Workshops & Community Programs

The surprising science of what keeps us healthy.

What if some of the strongest influences on your health aren’t found on your plate or in the gym?

Food and movement matter, but they are only part of the picture. Drawing on the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on social connection, and insights from the Blue Zones and Roseto, Pennsylvania, this

engaging presentation explores how relationships, purpose, sleep, community, and our responses to stress contribute to

health, longevity, and vitality.

Participants discover why the quality of our connections deserves attention alongside cholesterol, nutrition, and physical fitness. Expect fascinating findings, familiar assumptions challenged, and a wider understanding of what it

means to take care of yourself.

You leave with: A personal health reflection tool and practical ideas for strengthening the parts of your health that are easy to overlook.

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Sugar in Disguise

How sugar affects our health, and where it hides in our food.

Do you know how much sugar you ate today? Most of us eat far more than we realize, often in foods we think of as healthy.

Yogurt, granola, pasta sauce, salad dressing, bread, and “low-fat” snacks can all carry surprising amounts of added sugar.

This eye-opening talk explains how added sugar affects energy, mood, cravings, weight, and long-term health, and how food manufacturers use dozens of different names and clever packaging to keep it out of sight.

Participants learn to read a Nutrition Facts label for added sugars, spot sugar’s many aliases on an ingredient list, and look past claims like “natural” and “no sugar added.  

” In a hands-on label challenge, small groups compare everyday products and are often amazed by what they find. Knowledge is empowering, and small swaps add up.

You leave with: A quick way to read any label, a list of sugar’s most common hidden names, and simple swaps to try this week.

Stress, aging, and practical ways to help your body settle. 

You may not be able to remove the source of your stress. Bu you can learn ways to respond that help you feel less overwhelmed.

Caregiving, family concerns, health changes, and holiday demands can leave us feeling constantly on duty. This workshop explains how ongoing stress can affect sleep, concentration, mood, and physical health, then introduces simple practices that may help reduce its intensity.

Participants try comfortable breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and brief attention and movement practices that can fit into an ordinary day. We explore how to notice stress earlier, choose a practice that feels helpful, and create small opportunities for relief even when circumstances remain difficult.

You leave with: Three short practices you have tried yourself and a realistic plan for using them at home. A practical companion to caregiver support groups.

 Food, movement, and daily habits for energy, strength,and better health.

 You know healthy habits matter. The harder question is:  which changes will make sense for your body and your life?

This practical workshop explores how nutrition, movement, sleep, and everyday routines can support energy, muscle strength, brain health, and the management of chronic conditions. We examine concerns such as fatigue, brain fog,  disrupted sleep, low motivation, and inflammation, including when symptoms deserve medical attention.

There is no single eating or exercise plan that suits everyone.  Participants consider their health needs, preferences, medications, resources, and daily responsibilities, then identify changes that feel useful and achievable. 

The focus is on supporting the body’s normal maintenance and repair while building habits people can sustain.

You leave with: A personal action plan with two or three specific steps, likely obstacles, and a way to review your progress.