SPRING 2026
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LOWER EASTSIDE GIRLS CLUB
April 15 to June 20 2026
Spring Hours
Wednesday 12:00 PM–7:00 PM
Thursday 12:00 PM–8:00 PM Saturday 10:30 AM–4:00 PM
FREE AND FOR EVERYONE • WHERE SELF CARE BECOMES COMMUNITY CARE
Wellbeing Lounge Open Hours
Wednesday 3:00–5:00 PM
Thursday 12:00–4:30 PM
Free Classes For All Classes taught by experienced staff and partner organizations.
Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, peruse our community library, access free WiFi, borrow a laptop, puzzles, games & enjoy the company of our members!
A Space for Everyone
Programming for Lower East Side community members of all generations and genders.
A Space To Connect
Access to free, in-person classes and events at our Center on Avenue D.
Vitality in Motion
Adults • Open Level
Wednesdays • 12:30–1:30 PM
Instructor: Jaimé Yawa Dzandu
Vitality in Motion invites you to activate and move with your whole body! We will focus on increasing mobility, improving balance and coordination, and core strengthening - all through the lively art of dance. Class begins with a warm-up from head to toe, progressing across the floor, and moving together to embrace our uniqueness in our unity. We conclude with a cool-down through somatic exercises to promote flexibility and relaxation. Class is accompanied by affirmative, upbeat and restorative music. We affirm the wisdom of our bodies, foster resource-sharing and build social connections. We invite you to move your body as you are able, breathe deeply, lean into your joy, and connect with the stories that our bodies have to share.
No dance or fitness experience is necessary. All movements can be seated or standing. Feel free to bring water or wear comfortable clothes to move in.
Tai Chi
Adults • Open Level
Wednesdays • 2:00–3:00 PM
Instructor: Roberto Sharpe
Tai Chi is an art of balance and flow which promotes healthy bone-density and blood circulation through low-impact conditioning. This class follows the Yangstyle Tai Chi tradition, known for its ease of learning and ease of practice. Using consistent and gentle rotations of the body, this class can bring relief for elders and those recovering from injuries.
Chair Yoga
Adults • Beginner Level
Thursdays • 12:30–1:30 PM
Instructor: Lynne Pidel
Yoga is an ancient practice that can allow us to harness the healing power of our own bodies throughout all stages of life. In Chair Yoga, we practice stretching and gentle body movements to free the joints, increase bone density, strengthen muscles; and improve balance, flexibility, and blood flow. Through the addition of meditation and breathwork, we can improve sleep, sharpen concentration, and manage our stress.
Rest and Restore Yoga
Adults • Open Level
Saturdays • 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Instructor: Alexandra Royals
Rest and Restore Yoga is a slow, meditative, and passive style of yoga, incorporating both Yin, and Restorative poses and principles to improve the flow of energy in the body. The poses performed in this class are held for 3–5 minutes with the use of props and target deep connective tissues in the body, such as the fascia. By holding poses for an extended period of time while focusing on deep breathing, we can increase circulation in the body, reduce anxiety, and improve joint mobility and flexibility. This is an introductory class open to all levels.
Zumba For EVERY Body
All Ages • Open Level
Saturdays • 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Instructor: Denise Gumora
This Zumba class is designed to bring people together to sweat it out. The class is a total workout, combining all elements of fitness - cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave class - because we take the “work” out of “workout” by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you’ll see why Zumba Fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise.
Batik & Beyond
Ages 10+ • Open Level
Wednesdays • 5:45–7:00 PM
Instructor: Azzah Sultan
Join us as we learn more about the beautiful art of Batik (Wax Resistance). In this class, you will learn about the techniques of how to do batik, and how to dye fabric using a cold wash dye and natural dye.
Mindful Making: DIY Skincare
Ages 14+ • Open Level
Thursdays • 2:00–3:30 PM
Instructor: Amarilis Jimenez
Ready to mix a little self-care with a whole lot of creativity? Mindful Making: DIY Skincare is your weekly unplug, unwind, and get hands-on with natural beauty. In this feel-good class, we’ll turn simple ingredients into totally customized skincare goodies - lip balms, sugar scrubs, lotions and hair masks - all without the harsh chemicals or high price tags. We’ll also tap into your artistic side with fun, feel-good crafts to go along with your creations. Think hand-decorated jars, custom labels and mini gift sets perfect for keeping or sharing. Come play, create, and discover your new favorite skincare routine (made by you, for you).
Community Knitting Group
Ages 10+ • Open Level
Thursdays • 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Instructor: Maureen Cooke
Learning to knit can provide you with peaceful coping skills and relaxation. The rhythmic nature can also prevent and manage your stress, pain and depression, which in turn strengthens the body’s immune system. In our Community Knitting Group, Maureen, the Knitting Mama, provides a safe space for all people to connect through a shared love of knitting. All levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome!
Snapshots of Home: LES
Yearbook Theater Ensemble
Adults 21+ • Open Level
Saturdays • 12:30–2:00 PM
Instructor: Kristina Stumpf
This community theater experience, in collaboration with the Lower East Side Yearbook, invites participants to bring neighborhood stories to life through poetic vignettes and theatrical snapshots exploring memory, belonging, resilience and home - while becoming founding members of the Lower Eastside Yearbook Ensemble. No prior theater experience is required.
The Artist in You
Adults • Open Level
Saturdays • 1:30—3:00 PM
Instructor: Joalis Silva
In this class, everyone is an artist no matter your experience or skill set. You will explore how to work with mixed media, including paint, crepe paper, stencils, air dry clay, and more. Each week, we will create a different project. Together, we will find your favorite medium and help you discover The Artist in You!
Discover the Mix:
DJ 101 Experience
Ages 8+ • Beginner Level
Saturdays • 2:30—4:00 PM
Instructors: Building Beats
This series is your chance to Discover the Mix, and experience the magic, fundamental skills, and artistry of DJing. No mater your music tastes or skill level, this hands-on DJ 101 Experience will include open studio time, as well as guided instruction. You will learn the basics of using professional DJ equipment, and decode the alchemy of creating seamless mixes.
Collage & Connect
All Ages • Open Level
Select Saturdays: • 2:30–4:30 PM April 25 • May 23 •June 20
Instructors: Alison Stumpf & Kristina Stumpf
Step into a playful world of mixed-media storytelling - exploring shape, space, and poetic narrative in a whole new way! In this hands-on class, you’ll experiment with printmaking, found objects & imaginative collage to bring your stories to life. We will create textured mono (gel plate) prints, design expressive silhouette tales, and lively junk-journal-style collage using newspapers, stickers & everyday materialsturning ordinary objects into extraordinary visual stories. Come ready to make, connect & let your creativity run wild!
Nutritious Cultural Kitchen
Ages 18+
Wednesdays • 3:30–5:00 PM
Instructor: Marta Garcia
We each have different nutritional needs, but one thing we can all agree on is we need to listen to our bodies to maintain a vibrant and healthy life. Nutritious Cultural Kitchen will empower you with knowledge and skills to make informed choices about the food you consumeunlocking improved health, energy and mental wellness. This hand-on culinary experience celebrates the universal language of food, with a special focus on nutrition and making easy, healthy swaps, low cost alternatives, ways to control food cravings, and ideas for quick, easy and tasty recipes. Come with an appetite for discovery!
Rooted & Rising Ages 18+
Bi-Weekly Saturdays 12:30–2:00 PM
April 25 • May 9 • May 23
June 6 • June 20
Instructor: Jenna Valette
This spring, we gather in a shared practice of slowing down, noticing, and tending to ourselves and one another. This offering is designed to support gentle emergence: creating space to connect, restore and honor your own pace of growth within a supportive community environment. Rooted in collective community care through self-care, this series invites participants to engage in hands-on, seasonal practices. Together, we will prepare meals using in-season produce, explore the use of herbs to nourish and fortify the body, and engage in craft and journaling as tools for reflection and creative expression.
Grown-Up & Me Cooking Class
Parents and Children Ages 0-5
Select Saturdays: • 2:00–3:30 PM
April 18 • May 16 • June 13
Instructor: For the Family NYC
Let your child take the lead in learning to prepare a nutritious meal! Through exploration & preparation of food, caregivers provide hands-on support to their child as they practice STEAM skills, improve cognitive, social emotional, and gross/fine motor skills. This workshop will invite children to develop interdependence and engage in circle time, creating a meal to share, sensory play, and kitchen safety with same-age peers in a supportive and loving environment.
L.E.S. Bookworms
Ages 18+
Select Saturdays: • 2:00–4:00 PM
May 9 • June 6
Instructor: Jayleen Rosario
LES gets lit, and by lit, we mean get down with literature. Join CWBH’s Community Wellness Coordinator, Jayleen Rosario (they/them), for our monthly book club. We intend to create meaningful space where we take reading outside of being a solitary act, and into a shared experience where we can build and deepen our connection with the texts and each other. We will select a mix of fiction and nonfiction - stories that spark discussion, reflect our shared experiences, and spotlight authors and themes that matter to our community. Come for books, stay for people. Tea, snacks and good company always provided.
