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Classes and events

The Penny George Institute for Health and Healing offers community health classes, professional education sessions and visual arts exhibits.

These classes, developed by Marion Rosen, PT, and led by Majorie Huebner, Rosen Movement teacher, are about being aware of your body moving, feeling your body moving and relaxing your body as it moves. We will move all the joints of the body in easy, fun and simple ways designed to lubricate the joints, relax the muscles and allow more ease in breathing. Learn more.

Drum Circle

Drumming has been shown to reduce stress and have a positive impact on your health. Experience a sense of relaxation and well-being through self-expression, physical activity, sharing in the group energy and having a lot of fun. No musical experience is necessary. Learn more about these sessions:

• Oct. 15, 7-8 p.m.
  
• Nov. 19, 7-8 p.m.
  
• Dec. 17, 7-8 p.m.

Chair Yoga

In this six-week class, learn gentle yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation while seated in a chair or using a chair for balance and support. Chair yoga invites you to move slowly and with awareness, relaxing mind, body and spirit. Learn more.

Beginning Gentle Yoga

In this six-week class, learn basic yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation practices. Gentle yoga invites you to move slowly and with awareness, relaxing mind, body and spirit. Learn more about summer sessions: Learn more.

Integrative Medicine Lecture Series

This nine-week series of lectures by Gary Carlson, MD, a physician on the staff at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, board certified in family medicine, holistic medicine and in medical acupuncture. Each offering in this series is a self-contained lecture, followed by a brief question and answer period. Participants can attend any one or combination of lectures; however, classes will build on each other and reinforce key concepts. Learn more about these lectures:

• A Holistic Approach to Individual Health, Oct. 15, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Food as Medicine I, Oct. 22, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Food as Medicine II, Oct. 29, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Food as Medicine III, Nov. 5, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Detoxification, Nov. 12, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• How the Body Responds to Stress, Nov. 19, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Psychoneuroimmunology, Dec. 3, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Exercise as Medicine, Dec. 10, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
• Vitamins and Supplements, Dec. 17, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

This class can help you deal with anxiety and depression, chronic pain and illness, cardiac disease, or just find balance in your life. It is an eight-week series based on the highly regarded work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of "Full Catastrophe Living." Learn more.

Transforming Shame

Shame is a familiar emotion to most people, yet it is an emotion most people try to avoid or deny. When we begin to understand that the emotion of shame has a biological component called "affect" as well as a biographical component, the opportunity for transformation arises. Becoming familiar with that biology can make shame a normal occurrence and not a feeling to resist. When shame is embraced and understood, life unfolds in powerful ways. Through mind-body explorations led by Mark Hoch, MD and Kathy Jennings, an authorized Continuum Movement teacher, you will gain mastery to overcome self-defeating talk, relationship challenges and communication difficulties. Learn more.

Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Mind, Body, Spirit Approach

This class highlights the integral roles of the mind, body and spirit in pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Topics include the use of relaxation techniques, art care, acupressure points, massage, aromatherapy, imagery/visualization and affirmations. Through creative activities this class will also acknowledge the transformations and rites of passage which unfold during the childbearing year. Learn more.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is practiced throughout the world to improve health and agility. A study has shown that people over the age of 60 and well into their nineties who practice Tai Chi are 80 percent less likely to lose their balance and fall. This class will focus on the "short form" of 32 postures and is intended to assist individuals in starting a home practice. Learn more: Learn more.

Embodied Imagination

Embodied Imagination is a therapeutic and creative form of working with dreams and memories pioneered by Robert Bosnak and based on principles first developed by Carl Jung and James Hillman. The technique has been used individually and in groups in fields as diverse as medicine, research and the arts. This class will show participants how, using the Embodied Imagination process, images from dream and memory are explored and new awareness developed. Learn more.

Pain and Dreaming

In a multi-media presentation, Sheila Asato, MA, board member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, will share research and personal examples to illustrate the relationship between pain and dreams. Not only does pain show up in dreaming, but art and dream-based work such as Embodied Imagination can lead to insight and healing. Learn more.

Dreaming for Health and Creativity

Dreaming is a fundamental part of being human. Since ancient times, dreaming has been regarded as a source of healing and creative inspiration. In the first half of this presentation, Sheila Asato, MA, board member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, will introduce the ancient art of dream incubation and explore its connection to western medicine, as well as show how people continue to use dream incubation today for creative problem solving and personal enrichment. In the second half, participants will be led through a simple dreamwork process. Learn more.

Couples Massage - Level II

Learn massage therapy for you and your partner. This is a great way to help each other with relaxation and therapeutic techniques for muscle aches and pains. Each participant will give and receive a full body massage. Learn more.

Sleep Well

Sleep has a profound impact on our health and well-being. Join our nutritionist, yoga therapist and a Traditional Chinese Medicine provider to explore how your sleeping patterns affect your health. Learn multiple strategies to improve sleep. Learn more.

Transforming Health Care Practice: A Series of Classes for Health Care Professionals

This course will emphasize how the impact of touch is necessary for the health and well-being of humans. We will discuss the evidence for the multiple outcomes of massage including comfort, caring, pain and stress reduction. This experiential class will introduce simple, easy-to-use massage techniques and identify benefits and uses. It also will introduce you to the basic use of the traditional Chinese medicine technique of acupressure for common health concerns of patients and yourselves. Learn more.

Korean Hand Correspondence Therapy

Korean Hand Correspondence Therapy can be used as a non-invasive treatment for pain. Based in the theories of traditional chinese medicine, Pam Weiss, PhD, will teach you the basic skills to use the hand as a body map, to locate painful areas and to treat pain using special hand beads to improve the free flow of energy and instantly reduce pain. Learn more: Learn more.

Clinical Aromatherapy

In this engaging aromatherapy class you will acquire a clear understanding of essential oils and the clinical applications of their use. Instructor Mary Ellen Kinney, BA, RN, HN-BC, CPCA, will describe the science of the oils by explaining their chemical composition. By the completion of this class, you will be able to identify the safety measures for application of the oils, the relationship of the chemistry of the essential oils to their therapeutic properties. Students will experience the effect of the oils on themselves and identify as a self care tool. Learn more.

Guided Imagery

Imagery is the language for communication between our minds and bodies. Current research has demonstrated that guided imagery can be used to promote relaxation, well-being and creativity, and support the body's innate healing abilities. Using lecture, experiential exercises and group discussion, this class will include a brief overview of imagery's use throughout history, the scientific understanding of its effectiveness. You will learn and practice basic techniques in this class. Learn more.

Caring for Spirituality

This class will explore the thesis that spirituality is the foundation for the health care professional's practice. The concepts of applied spirituality will be examined as an interpersonal and intrapersonal process. The health professional will learn ways to explore spirituality in ways that improve the health and well-being of the clients and of themselves. Learn more.

The Healing Energies of Music

We are surrounded by sound. Whether or not we have chosen it, we still respond to it on many levels. This presentation will explore the effects of sound and music on all parts of our being (physical, cognitive, existential, emotional and spiritual). You will learn skills to intentionally choose music/sound to elicit certain responses in our environments. Learn more.

Healthy Self: Food as Information

This course will broaden your knowledge of nutrition beyond the science of calories, grams and fat. This class teaches how food affects the body and health, exploring the concept of food as information. The focus will be on which foods to include in the diet and why, with discussion of related topics such as phytonutrients, fats, inflammation...and yes, the benefits of chocolate. Learn more.

Medical Fitness

The course explores how exercise affects the body's physiology through the basic fitness components of cardiovascular exercise, body composition, flexibility, balance and strength. Participants will learn the many benefits of exercise in preventing chronic disease and as a powerful complement to traditional medical interventions. This class teaches you how to play an integral role in educating your patients about "medical fitness" as well as important self-care practices. You will also learn basic concepts of appropriate exercise programming, contraindications, risk stratification and how exercise is beneficial for various health concerns. Learn more.

Visual Arts Exhibits

Each month, a new local artist is chosen to display work at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing's Outpatient Clinic. Artwork portrays themes of health, healing and spirit.

The exhibit and opening receptions are free and open to the public. The exhibit may be viewed during clinic hours, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Related Links

Integrative medicine

The Penny George Institute for Health and Healing
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Mail Route 15115
2833 Chicago Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-3333

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