Classes and Holistic Whatnot . . .

Even as I let go of doing holistic work full-time, and set about job hunting for a public health position, I want to keep doing something with holistics each week. And with this simpler framework in mind, I want to create some stand alone classes and begin offering them through the holistic center, have them be on the lower end of the cost spectrum (i.e. a 2 hour class $20-25). I am a veritable walking encyclopedia of holistic knowledge and techniques, but not sure what to offer.

So, in your opinion, what sort of things are hot right now in the holistic world, what sort of things do you guys read about that interest you? What sort of things are you guys into, into learning more about, experiencing? What sort of skills would you like to learn about?

Any sort of feedback and info you can offer from your personal feelings and preferences, or things you've read would be greatly appreciated . . . :)

Comments

[Kris]

I think when I first started my 'education' on holistic health, it was with very general ideas. Eating organic, no meat, no dairy. Information on what those food groups do to the body. The best book I've found on this is The China Study. It's more scientific...so even those folks who think it's all 'hippie love for animals' that turns someone vegan get facts that show it's also about health.

Next came the herbs. Which herbs do what for the body, how to cut out over-the-counter meds and replace them with natural plant extracts.

Also, cutting out the chemical cleaners in the home. Going as natural as possible.

Good luck to you! I wish so much I was there in your city so I could take your classes. ;)

[Melissa K.]

Hi there. I live far away, but the class I would be most interested in taking right now would cover how to blend holistic principles, primarily with nutrition, into a normal busy life. I'm coming off of months of working with an expensive holistic pracitioner on a cleansing diet and a zillion supplements and I just reached a point where I could not live a normal life while eating that way. I go to restaurants, have a beer with friends, etc., and I got in a negative loop where I would feel so guilty and obsessed. So, info on a middle ground of making a lifestyle change without becoming a zealot would be cool...

[mm]

Living as I do now in the country and being a novice gardener, anything on how to grow herbs. The nitty gritty - sunlight or shade, what type of soil, how often to water. How to make tisanes and what each tea is good for .... Something to take the overwhelm out of it all.

Good luck!

[Louis]

More along the same sort of (read squiggly) lines as the previous comments, I have this definite draw towards the plants, their medicinal dimensions, and their mind altering influences.

In particular the following subjects come to mind:

* Permaculture & Forest Gardening
* Herbal Medicine Making
* Transpersonal Psychology

Here's also a few things to look into:

* The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook by James Green
* http://www.torrentz.com/search?q=permaculture
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transpersonal_psychology
* http://www.lila.info/

[deb]

I second the emotions of Melissa: I'm always curious about how to blend all the stuff I read into practical how-to's ... without having to turn everything upside down in one fell swoop. (let me know when you put something together and i'll pass it on to my wilmington bud; she's got a nice network she could alert!). D

[Pj]

Right now I'm most interested in holistic maintenance of the mind body connection- including but not limited to: body movement, whole food, spirit and our connection to nature. Other than that I want to better hear the little yes on the inside and let it be YES on the outside --if it wants to.
Best wishes to you on this adventure!

[sass]

hmmm. how about Integral health? How to fill in the specifics of what biological, psychic-interior, interpersonal and socio-structural aspects of health would look like....
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