Health and Wellness   

Participants will be engaged in wide-ranging discussions regarding how we can use medical ethics in dealing with such issues as epidemics, end of life care, the well-being of vulnerable and migrant children and commercial determinants of health. Participants will be in dialog with faculty members of the Center for Bioethics and the Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz medical campus. Readings will be circulated prior to each session to set the stage for moderated class discussion with the guest expert. The discussions will consider matters such as public trust, individual choice, public policy, changing social norms, and individual rights vs. the rights of the community. The class will not be a one-way street. This is an opportunity to voice your perspective on these important topics.

Dance is Healing is an inclusive movement workshop, founded by Paige Fraser-Hoffman. This program blends ballet and modern dance with a deep focus on awareness and wellness. Participants will learn the foundations of Modern dance technique, while also prioritizing breath work, mobility, and alignment.

Participants can expect a supportive space where and personal expression are prioritized over perfection. Ms. Fraser brings together her contemporary dance training and her perspective as a scoliosis advocate to create a class that’s inclusive of all bodies and movement abilities. Whether you’re returning to dance or stepping into it for the first time, this class offers an opportunity to move with freedom, awareness, and care.

You will learn foundational modern dance techniques while incorporating breath work, alignment practices and mobility exercises. Rather than seeking perfection, this class emphasizes self-expression, body positivity and creative engagement. Drawing from her extensive professional training (at The Alvin Ailey School) and her journey as a scoliosis advocate, Fraser-Hoffman designs each session to meet the needs of all bodies and movement levels.

Participants will engage in visual modeling, verbal cues and real-time feedback. A complete warm-up, guided movement phrases, and a calming cool-down are included. Journaling prompts will be offered to deepen personal insight and integration—so please bring a journal along with a yoga mat. Wear clothing that allows ease of movement. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to explore and connect.

Discover or rediscover the joy of movement in a vibrant, expressive and embodied way. Come as you are. Move how you feel. Let’s dance toward deeper connection—in body, breath, and community.

Participants should wear comfortable athletic clothing or sweats and bring a yoga mat and journal for note-taking; you'll be barefoot for this class. Please ensure you have enough clear floor space to lie down on your back and move side to side comfortably, removing any furniture or objects that could pose a safety hazard. This session includes a complete warm-up, guided movement phrases, and cool-down, with the instructor demonstrating all movements and providing both visual and verbal cues throughout, along with regular check-ins to ensure everyone is comfortable and following along.

Science has answered many questions, but we are still just scratching the surface on understanding the human brain. Nevertheless, one thing becomes clearer with each new discovery: the brain is massively powerful! This is the third part of Dutch's Neuroplasticity series. In this 4 week course, participants will learn how breathing and stress affect our brains. We'll learn several breathing drills and discuss ways to mitigate stress to improve brain performance. We will take a "deep dive" into the mighty cerebellum and explore concepts and drills to improve performance of this crucial brain area. We will also explore how the cerebellum helps with balance and learn cerebellum drills to improve balance. Each class is half lecture and half brain-based exercises. Modifications for exercises will be available to make them accessible for everyone. It is not necessary to attend these classes in order. You can start here with Part III!

These books are recommended, not required: The Tell-Tale Brain by Ramachandran, and Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by Nestor

This course is for anyone who wants to add more energy, movement, interaction, and fun to their day.  Line-dancing is one of the easiest dances to learn. Line dancing is versatile; you will be able to dance to multiple music genres, including Country, Rock, Pop, Bluegrass, R&B, and Blues.  You will learn new steps by observing the facilitators, Ellen and Chris, and will practice first without music and then with music.  We will demonstrate the steps from different locations in the room to boost visual cues.  We recommend practicing between classes to enhance skills, confidence, and fun. You will receive video links to assist with your practice sessions at home.  So, if you’d like to meet new folks, enjoy upbeat music, exercise lightly, and engage both your body and mind, come dance with us. No experience is necessary, just comfortable footwear.

It's the human condition to encounter life challenges and difficulties that we just don't know how to solve. These days, it's not uncommon to wake up uneasy and discouraged. "What do I do about this?!" Round and round we go, trying to figure out how to change the situations and circumstances that bedevil us. Enter Practical Spirituality. What is spirituality, anyway? How does a spiritual worldview or understanding (or lack of one) influence the way we navigate life? In this non-religious class we look at the what, so what, and now what of our personal versions of spirituality and the practical wisdom and guidance they can offer us. You can find solutions to your human problems by discovering a map of your own wisdom and using it as a guide to a rich, meaningful life. Practical Spirituality is where you begin. No class 4/22.

Are supplements essential for good health, or are many simply marketing hype? In this engaging two-hour workshop, Registered Dietitian Jessie McGinty helps you make sense of the confusing supplement industry by providing clear, evidence-based guidance. Designed for adults of all backgrounds, this session is especially valuable for those looking to take a more proactive and informed approach to lifelong wellness.

“With so much conflicting information online and in the media, it’s easy to feel unsure about which supplements are truly beneficial, which may be unnecessary and how to tell the difference”, says McGinty. We’ll cut through the noise to examine commonly used supplements such as vitamin D, B12, calcium, omega-3s and magnesium. We’ll also explore when supplementation can be helpful, when a balanced diet may be enough, and what red flags to watch for in marketing claims.

This workshop blends expert explanation with interactive discussion and Q&A so that you can apply what you learn directly to your own choices. Along the way, you’ll gain practical strategies for evaluating products, identifying credible information sources and making decisions that align with your individual health needs. Whether you currently take supplements, are considering them or simply want to stay informed, you’ll leave with greater clarity, confidence and the ability to make smart, personalized decisions about your health.

The Peace Education Program is an innovative series of video-based workshops that invite you to explore personal peace and your inner resources for wellbeing. The course includes short video excerpts featuring author and peace educator Prem Rawat’s international talks, facilitated reflection time, individual exercises and the opportunity for group interactions. The sessions cover ten themes, among them Peace, Inner Strength, Dignity, etc.

Rather than describing or defining personal peace, the program aims to empower participants to reach their own understanding.

The facilitators’ role is to support the activities, interactions and reflection times, helping each workshop to run smoothly.

This course will be offered over five weeks, in weekly two-hour sessions. A complimentary course workbook will be given to each participant. For more information about the Peace Education Program, please visit https://tprf.org/peace-education-program/

Explore how the ancient practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are being reexamined through the lens of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) in this unique and timely course. With over 5,000 years of clinical tradition and more than 10,000 randomized controlled trials conducted since 1975, TCM remains one of the most widely practiced and studied systems of medicine worldwide.

Today, researchers at leading institutions like Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health are leveraging AI to unlock the complex, whole-person effects of TCM. Unlike conventional approaches that focus narrowly on single conditions, TCM addresses the body, mind, and spirit as an interconnected system. Multifaceted interventions — such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, Tai Chi, and Qigong — impact multiple physiological and psychological domains at once, posing a challenge for traditional research methods.

Artificial intelligence offers powerful new tools to analyze these complex interactions, helping scientists better understand how TCM promotes prevention, resilience, and self-healing. We will explore how AI is transforming research in whole-person health and how universities, including the University of Denver, are pioneering studies that combine lifelong learning, integrative medicine, and advanced analytics to improve health outcomes in aging populations.

Whether you are curious about natural ways to enhance your well-being or eager to understand how ancient wisdom meets modern technology, this course will provide you with a rich foundation. Learn how TCM and AI together are shaping the future of health — and how these innovations can help you lead a healthier, more vibrant life.

Recommended Readings: Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992.

What better way to spend your Friday mornings than on a walk with your OLLI buddies in Colorado’s spring weather?! You’ll explore places like land trust properties, state parks, and maybe a private ranch.

We don’t need no stinkin’ sidewalks! Walks are curated for OLLI’s population by local, nature-related non-profits, rated easy to moderate with some elevation changes, and led by trained, volunteer guides who provide a fun and educational experience. Learn about plants, wildlife, geology, history, and our environment while getting in your steps! You’ll travel to places that may be familiar to you, and likely some new ones. We’ll arrange meetup spots for those who want to carpool or caravan.

Wait, there’s more! A class favorite is the optional lunch after each walk, where we continue the fun and camaraderie. Be an OLLI OUTSIDER!

$50 donation for non-profits payable at registration