-threatening illness, caregiving or grief. 

The way the actual groups are conducted will not change.  And to make sure that anyone who needs our services has a range of schedule options available to them, all clients are welcome to attend any Big Group, even those with a specific focus.

Here's the new schedule starting March 7th:

 

The Big Group:  Grief & Bereavement Focus

Monday -- 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Grieving over the death of a loved one is a natural part of life.  Each of us experiences grief in our own unique way.   This group helps you discover that there’s no right or wrong way to grieve, no set time-frame.  We are built to integrate grief into our experience, if we can just get out of our own way and let nature take its course.

 

The Big Group:  HIV Focus

Monday -- 5:30pm to 6:30pm

When diagnosed with HIV, it’s not uncommon to experience a period of shock and confusion.  After the initial period of shock subsides, we discover that we are not defined by our illness.  No matter where you are on your journey with HIV, this group demonstrates how you can handle life moment to moment. 

 

The Big Group:  Caregiving Focus

Tuesday -- 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Are you a caregiver struggling to find ways to take care of yourself and another at the same time?  When you’re supporting friends and family members who are very ill, fragile, or frightened, it’s important to understand your own limitations and take care of your needs, so that you may take care of others out of your overflow.  This group reminds you that you’re of little use if you don’t take care of yourself first.  

 

The Big Group

Tuesday -- 7:00pm to 8:30pm

The power and uniqueness of this Tuesday night meeting is its diversity. We invite everyone to come together in the same room, whether you’re living with HIV, cancer or another critical illness… overwhelmed with grief… or facing the challenges of caregiving.  Something extraordinary happens when we discover that we’re part of something bigger than our individual circumstances.

The Big Group: HIV Focus

Wednesday -- 7:00pm to 8:00pm

When diagnosed with HIV, it’s not uncommon to experience a period of shock and confusion.  After the initial period of shock subsides, we begin to discover that we are not defined by our illness.  No matter where you are on your journey with HIV, this group demonstrates how you can handle life moment to moment.  

 

The Big Group: Cancer Focus

Thursday -- 5:30pm to 6:30pm

When diagnosed with cancer, it’s not uncommon to experience a period of shock and confusion.  After the initial period of shock subsides, we begin to discover that we are not defined by our illness.  No matter where you are on your journey with cancer, this group demonstrates how you can handle life moment to moment. 

 

Of course, everyone is still welcome to attend any Big Group,

even those with a specific focus.

 

NOTE: The above changes start the week of March 7, 2011.

 

ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE.

 

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - two-part workshop with Amy Gross on Jan. 24th and 31st

FRIENDS IN DEED

SPECIAL TWO-PART WORKSHOP

 

MINDFULNESS-BASED

STRESS REDUCTION

with

AMY GROSS

 

DATES:        Monday, January 24, 2011

                     Monday, January 31, 2011

TIME:            7:00pm to 9:00pm

PLACE:            FRIENDS IN DEED

                         594 BROADWAY, SUITE 706

PHONE:            (212) 925-2009       

 

You don’t have to be at the mercy of your pain or your moods. You can learn how to tap into your own innate resources for calming and healing both body and mind.

Mindfulness is paying attention to whatever is happening now — without judgment, and with curiosity.

This enables us to see how our usual efforts to control our lives and ourselves are not only futile but in fact intensify stress.  We learn news ways to respond to challenges, from a missed bus to a major loss. Life becomes manageable.  Our sense of well-being grows; we become more open to peace and delight.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed 30 years ago by molecular biologist Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Originally offered to patients suffering from chronic physical pain, the course has subsequently been shown to reduce stress and the need for pain medication, lower emotional reactivity, ease disturbances of sleep and mood, and strengthen the immune system.

This two-part Friends In Deed workshop introduces the main practices of MBSR and focuses on how they can be integrated into our daily life, becoming invaluable tools for living.

 

AMY GROSS has been practicing mindfulness meditation since l994 and has completed the MBSR practicum and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Professional Training under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D, and Saki Santorelli, Ed.D, Executive Director, Center for Mindfulness in Worcester, MA.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

All services are free of charge.  Donations are gratefully accepted.
All workshops are subject to change or cancellation, please call to confirm.

 

All of our services are free of charge. Please support our annual appeal today.

YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY.

YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY.