Movement and Fitness

The Dempsey Center offers cancer patients, survivors, and care partners, no-cost group fitness classes, workshops, and personalized consultations.

Moving Through the Cancer Journey

Tai chi, qigong, yoga, chair yoga, and functional fitness classes are the core of our Movement and Fitness offerings here at the Dempsey Center. Led by our staff, team of movement and fitness instructors, and community partners (such as the YMCA, the Maine Center for Taijiquan and Qigong and ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation), our classes and programs are designed to address the needs of our clients moving through a journey with cancer. These modalities can help reduce fatigue, improve balance, increase range of motion, improve strength, and ease anxiety and depression.

Exercise is safe for most people in active cancer treatment. Together with recommendations from your healthcare team, our Movement and Fitness Team is here to help you navigate changes in your physical activity and energy levels. We will provide you with the knowledge and tools that you need to reach your goals through treatment and beyond.

Movement and Fitness instructor, Tish, is demonstrating a kneeling yoga pose using yoga blocks.

Meet the Movement + Fitness Team

Tish Caldwell
Movement + Fitness Manager

Tish Caldwell is a registered nurse and has been working in the health + fitness industry for over 35 years. Trained as a Cardiac Rehab Nurse Specialist she realized the health-giving benefits that exercise could provide and continued to use that training in years to come. Tish was the Health + Fitness Director of The YMCA of Auburn Lewiston for over 20 years, developing and implementing health and fitness programs for community members, with a passion for providing exercise programming for special populations with a holistic approach. Over the years, she received numerous certifications and training in the movement and fitness industry and holistic health practices.  She joined the Dempsey Center in 2011 and has since received numerous certifications in the practice of oncology exercise. She began focusing her skills and passion on the clients of the Dempsey Center helping them meet their physical activity goals translating the science of oncology exercise into holistic and health-supporting physical activity habits.

How to Begin

Discover the support that the Dempsey Center can provide for you throughout your cancer journey. Whether you are a patient, survivor, care partner, family member, or friend, we are here for you.