ODC Health
Movement has the power to promote physical and mental health, creativity, and longevity. The ODC Health initiative is a logical outgrowth of our passion for movement, commitment to community wellness and our wish to share our years of collective experience in developing and maintaining physical resilience. These ODC Health programs focus on supporting an informed, robust, and responsive physical lifestyle as they foster inclusivity and diversity through movement.
ODC Health Workshops
MELT Method Intro Workshop with Molly Matutat
September 1, 2024
Sunday 11:30am - 1:00pm
This all levels workshop will use a specialized soft roller and small MELT hand and foot therapy balls to stimulate the results of manual therapy. Learn to eliminate stuck stress before it accumulates, causing chronic aches, pains, and unwanted signs of aging. Reduce inflammation, ease chronic neck and low back strain, improve alignment, enhance athletic performance, and keep your whole body feeling great at any age.
Tai Chi with Richard Fong
starting October 7, 2024
Mondays 1:30 - 2:45pm
This class focuses on the core movements of Sun Style Tai Chi. Created by Grandmaster Sun Lu Tang at the beginning of the 20th Century, this style incorporates elements of different Internal Chinese Martial Arts including Xingyi, Baqua as well as Yang and Chen Style Tai Chi. Sun Style has become a fundamental building block for many health-oriented tai chi practices. The class will begin with a full body warm up, including Qigong exercises to activate the meridians of the body. Sequences will be simple, easy to learn segments. As practitioners become familiar with individual sequences, the larger overall form will begin to develop. At this level, we will emphasize proper structure and alignment while cultivating the subtle and characteristic flow state of Taiji practice. The evenly paced class is both calming and energizing. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.
Fast Fit with James Darling
Class 1: 9:15 - 9:55am
Class 2: 10:20 - 11:00am
Class 3: 11:25am - 12:05pm
Fast Fit is a class series especially designed for parents/guardians of ODC youth program students, but welcoming to all adults. Fast Fit is scheduled during kids' classes to help you make the best out of your Saturday mornings at ODC from September 28 to December 7, 2024.
Fast Fit is a 40 minute class that incorporates all the elements of a balanced workout routine: strength, cardio, agility, and mobility. Some resistance equipment such as weights and body weight will be utilized to target specific muscle groups to improve strength. Body movement will help gain cardiovascular function and agility/mobility. All levels are welcome. The classes are taught by James Darling, and take place in Studio SD, located in the Theater Building at the corner of 17th & Shotwell Sts. (Enter using the theater vestibule door on the Shotwell side to the left of Robin’s Cafe. Please wear comfy clothes that you can move in and sneakers or barefoot/socks for this class, and bring a water bottle. Young siblings, or strollers are not allowed in the studio.
Each class is only $12 and has limited capacity. Pre-Registration is encouraged!
Mindful Movement Meditation with Sonja Riket
Sundays, October 6 - November 24, 2024
1:15 - 2:30pm
Everyone has a great capacity for learning and to change habits that lead to tension, stress, anxiety and pain.
As Sonja leads you through verbally guided, slow and gentle movements, done lying on a mat on the floor, you can diminish your pain and tension, improve your balance, coordination and focus, leading to a greater awareness of self. Periods of stillness, accompanying your breath, allow you to rest your attention and dive deep in a meditative state.
This class is for people looking for an alternative to the fast paced, aerobic workout classes widely offered. It can be a gentle reconnection with the wisdom of your body, while recovering from injury, illness or trauma and lead you on a path to come home to yourself.
Wear loose, comfortable, warm clothing.
About the Team
Rachel Recinos Abair is the ODC Health Initiatives Program Director. She is a lifelong dancer and brings over 20 years of experience in the health, wellness, & fitness industry to the position. She has worked in a variety of markets including health clubs, corporate wellness, campus recreation, and community programs and developed health and fitness, youth, seniors, sports, and volunteer programs and offerings. She earned her M.S. in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Exercise, Nutrition, and Eating Behavior from George Washington University. She holds multiple fitness certifications including ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist.
Dr. Celina De Borja is a Pediatric Sports Medicine Physician who works at UCSF Medical Center. She has special interest in dance and performing arts medicine, injury prevention and bone health. She has worked with the Boston ballet school, Boston conservatory, and Berklee college of music during her medical training. She is an active in volunteer with UCSF RunSafe and PlaySafe, providing medical coverage at various sporting events in the Bay area. She also serves as the volunteer medical director of the ODC Healthy Dancers' Clinic, which aims to improve the well-being and health of the dance community through education, musculoskeletal screening and integration of health services.
Kirsten Olshan is a wellbeing change maker and coach. Her focus is on the psychology of human performance. Her passions are organizational, and Personal wellness. Kirsten's passion is to help find strengths, joy to help motivate individuals to make behavior changes more sustainable for better Life/Work integration. After battling two Chronic illnesses, Kirsten faced challenges of adapting to a new way of life as a recreational and competitive athlete. Kirsten resilience led her to research and focus on how participation in sports and physical activity impacted individuals overall wellbeing, both physically and mentally. She earned her Master’s in Exercise Science, Health Promotion with a focus in Sports Physiology and Nutrition from PennWest. Kirsten has worked with athletes, professional athletes, coaches, executives, business professionals, clinicians and high-profile performing artists. She has been a Keynote speaker at Stanford University and led mindfulness events as part of team Exos for Google. She has led workshops on health and wellbeing Globally. She is a health educator, research cancer advocate, certified health and wellness coach and nutritionist. She facilitates short courses for 2U/ Stanford Health Education on Stress Management and Employee Wellbeing and Healthcare leadership.
Arina Hunter holds a strong passion for movement, wellness, dance, and helping others live and enjoy their best life. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Montana and expanded her knowledge base in personal training, pre and post natal fitness, corrective exercise, mindset coaching, and nutrition. You can find Arina dancing, choreographing, hiking, enjoying nature, video editing, and snuggling with her pup Noodle. She believes in the magic of movement to energize, connect, help reduce pain and stress, prevent injury, and increase overall health, happiness, and sustainability.