Gilda's Club

Embody offers free weekly yoga and mindfulness practices for Gilda’s Club community members. Anyone can be a member of the free support community if you are on a cancer journey or supporting someone on a cancer journey or grieving the death of someone in your life, due to any cause. Embody's teachings are gentle movement & mindfulness practices grounded deeply in positive intention and compassionate connection. Together we create a network of support to help each other feel better and stay inspired to remain committed to our healing journey.

About Gilda's Club

Founded with love by cancer survivors, we officially opened the doors of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids on February 15, 2001. However, the grassroots movement to bring a Gilda’s Club to our community began in the spring of 1996 by local philanthropist Twink Frey. As a cancer survivor, she knew personally the lack of social and emotional support resources available to her when she was going through her diagnosis, treatment and life altering “after effects.” She was joined by two other local cancer survivors – Deb Bailey and Susan Smith – and together, these three women set about the task of founding Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.

"Embody has offered a yoga class for our members, once a week, since the beginning of our virtual program. It has been a wonderful addition to the workshop offerings for our members. Embody provides a tailored class for those who have had significant physical challenges because of the their cancer diagnosis in addition to those on a grief journey. It has been an invaluable offering helping members find strength, balance and calm. Everything we offer at Gilda’s Club is free of charge and it is one of the ways that Embody and Gilda’s align in mission. It is great to work with Dana and the staff. They are warm and welcoming, and also bring a level of knowledge that is exceptional. We are so grateful to be working in partnership with them and our members are so happy to have this class available to them."

Melissa A Budzynski, LCSW
Program Staff GCGR

Our Mission

Embody is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting global health and well-being for all people. We provide access to physical and mental wellness education for all regardless of race, identity, orientation, creed, abledness, or ability to pay. Using the healing tools of yoga and mindfulness, and through providing meaningful volunteer and service opportunities, we help people regain agency over their own well-being. Our FREE weekly programs and events empower individuals to become healthier, happier, and make the world better in their own way. We are dedicated to improving the quality of people’s daily lives so they can “Feel Better Do Good.