provide your event feedback here!
Monday, April 28, 2025
Morning Walk to Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park
Start your day with fresh air and gentle movement! Join us for a guided stroll to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Wander through the zen space and enjoy a tea while admiring the cherry blossoms in bloom. This is your chance to ground yourself in nature, connect with others, and enjoy a moment of calm before the day begins. After the walk, feel free to explore the garden at your own pace.
Location: Parnassus, Millberry Union by Panda Express
Date and Time: Monday, April 28 and meet by 8:30 am to walk to Golden Gate Park together
Presented By: APASA
Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga facilitates health and relaxation by supporting the body in easy and comfortable positions with props. It soothes the central nervous system, supports digestion, and improves mood and sleep.
You can use items available in your environment such as pillows, couch cushions, blankets, and bolsters. If possible, please have a yoga mat or rug to practice on along with three blankets, pillows, and two yoga blocks.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Monday, April 28 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, Marcia Degelman, CMT
Sight: Life Force in Focus - A Collective Digital Tapestry
What does life force energy mean to you? This collective art experience invites the UCSF community to reflect on the concept of life force—Qi, Ki, Gi, Prana, Mana, Lung—as understood across AANHPI traditions. These expressions of energy point to our shared vitality. Submit photos, words, or artwork symbolizing life force—drawn from these two weeks of health and wellness, personal healing practices, or everyday moments of restoration. Submissions will be woven into a digital tapestry and shared in the APASA newsletter. All contributors will also receive a color-changing biofeedback card—a simple, interactive tool to observe the mind-body connection.
Wisdom Tradition: Community crowdsourcing photos of AANHPI Wellness Week experiences; Spotlight Cultures: Open to all – honoring diverse expressions of healing; Takeaway: A collective digital tapestry featured in the APASA newsletter and a color-changing temperature biofeedback card from APASA leaders.
Location: online! (Box or Teams upload)
Date and Time: Monday, April 28 - Friday, May 9 (submission period) and more information
Presented By: Osher Center and APASA Steering Committee
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Balance: Yoga Therapy for Mind-Body Health
Yoga Therapy integrates movement, breathwork, and mindfulness to support emotional resilience, reduce stress, and restore energetic balance. In this virtual session, Vanika Chawla, MD, introduces accessible practices that align the body and mind. Participants will explore breath-centered movement grounded in the philosophy and principles of Yoga Therapy. Whether new to yoga or deepening your practice, you'll leave with tools for cultivating balance, presence, and mind-body awareness.
Wisdom Tradition: South Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Indian, Nepali, Sri-Lankan, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Burmese (Myanmar); Takeaway: A one-page guide on yoga therapy for mind-body health
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29 from 10:10 - 11:00 AM and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Qi-Gong Tuesdays with Tina Pham
Join Tina Pham of Persimmon Acupuncture for a free weekly Qigong class at Shoreline Sands in China Basin Park! This beginner-friendly class is designed to help release stress, cultivate balance, and reconnect with your body. Through gentle movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, we’ll focus on restoring energy and processing emotions held in the body. No experience necessary—just come as you are!
We’re so excited to share this space and movement with you—sign up today and join us by the waterfront!
Qigong Tuesdays is part of Mission Rock Your Workout, a free fitness series bringing movement classes to the Mission Rock neighborhood. Open to all ages and abilities, these classes offer an accessible way to care for your body and mind.
Location: China Basin Park
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm PT
Presented By: Persimmon Acupuncture
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Smell: The Scent Lab-Ayurvedic Aromatherapy
In this interactive scent lab, Sudha Prathikanti, MD and Selena Chan, DO, introduce participants to the role of scent in Ayurvedic healing. For over 5,000 years, aromatic herbs and oils have been used in South Asian medicine to regulate mood, balance energy, and support physical and emotional well-being. Participants will explore the three doshas - Vata, Ptita, and Kapha - and discover how specific scents like lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus interact with their individual constitution. Rooted in both ancient ritual and modern research, this session offers a personalized and sensory-rich experience of healing through scent.
Wisdom Tradition: South Asian medicine (Ayurveda); Spotlight Cultures: Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan; Takeaway: a personalized dosha-balancing aromatherapy vial to take home
Location: Mission Bay, Mission Hall-2106
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 30 from 10:10 am - 12:00 pm
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Taste: Dumplings! Tracing Roots to East Asian Medicine
Did you know dumplings - also known as "tender ears" - were first created by a Han Dynasty physician as medicine to improve circulation and protect against frostbite? In this guided tasting, Helen Ye, MS, LAc, and Janice Mao, DAOM, LAc, share how dumplings have long been used as a form of food therapy in East Asian medicine. Seasonal ingredients are thoughtfully chosen to support digestion, energy flow, and internal balance - drawing from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Kampo (Japanese medicine) and Korean Traditional Medicine. The session also introduces tongue diagnosis as a window into the body's inner landscape, offering a flavorful way to learn about East Asian Medicine.
Wisdom Tradition: East Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese; Takeaway: a one-page guide on tongue diagnosis and how food can be used as medicine
Location: Mount Zion, Osher Center - 5th floor Bowes Room (523)
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 30 from 1:10 - 2:00 pm and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Touch: The Pulse of East Asian Medicine
What can a pulse reveal beyond your heartbeat? In East Asian medicine, touch offers profound insights into the body's energetic state. In this session, Helen Ye, MS, LAc, and Janice Mao, DAOM, LAc, introduce participants to pulse diagnosis and self-acupressure while sharing the role of touch-based therapies such as cupping and gua-sha in restoring circulation, relieving stagnation, and rebalancing the body. Rooted in traditions like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kampo (Japanese medicine), and Korean Traditional Medicine, this session invites participants to experience healing through the hands - where insight and care meet.
Wisdom Tradition: East Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese; Takeaway: a one-page guide on pulse diagnosis and the healing art of acupuncture
Location: Mount Zion, Osher Center - 5th floor Yoga Room (526)
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 30 from 2:10 - 3:00 pm and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Taekwondo Physician, Dr. David Jeong's Journey to the Olympics
Meet Dae Hyoun (David) Jeong, MD, FAAFP, Medical Director of UCSF Primary Care at Laurel Village, Director of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for UCSF/ZSFG FM Residency, and Chair of the World Taekwondo (WT) Medical and Anti-Doping Committee. He served in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, his fourth tour following 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, 2018 Buenos Aires Junior Olympic Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In his youth he achieved 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo and dreamed of one day becoming an Olympic sports medicine physician.
Join us to hear Dr. Jeong’s remarkable journey and how his early passions have helped improve health and wellness of countless athletes and community members under his care!
Location: ZSFG Pride Hall, 2540 23rd St, Room 1920; hybrid event also on Zoom
Date and Time: Thursday, May 1 from 9:00 - 10:00 am PT
Presented By: ZSFGH Staff Development Committee and APASA
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Asian American Health Data: What's Next
The UCSF Asian American Research Center on Health (ARCH), in collaboration with the UCSF Office of Diversity and Outreach, is hosting a panel discussion of national leaders, scholars, and researchers to create a dialogue on the current status and future trajectories of Asian American health, data, and policy on a state and national level.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Thursday, May 1 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT
Presented By: UCSF ARCH
Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga was founded in 1995 by Indian physician, Dr. Madan Kataria. He had an interesting insight while doing research about humor and laughter and learned that our bodies get similar benefits whether it’s a spontaneous laugh or simulated laughter. In this session, we don’t tell jokes or rely on humor or comedy, just classical exercises that encourage laughter, deep breathing, stretching, and clapping. The laughter exercises help facilitate a gentle deepening of mindful awareness and an easy connection with other class members. Our exercises use laughter as an “in-the-moment skill” and can:
- Increase blood flow and oxygen to all the major organs
- Enhance endorphin levels which make us feel uplifted and reduce pain
- Reduce stress levels and boost our emotional well-being
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Thursday, May 1 from 6:00 - 6:45 pm PT and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, Teresa Corrigan, MA, RN and Kazuyo Shimokawabe
Friday, May 2, 2025
Sound: I'm Picking up Good Vibrations - Tibetan Singing Bowls
When can sound lift your mood or bring calm to a stressful day? In this immersive sound healing session, Selena Chan, DO and Ganiv Kahlon, BSN, RN guide participants through breath-centered listening and the vibrational tones of Tibetan singing bowls. Drawing from Tibetan and South Asian healing traditions, this session explores how sound regulates the nervous system, supports emotional balance, and connects us to energy centers in the body. Participants will leave with a sound-based practice to support self-awareness and grounding—plus the chance to take home a singing bowl of their own.
Wisdom Tradition: Tibetan and South Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Bhutanese, Himalayan, Indian, Mongolian, Nepali, Tibetan; Takeaway: A chance to win a Tibetan singing bowl!
Location: Mission Bay, Koret Quad (outdoors)
Date and Time: Friday, May 2 from 11:10 am - 12:00 pm PT and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Wholeness: Mindful Mystery Box Challenge – Fruits, Roots & Leaves
What does mindfulness have to do with fruits, roots, and leaves? In this hands-on session, Selena Chan, DO and Ganiv Kahlon, BSN, RN guide participants through a mystery box challenge rooted in Southeast Asian healing traditions. Using touch, smell, and intuition, participants will identify culturally significant plants—like pandan, taro, or lemongrass—and uncover their uses in food, medicine, ceremony, and memory. The session also introduces the Natural Medicines Database, a UCSF library resource for exploring the scientific and cultural dimensions of herbs and botanicals, offering a mindful, immersive way to reconnect with ancestral wisdom of plant medicine.
Wisdom Tradition: Southeast Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures : Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Lao, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, Vietnamese; Takeaway: A mindfulness experience and a chance to win a small herb planter or starter seeds
Location: Mission Bay, Koret Quad (outdoors)
Date and Time: Friday, May 2 from 12:10 pm - 1:00 pm PT and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Resourcefulness: Coconut Smash & Sip – Hammers for Hydration
What can a coconut teach us about resourcefulness? In this dynamic, hands-on session, Selena Chan, DO, and Ganiv Kahlon, BSN, RN, guide participants in opening fresh coconuts with hammers specifically designed for this purpose. Rooted in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander healing traditions, the coconut represents sustainability, nourishment, and connection to ancestral knowledge. As participants sip fresh coconut juice, the session also introduces the Natural Medicines Database—a UCSF library resource for exploring the safety, medicinal uses, and interactions of foods like coconuts, in relation to specific health conditions or medications.
Wisdom Tradition: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Chamorro, Fijian, Native Hawaiian, Māori, Micronesian, Samoan, Tongan; Takeaway: Fresh young coconut juice and a chance to win a coconut hammer!
Location: Mission Bay, Koret Quad (outdoors)
Date and Time: Friday, May 2 from 1:10 pm - 2:00 pm PT and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Traditional Hilot
Experience the wisdom of Hilot, a traditional Filipino healing practice that blends massage, energy work, and ancestral knowledge to restore balance in the body. In this hands-on workshop with Verma Zapanta of Dambana Wellness, you'll learn about the cultural roots of Hilot and explore gentle techniques for stress relief, grounding, and holistic wellness.
Location: Parnassus, Clinical Sciences 0101; hybrid event also on zoom
Date and Time: Friday, May 2 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PT
Presented By: Filipino American Medical Student Association
Monday, May 5, 2025
Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga facilitates health and relaxation by supporting the body in easy and comfortable positions with props. It soothes the central nervous system, supports digestion, and improves mood and sleep.
You can use items available in your environment such as pillows, couch cushions, blankets, and bolsters. If possible, please have a yoga mat or rug to practice on along with three blankets, pillows, and two yoga blocks.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Monday, May 5 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, Marcia Degelman, CMT
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Nutrition: the Heart-Healthy & Diabetes Guides
Join Dr. Jane Jih, MD, MPH, MAS (UCSF) and Professor Evelyn Ho, PhD (USF) for a discussion on innovations in nutritional counseling for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes integrating Chinese medicine (CM) principles and biomedical guidelines. This event will feature a presentation on the Heart Healthy Integrative Nutrition Counseling (H2INC) program as well as work on a similar program for type 2 diabetes (T2DINC). Learn how culturally tailored interventions can have a positive impact in primary care and other settings for diverse patient populations.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Monday, May 5 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm PT
Presented By: AANHPI Coalition
Student Wellness Kits
The Self Care Kit Event showcases mental, physical, and whole-person wellness practices from the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) diaspora. Participants will assemble their own kits with items like sheet masks, tea bags featuring blends like jasmine or oolong, chapsticks and hand lotions, candles scented with sandalwood or tropical florals, activity books with culturally inspired designs, and snacks like matcha treats or macadamia nuts.
Each item reflects wellness traditions, from East Asian tea ceremonies that promote mindfulness to Pacific Islander practices of using natural ingredients for healing and the grounding use of sandalwood in South and Southeast AsiaWe’ll include informational cards about the cultural significance of these items and create a space where people can share their own self-care routines, making this event both meaningful and interactive.
Location: Parnassus, Clinical Sciences 1111
Date and Time: Monday, May 5 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm PT
Presented By: Vietnamese Student Association
Registration: Open to all students and supplies are limited. First come, first serve.
Exploring Ginhawa (Part One): Talk Story on Indigenous Filipinx Healing & Acutherapy Wellness Practice
Feeling frenetic? Take a moment with Karen Villanueva, Doctor of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, for a powerful session on acupressure, stress relief, and healing. In this virtual session, led by BCH Oakland's Licensed Acupuncturist, Dr. Villanueva, RN, LAc, introduces safe, effective, and accessible wellness practices that participants can learn easily and incorporate in their daily lives to help manage stress, ease pain, and promote health. The first of two parts, this trauma informed webinar will also include a brief introduction to Indigenous Filipinx Healing and Acutherapy.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Monday, May 5 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm PT
Presented By: United Filipinx Association
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Morning Walk to Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park
Start your day with fresh air and gentle movement! Join us for a guided stroll to the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park—an urban oasis home to over 8,000 kinds of plants from around the world. Wander through towering redwoods, serene succulents, vibrant blooms, and peaceful pathways. This is your chance to ground yourself in nature, connect with others, and enjoy a moment of calm before the day begins. After the walk, feel free to explore the garden’s themed collections at your own pace.
Location: Parnassus, Millberry Union by Panda Express
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6 and meet by 8:00 am to walk to Golden Gate Park together
Presented By: APASA
Learn to Cook Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Lan Ross
Celebrate the flavors of spring and the joy of nourishing your body with a virtual hands-on cooking demo led by Lan Ross (Instagram), a Vietnamese/French cooking instructor. In this delicious session, you'll learn how to prepare vegetarian Vietnamese spring rolls that balance health and flavors. Lan will provide tips and techniques to make your spring rolls a success. Once you realize how easy it is to make fresh spring rolls, they will be a dish on rotation in your family! Come for the spring rolls, stay for the stories, and leave with nourishment of your body and mind!
To cook along with Lan, you will need the following ingredients. They can also be purchased at: H-Mart, Nijiya Market,and Weee! America's largest online Asian market.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm PT
Presented By: APASA
Qi-Gong Tuesdays with Tina Pham
Join Tina Pham of Persimmon Acupuncture for a free weekly Qigong class at Shoreline Sands in China Basin Park! This beginner-friendly class is designed to help release stress, cultivate balance, and reconnect with your body. Through gentle movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, we’ll focus on restoring energy and processing emotions held in the body. No experience necessary—just come as you are!
We’re so excited to share this space and movement with you—sign up today and join us by the waterfront!
Qigong Tuesdays is part of Mission Rock Your Workout, a free fitness series bringing movement classes to the Mission Rock neighborhood. Open to all ages and abilities, these classes offer an accessible way to care for your body and mind.
Location: China Basin Park
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm PT
Presented By: Persimmon Acupuncture
Surviving Two Epidemics: Creative Resilience and Mental Wellbeing
Join award-winning artist-activist César Gunabe Cadabes for an illuminating discussion on creating art during crisis and its impact on mental health. Cadabes will share insights from developing his acclaimed one-man show "Not My First Pandemic," which draws powerful parallels between COVID-19 and his experiences as a gay Filipino man during the AIDS epidemic in 1980s San Francisco Learn how Cadabes transformed isolation, grief, and trauma into a creative work that serves as both artistic expression and psychological healing. The conversation will explore how storytelling can process collective trauma and build resilience during public health emergencies.
"Not My First Pandemic," winner of Best One-Man Show at New York's United Solo Festival before premiering at San Francisco's Brava Theatre, demonstrates how art can bridge different mental health experiences across generations and communities.
A Q&A session will follow, providing opportunities to engage directly with Cadabes about creative expression as a mental health survival strategy.
Location: Mission Bay, Mission Hall 2103; hybrid event also on Zoom
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm PT
Presented By: United Filipinx Association
FAMSA & MPWRD Collective Filipino Folk Dance Workshop
FAMSA is excited to welcome the MPWRD Artist’s Collective to provide a space to learn about Filipino Folk Dance and culture together. This workshop will introduce participants to both pre- and post-colonial dances of the Philippines. Immerse yourself in our shared cultural heritage in a safe space for marginalized communities to celebrate, honor, and amplify our voices.
Location: Parnassus, Clinical Sciences 0101
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6 from 5:30 -7:00 pm PT
Presented By: Filipino American Medical Student Association (FAMSA)
Practicing Ginhawa (Part Two): Indigenous Filipinx Healing & Acutherapy Community Style
Ready to go deeper? Join us in person for an immersive follow-up session with Karen Villanueva, RN, LAc, for a trauma-informed experience of Indigenous Filipinx Healing & Acutherapy Wellness Practices at the BCH Oakland campus. Especially for participants of Exploring Ginhawa (Part 1): Talk Story on Indigenous Filipinx Healing & Acutherapy Wellness Practices webinar, this is an in-person, hands-on practicum of auriculotherapy, qigong, herbal medicine, and nutritional healing.
Location: Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, 747 52nd street, BCH OAK Bertha Wright Boardroom, 2nd floor
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm PT
Presented By: United Filipinx Association
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Introducing the ASPIRE Asian American Cohort Study
Come learn about a new UCSF study, the ASPIRE Cohort, a study that will follow 20,000+ Asian Americans nationwide over time to study multilevel drivers of cancer. This cohort study will identify the causes of cancer among Asian Americans and work with communities to better understand how to prevent cancer. This webinar will provide information on the unique cancer burden in across Asian American ethnic groups and how the ASPIRE Cohort Study aims to address this. Please join us so you can learn how to get involved and improve health for Asian Americans across generations. Meet the Principal Investigators, Drs. Scarlett Gomez, Iona Cheng, and Salma Shariff-Marco who will present on the cancer burden in Asian American populations and talk about the new study at this event.
Location: Mission Bay, Generation Thrive-State Room (From the garage, walk up the stairs to find Generation Thrive to the left across from from GluGlu wine bar); hybrid event also on Zoom
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 7 from 10:00 to 11:00 am PT
Presented By: ASPIRE Cohort
Balance: Prana in Motion - Rythmic Breath & Movement for Busy Minds & Bodies
How do you bring energy and balance into your day? In this virtual session, Kavita K. Mishra, MD, MPH introduces rhythmic breath and movement practices drawn from South Asian healing traditions. Grounded in the idea that breath and motion are woven into everyday rituals—not limited to the yoga mat—this session blends gentle shaking, mindful flow, and energizing breathwork. Whether you’re between meetings, transitioning out of a stressful moment, or simply resetting, learn accessible practices to regulate energy and restore balance.
Wisdom Tradition: South Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Indian, Bhutanese; Takeaway: A guided set of breath and movement practices—standing, seated, or in motion.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 7 from 12:10–1:00 pm PT
Presented by: Osher Center for Integrative Health
Five Animals Kung Fu Workshop: Movement and Culture
Tap into the strength, flow, and spirit of traditional martial arts with a dynamic Kung Fu workshop led by the Five Animals Kung Fu Academy of San Francisco. Rooted in Southern Chinese martial arts traditions, this style of Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu incorporates the movements of the Dragon, Snake, Crane, Panther, and Tiger (Lung, Sei, Hok, Fu, Pau)—each representing a unique approach to power, flexibility, and inner balance.
Five Animals Kung Fu preserves and shares centuries-old techniques passed down through generations across Asia. In this workshop, you’ll explore the martial, meditative, and cultural aspects of Kung Fu in a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment. No experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and energy! As a family-oriented academy, this workshop is ideal for both individuals and families eager to learn and grow together. No prior experience is required—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm!
Location: Mission Bay, Mariposa Park at the corner of Mariposa and Owens (outdoors)
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 7 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm PT
Presented By: APASA
Registration: onsite; drop-ins welcomed!
Voices of our Communities: AANHPI Storytelling Panel
Join us for an inspiring evening of community storytelling featuring powerful, personal narratives from Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voices. This panel brings together speakers from diverse backgrounds to share stories of identity, resilience, joy, and belonging—offering a glimpse into the lived experiences that shape our AANHPI communities. Through storytelling, we honor our histories, build connection, and celebrate the richness of our cultures.
Location: Parnassus, Health Sciences West 301
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 7 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT
Presented By: Asian Pacific American Medical Student Assocation (APAMSA)
Thursday, May 8, 2025
AANHPI Community Luncheon and Panel - Honoring Diverse AANHPI Voices
In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, UCSF Finance & Administrative Services (FAS) and the Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA) invite you to a special community luncheon and panel event honoring and celebrating the rich diversity, strength, and lived experiences within Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Join us for a 90-minute moderated storytelling circle where AANHPI frontline staff and leaders will share honest reflections on resilience, vulnerability, and the cultural influences that shape their health, self-care, and wellness. This is more than a panel—it’s a space to build connection, honor heritage, and uplift the voices that often go unheard.
Learn more about the event and panel: see flyer
Location: Parnassus, Faculty Alumni House
Date and Time: Thursday, May 8 from 11:30 - 1:30 pm PT
Presented By: Financial and Administrative Services
Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga was founded in 1995 by Indian physician, Dr. Madan Kataria. He had an interesting insight while doing research about humor and laughter and learned that our bodies get similar benefits whether it’s a spontaneous laugh or simulated laughter. In this session, we don’t tell jokes or rely on humor or comedy, just classical exercises that encourage laughter, deep breathing, stretching, and clapping. The laughter exercises help facilitate a gentle deepening of mindful awareness and an easy connection with other class members. Our exercises use laughter as an “in-the-moment skill” and can:
- Increase blood flow and oxygen to all the major organs
- Enhance endorphin levels which make us feel uplifted and reduce pain
- Reduce stress levels and boost our emotional well-being
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Thursday, May 8 from 6:00 - 6:45 pm PT and more information
Presented By: UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, Teresa Corrigan, MA, RN and Kazuyo Shimokawabe
Friday, May 9, 2025
Balance: Dosha-Balancing through Yoga Therapy
Rooted in over 5,000 years of South Asian healing traditions, this session explores the connection between mind, body, and energy through the lens of Ayurveda. Led by Sudha Prathikanti, MD and Yumi Munir, YTT-200, participants will be introduced to the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—and how these energies shape physical and emotional patterns. Whether new to yoga or experienced, learn how to identify imbalances and gently realign with practices tailored to your constitution.
Wisdom Tradition: South Asian medicine; Spotlight Cultures: Indian, Nepali, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Pakistani; Takeaway: A one-page guide on yoga therapy and movement aligned with Ayurvedic doshas
Location: Mount Zion, Osher Center, 5th Floor, Yoga Room (526)
Date and Time: Friday, May 9 from 10:10 am–12:00 pm PT
Presented By: Osher Center for Integrative Health
Registration: onsite; Drop-ins welcomed!
Parenting and Intergenerational Healing
Parenting in AANHPI communities often carries the weight of cultural expectations, inherited resilience, and unspoken generational stories. Our own parents may tell us how we are parenting our kids wrong, while we get messages from the dominant culture that our traditional methods are harmful or primitive. Ed Center is a Pacific Islander parenting educator who works with multicultural families to navigate family challenges in ways that validate our traditions and interrupt harmful cycles. Participants will gain concrete tools to honor the cultural values, identify triggers, and heal past wounds. Join us for an open dialogue that weaves together personal reflection, cultural insight, and community wisdom. Whether you're navigating parenthood, healing from your own upbringing, or simply curious, this event is a space for growth, connection, and collective healing.
Event flyer: view and download here
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Date and Time: Friday, May 9 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm PT
Presented By: AANHPI Coalition