Carolyn Zimmerman
Executive Director WHYME House Foundation, Inc.
www.drum4health.net
"During a HealthRHYTHMS session, when a gentleman's Parkinson's tremors became rhythmical and he realized he was part of the music...he lit up."
Carolyn Zimmermann is Executive Director and Founder of WHYME House Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization where healing/helping yourself means everything. WHYME House Foundation provides psycho-social support, education, encouragement, hope, fun and healthy living choices to those living beyond a cancer diagnosis through scheduled activities and group interaction. WHYME House was incorporated in 1999, three years after her own cancer diagnosis.
As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society she chaired two Relay For Life events and has volunteered fitting and styling wigs for cancer patients undergoing treatment. As a cancer survivor she has volunteered for the Komen Foundation Race For The Cure, served on the survivor committee and has been an advocate/activist with The National Breast Cancer Coalition, lobbying on both the state and national level. She is also a Certified Reiki Practitioner, Yoga Instructor and accomplished distance runner, achieving status of South Buffalo Runner of the year and Buffalo News age group leader as well as setting and holding an age group record for the mile in Buffalo at 6:00 in 1997.
Her passion for drumming began a short time after her cancer diagnosis when a friend told her that she was to be at her house to attend a drum circle. Having no clue what that meant she decided to attend. The experience was transformational and two days later she bought her first drum. She incorporated drumming into the programming at WHYME House with the help of a couple of local male drummers, knowing that it would be a valuable healing tool for participating members.
Carolyn discovered HealthRHYTHMS while attending a conference produced by Dr. Barry Bittman's Mind Body Wellness Center where information about the Health Rhythms protocol was presented, the die was cast and the dream of becoming a facilitator became an obsession. Carolyn completed the HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming Facilitation training and was nomincated for endorsement in November 2007.
Drum4Health, was established in 2003 and allows Carolyn to provide the HealthRHYTHMS protocol experience to area nursing homes, adult day care and senior centers, senior nutrition sites, mental health organizations, corporate conferences and retreats, community and women's wellness programs, area nursery, elementary, middle and high schools, universities, church groups, family and neighborhood gatherings, youth and child development organizations, and birthday parties and supports her community by offering Health Rhythms drum circles to local non-profits.
In 2006 she was awarded a scholarship and completed facilitator training in FitRhythms™, a revolutionary new workout created by Remo Artist, Paulo Mattioli that combines group drumming and dance into an exciting and uplifting workout.
Carolyn welcomes the opportunity to share her enthusiasm for the positive power of rhythm and music with everyone she encounters and feels the possibilities are endless.
"No one should leave this planet with their music still inside." - Carolyn Zimmermann
Radio Interview: Planting Seeds with the Drum Lady
