Dempsey Center

Fitness for Life [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-02 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Dempsey Connects
Exercise can help fight fatigue, boost your energy level, support your immune system, relieve stress and tension, make your muscles and heart stronger, improve balance and help you sleep better. This 45-minute class will provide you with all the fundamentals of an exercise program, adapting it to meet the needs of varying levels of fitness with a warm-up, aerobic activity, core and strength training exercises, and finishing with a cooldown/stretch.
Please wear comfortable clothes and supportive shoes or sneakers and have a sturdy chair available on a non-skid surface and small handheld weights.

Led by Tish Caldwell, Dempsey Center’s Movement + Fitness Manager, Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor, and Livestrong Cancer Exercise Trainer.

Open to all Dempsey Center clients.

This series will have both an in-person and virtual audience. You are signing up to attend virtually

The Next Chapter: Support After Cancer Treatment [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-03 12:00 - 13:00
Do you have questions about navigating life post cancer treatment? Are you looking for ways to care for your physical and emotional well-being after treatment has ended? Do you want to connect with others who ‘get it’?

Join us for this 4-week series to learn techniques for coping with the new physical and emotional reality of your post-treatment cancer journey. While connecting with other survivors, learn the importance of eating well coupled with strategies to optimize your diet; identify how movement and fitness can care for your body and mind; and explore how complementary therapies can improve your well-being.
Attendance at all four sessions is highly recommended.

Week 1 – CONNECT: Meet with others in a similar place in their cancer journey.
Week 2 – FEEL WELL: Discover new ways to move your body and learn about how complementary therapies can care for your body and mind.
Week 3 – EAT WELL: Learn how to optimize your diet and eat well through survivorship.
Week 4 – FEEL: Discuss the emotional realities post-treatment.

Led by Allison Burt, LCSW, OSW-C; Judy Donnelly, RDN; Tish Caldwell, Certified Oncology Fitness Instructor; Liz Como, LMT; Michelle Hayes, LCSW, OSW-C.

Open to Dempsey Center clients who are no longer receiving ‘active’ treatment (ex. Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, etc.)
We acknowledge that the ‘end’ of cancer treatment can look very different from person to person. If you are not sure if this program is right for you, please contact Allison Burt, LCSW at aburt@dempseycenter.org to learn more.

Tai Chi + Qigong for Energy + Health [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-03 14:00 - 14:45
Tai Chi is a movement therapy that promotes the flow of energy in the body to improve health. Suitable for all ages, this class will emphasize the practice and cultivation of different exercises that provide benefits such as improved balance, range of motion, and core strength, as well as pain management and decreased stress and anxiety.
Led by Jason Ames, founder and owner of Maine Center for Taijiquan & Qigong.
Open to all Dempsey Center clients.

Expressions of Loss: Writing + Community [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-03 17:30 - 18:30
This 8-week series combines peer support and expressive arts to help individuals navigate grief after the loss of a loved one. Through therapeutic writing and drawing prompts, participants will explore their emotions and share their work in a supportive group environment (sharing is encouraged but optional).
Please have writing utensils and paper; no prior writing experience is necessary to join.

Led by Erin King, LCSW, APHSW-C, OSW-C.

Open to adult Dempsey Center clients who have experienced loss of a loved one to cancer.
Participants must be residents of Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts.

Chair Yoga [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-04 09:45 - 10:30
Join us for a gentle, accessible form of yoga, open to all levels of experience. Chair Yoga utilizes both seated and standing poses using a chair for support to provide all the benefits of a traditional yoga practice. We will use movement, breathing, and mindfulness to improve muscular strength, bone density, immune support, flexibility, energy, sleep, and posture.

Led by Tish Caldwell, Dempsey Center’s Movement + Fitness Manager, Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor.

Open to all Dempsey Center clients.

Spice Around the World [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-04 12:15 - 13:15
The use of spices when cooking can be intimidating and when taste sensation has been impacted by treatment, spices can be either helpful or more challenging to incorporate into dishes. So let’s explore spices together! In this workshop, we’ll discover new spices that can add interesting flavors to food while providing health-supporting nutrients. Each week, we’ll make a quick recipe featuring a different spice profile and, of course, sample and chat about food! Your taste buds will thank you!

Open to the public.

Led by Judy Donnelly and a team of volunteer assistants.

Sojourn: A Spiritual Care Series [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-04 15:00 - 16:15
Cancer can be a powerful force in our exploration and living into the deep questions of what it means to be human and mortal. For those looking to deepen this understanding in relationship, we invite you to join us for Sojourn, a new 8-week spiritual care series. The word Sojourn means a temporary stay. In this context, Sojourn offers a pause for rest and renewal within the cancer experience —a reflective space that aims to create and provide space to question, wonder, identify, and express through peer support, expressive arts activities, and meaningful discussion.

“You will be graced with the necessary catastrophes. They will take away your hiding places and reveal unbelievable beauty.” — Andrew Harvey.

Led by Kerry Irish, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW and Rev. Abby Pettee

Open to adult Dempsey Center clients.
Participants must be a Maine state resident.

Virtual Cancer Support Group [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-05 10:00 - 11:30
Meet virtually with others impacted by a cancer diagnosis in this weekly support group. Whether you were recently diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or are in remission, this group is a place to discuss your diagnosis and its lingering impact with those who truly understand.

Led by Paige Moore, LCSW, CAGC, OSW-C.

Open to Dempsey Center clients with a cancer diagnosis at any stage.
Participants must be Maine residents.

Yoga for Cancer Care - Evening [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-05 17:30 - 18:30
Reduce stress, manage treatment side-effects, and aid cancer recovery through a unique evidence-based yoga method specifically for those diagnosed with cancer. Through movement, breathing, and mindfulness, this practice aims to provide benefits such as muscular strength, bone density, immune support, flexibility, and improved posture.
Led by Heather Edgerly Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor.
Open to all adult Dempsey Center clients.
Please note that participants must be able to transition from floor to standing.

Honoring Choice: About Palliative Care [Dempsey Connects]
2026-02-06 11:00 - 12:00
Some patients moving through a cancer diagnosis may learn about Palliative Care but what this service can provide may vary. Appropriate for patients of any age and at any stage in a serious illness, Palliative Care can coincide with curative treatment. This kind of care is based on the needs of the person, not the prognosis, and is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and other specialists to offer an extra layer of support.
In this workshop we will discuss what Palliative Care is, how it differs from hospice care, and what you can expect at a visit.

Led by Julie West, AGP CNP, Mercy Hospital Palliative Nurse Practitioner.

Open to the public. Public sign up at https://www.dempseycenter.org/services/classes-workshops/public/.
