TUNKHANNOCK — The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation of Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming Counties awarded the Dietrich Theater of Tunkhannock $8,000 for three programs that serve to bring better health practices to the community.
The non-profit Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater strives to fulfill the health and wellness part of its mission by providing a variety of Yoga classes, including Chair Yoga. Also fulfilling this mission is the Warrior Writers program and two drug and alcohol educational presentations in 2017.
Chair Yoga, Warrior Writers, and the two presentations will all be free, thanks to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation.
Off to a great start this year, Friday Chair Yoga at 10 a.m. is serving as many as 20 participants, taught by certified instructor Donna Fetzko. This is a second weekly Chair Yoga class as there is also one at 10 a.m. on Mondays sponsored by the Wyoming County Community Health Care Foundation with a grant of $2,5000. So many have discovered the benefits of Chair Yoga that the Dietrich sought funding to add an additional class. So far in 2017 both classes are attracting approximately 20 participants each.
Chair Yoga brings many of the benefits of Yoga to those seated in a chair instead of on a mat on the floor. It combines meditation with movement, promoting mental and physical wellness.
Warrior Writers is a nationally recognized program to use writing as a way to deal with PTSD and other ways our veterans suffer after serving in the military in modern times. Facilitated by veterans Gary Morgan and Jenny Pacanowski, a certified instructor, veterans are invited to come for the camaraderie and stay for a chance to put their experiences in writing, sometimes bringing some healing. Those who wish will have a chance to share their writing at the public reading.
Warrior Writers is held at 7 p.m. the second Friday of each month.
In addition, the Dietrich Theater vowed to help those who are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction and will continue to do so in 2017 with two public presentations to increase understanding and offer support, to be announced in the near future.
