Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life
Dunbar Community Center

Tuesdays, Jan 15 - Mar 4, 7:30-9pm: This is the first time I will have taught at the Dunbar Community Center, and I am very excited! In this 8 week introductory course I will teach you the basic philosophy of Ayurveda, including key concepts like tridosha (metabolic balance), agni (digestion) and ojas (vitality), as well as how to apply the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda in your daily life. For registration info please contact Angie Walkinshaw at 604-222-6060.

Ayurveda for Everybody: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Living, Victoria Health Show, Victoria BC

Sunday, January 20th: 1:40 - 2:30 PM, Esquimalt Room, Victoria Health Show
I will be giving an overview of Ayurveda and its basic practices for healthy, everyday living, including the use of Ayurvedic herbal products such as Triphala and Holy Basil, as well as herbs for joint inflammation, diabetes and stress. My lecture will feature the exciting new Sewanti Ayurvedic series developed and manufactured by my dear friend Neelam Toprani, CEO of Inner Peace Solutions Inc. For more info, visit www.sewanti.com.

For those in the Duncan area, I will also be offering consulations on January 19th at the Community Farm Store in Duncan (11am-5pm), and also after my lecture in Victoria on the 20th (you can sign up at the Sewanti/EcoTrend booth). Plans are also being made for additional consults in the Victoria region on Monday, January 21st (my birthday!), so if you are interested send me an email!

Panch Karma Program, Langara College

Saturdays/Sundays, for 16 weeks, starting Feb 2, 2008

This comprehensive 210 hour therapist educational program provides an overview of Ayurveda and its core concepts, provides clear insight into the principles of health promotion and preservation, and focuses on the treatment of imbalance and disease. Designated Panch Karma techniques including therapies such as amapachana ("detoxification"), snehana ("oleation" or massage) and svedana ("sudation" or sweating) are taught under the guidance of experienced Ayurvedic practitioners.

Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life
West Point Grey Community Center

January 26th: Introductory talk
Saturdays, Feb 2 - Mar 22, 10-11:30am: Similar to the course being offered at the Dunbar Community Center, I am offering another introductory workshop in Ayurveda for those that live close to the hallowed halls of Aberthau. I am also quite excited because I don't think I have actually been in the building since I taught drama there over 20 years ago! Similar to the Dunbar program, I will provide you with the basic philosophical underpinnings of Ayurveda, as well as concepts like tridosha (metabolic balance), agni (digestion) and ojas (vitality), and how to apply this knowledge in your everyday life. For registration info please contact Bob Hindley at 604-257-8140.

Holistic Health Seminars: Roundhouse Community Center

Mondays, February 4 through March 10, 7:00-8:00pm: This is very cool! The Roundhouse Community Center is hosting a series of individual lectures on health and wellness, with each class focusing a particular aspect of the body. I love his stuff: merging disciplines such as Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine together modern clinical nutrition and medical research. In this class I will provide timely, interesting and eminently practical information to maintain health and prevent disease. Come to one, come to all! The classes are as follows:

"The Inner Fire", Digestive Health - Feb 4
In every system of traditional medicine, digestion is lauded as the cornerstone of health, exemplified by the common-sense axiom "you are what you eat." Every physical component of our bodies is derived from our daily sustenance, and just as the quality of a building is only as good as the materials that are used to build it, a diet which provides an optimal range of nutrients is the foundation upon which the body recreates itself each day. This class will provide you with a profound yet simple method to promote good digestive health, considering not only nutrition, but other important factors to such as the mind and emotions, the body's ecology and lifestyle habits.

"The Buddha Within", Brain and Nervous Health - Feb 11
In the philosophy of Ayurveda consciousness is said to proceed physical form, and thus it is our mind that gives impetus to the brain and nervous system, which in turn, feeds back into consciousness, shaping and modifying our moment by moment experience. Our nervous system is thus the key in integrating consciousness with our bodies, to bring the two into balance, so that a healthy body is produced through the activities of a healthy mind. This class will cover the basic functions of the nervous system, viewed from both a medical and energetic perspective, and the many influences that shape its function. Practical advice will be given on helping to strengthen and purify the mind, as well as to balance and rejuvenate the nervous system.

"A Life in Balance", Weight and Metabolic Health - Feb. 18
By any measure, our lives have become increasingly isolated from the values and practices that have sustained humanity for hundreds of thousands of years. As a result, a series of fundamental and important imbalances have begun to occur, particularly in the last 100 years, that have given rise to an almost exponential increase in the incidence of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. This class will address the basic components of promoting good metabolic health, with a particular focus on diet and lifestyle to boost and balance metabolism, ensuring a healthy weight while reducing the risk of chronic disease.

"Boosting Immunity", Immune health - Feb 25
In traditional Chinese medicine, the immune system is visualized as a bright yellow field of energy called 'wei qi' that surrounds the body, protecting it from foreign pathogens. Dependent upon other metabolic processes such as digestion, the nervous system and metabolism, the immune system is a complex system that maintains the individuality of the body. In recent years, the immune system has been given prominence in medicine, not only for its role in managing key process such as inflammation and cancer, but also because of the increasing incidence of autoimmune disorders, as well as the rise of "superbugs" that are resistant to modern antibiotics. This class will cover the basic principles to maintaining immune health, and some useful natural strategies during cold and flu season.

"Skin Deep", Skin and Hair health - Mar 3
Beauty has long been a valued quality in human culture, and perhaps never so much as today. The beauty products that fill up several aisles in your local drug or grocery store seem to be the necessary accoutrement of daily living. While these beauty aids may achieve their desired effect, they have also put our health at risk by exposing us to dangerous chemical toxins that increase our risk of disease by disrupting or modulating normal physical processes. Fortunately, there are many natural solutions to enhance and maintain the skin and hair. Find out what the cosmetic and hair product companies don't want you to know. Learn how to wean your face and hair off of these "drugs", using effective natural methods to promote your natural radiance and beauty.

"Rebirthing Traditions", Prenatal, Infant and Childhood health - Mar 10
There is perhaps nothing as sacred and beautiful as mother and child, which in their very essence represent the cosmic unfolding of the universe, and our deepest relationship to that which nourish us. In traditional cultures such as India and China, children are extremely important, and much time and care is taken to support women through pregnancy and birth, as well as support the baby and the entire family. In contrast, our culture has forgotten much of this wisdom, long dismissed as "old wives tales", supplanted by invasive medical techniques and pharmaceuticals that put both mother and child at risk. This class will focus on natural health for mother and child, providing key strategies to support a healthy natural pregnancy and childhood.

For registraton info please contact Kathryn Sweetapple at 604-713-1800.