Children's Hospital center offering varied, free healing
Therapies offered to parents, patients, staff
Therapies offered to parents, patients, staff
Therapies offered to parents, patients, staff
Different kinds of healing are now being offered to parents, patients and staff at Boston Children's Hospital, thanks in large part to the nonprofit "Yoga Reaches Out."
One such treatment is Reiki. Hand placements channel energy, working along meridians just like acupuncture, to help balance the body and, for moms like Dana Onyewu, to help cope.
"Just to have this center here as kind of an oasis for us has been really helpful to make medical decisions and just alleviate the stress that comes with caring for a sick child," she said.
It's all part of a new wellness program offering a variety of services and classes at the Hale Family Center at the hospital. Program manager Dianne Cella said they now offer meditation, Reiki, yoga, massage and Zumba.
Cella, a Reiki master and yoga instructor, long felt the practices would benefit families. She would know, she's worked as a nurse at Children's for nearly 40 years. Ultimately, it was a donation from "Yoga Reaches Out" that allowed the program to flourish.
"I really think that's why we're here in this world is to help others. Honestly the idea to have a yogathon at Gillette Stadium came first," said founder Sarah Gardner.
That's exactly what "Yoga Reaches Out" does every year: they organize a day-long yoga event at Gillette. It all started after Gardner's son was born premature. For a time he was cared for at Children's, and for 6 years, money raised has gone to the hospital. They recently hit $1 million-mark and what a difference they've made.
"This is kind of addressing everything that's going on with me in this situation, which is very stressful and very just jarring as far as where we are and being able to feel settled in the middle of it," said Onyewu.
Parents and staff at Children's can also take advantage of offerings like Reiki training to treat kids at their bedsides.
Click here to learn more about the center.