JCC partners with Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Therapy Program

Thursday January 3rd from 1pm to 4:45pm and 7pm-9:15pm
Friday, January 4th from 7am to 1pm

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCC) is pleased to announce a partnership with fashion icon Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation. On January 3rd and 4th, the Foundation will send its New York City-based Urban Zen Integrative Therapy instructors (UZITs) to Squirrel Hill to support the community as it continues to heal following October’s shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.
While on site at the JCC, UZITs will provide treatments to complement traditional physical and mental health treatments and relieve symptoms of trauma, pain, anxiety, insomnia, sadness, and exhaustion through yoga therapy, meditation, Reiki, and the use of essential oils. Sessions for victims and their families, first responders, rabbis and their congregations, service providers, professional staff of local Jewish agencies and the general public will focus on reflection, connection, and rebuilding.
“We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support as we continue to recover from the horrific tragedy that devastated our community,” said Jason Kunzman, Chief Program Officer at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. “Right now, we are intent on encouraging peace and healing for all who need it.”
Founded by Donna Karan in 2007, the Urban Zen Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring change in the areas of health and well-being, education and preservation of culture. As one of several initiatives, UZIT’s mission is to change the present healthcare paradigm by developing holistic treatments and support for patients, loved ones and their caregivers.
“We created the Urban Zen Foundation to quickly deploy resources to anyone in need, providing support after emergencies like this one as well as to address longstanding health and wellness issues in society,” Donna Karan said. “Like the rest of the country, this atrocious incident shocked our entire team. We knew we had to assist those affected and preserve our culture through healing while providing education that dispels hate.”
“The Urban Zen Integrated Therapy program was designed to put the ‘calm in the chaos’ and has been implemented in healthcare facilities around the country with incredible results. It is an honor to be welcomed by institutions and to supplement care with time-tested treatment modalities that have been used for thousands of years,” said Menna Olvera Feder, Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program Director.

Contact Jason Stowell jstowell@jccpgh.org for more information.