Health & Wellness   

This exercise class, led by Tai Chi instructor Ray Sol, focuses on martial arts for health and wellness. Class emphasis will be on balance, flexibility, and relaxation. Each session includes stretching and balancing exercises. Students should be able to stand and walk. Students will learn a variety of tai chi moves that exercise the body and mind. In the last session, students will expand their tai chi balancing skills and learn breathing techniques for relaxation. Ample time to practice will be provided. Comfortable clothes and laced shoes are recommended.

Grocery shopping can be overwhelming—with countless products, confusing labels, and endless marketing claims competing for your attention. Making smart choices at the store is the first step toward better nutrition and overall health for you and your family. In this engaging presentation, Tina Shepard, a Clinical Nutrition Professor at Arizona State University and a Registered Dietitian, will guide you through the essentials of smart grocery shopping. You’ll learn how to: read and understand nutrition labels with confidence; identify nutrient-dense foods and avoid misleading packaging; make budget-friendly, healthy choices in every aisle; compare products to find the best options for your family's needs. Join us and gain the tools to shop smarter, eat better, and feel more in control of your health every time you step into the grocery store.

Join an engaging expert panel exploring how social connection, community involvement, and lifelong learning contribute to healthy aging. Moderated by OLLI at ASU Director Jared Swerzenski, this session features Dr. Aaron Guest, renowned gerontologist and Assistant Professor of Aging at ASU’s Edson College, alongside Sandra Freyer from ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation. Together, they will share insights into how staying socially embedded and intellectually active can enhance well-being and longevity, offering evidence- based strategies for thriving in later life.

Tiny microbes shape the world in ways we are only beginning to understand. From soil to the human gut, microbiomes regulate health, drive nutrient cycles, and buffer ecosystems against collapse. In this class, Dr. Glen D’Souza explores the surprising ways microbial life underpins the stability of our planet—from agriculture and climate resilience to human well-being. Join us to discover how these invisible communities connect personal and planetary health—and how future innovations may rely on learning to work with microbes, not against them.

In this course, participants will explore the social determinants of health, the physiological mechanisms of stress, and the effects of stress on health and well-being. They will also examine stress- and health-related theoretical frameworks. Through this course, participants will gain an understanding of the factors that influence health and engage in discussions on the importance of equitably promoting health and well-being across populations. Please note that you will need to create a free account with NRC to access the meeting link and any course materials.

This course explores the complex issue of Death with Dignity, also known as assisted suicide, through its historical development, ethical debates, legal frameworks, and cultural perspectives. The movement gained national attention through the advocacy of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, sparking widespread discussion on end-of-life choices. Participants will critically examine evolving policies on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia while engaging in thoughtful discussions on this sensitive and often controversial topic. Designed to educate and foster awareness, this course provides a comprehensive look at the ethical and legal dimensions of end-of-life decision-making. Please note that you will need to create a free account with NRC to access the meeting link and any course materials.

As we age, maintaining cognitive vitality becomes increasingly important—not just for memory, but for overall quality of life. In this engaging and informative workshop, we’ll explore six key habits backed by recent scientific research that support brain health in later life. The class is led by Helen Hayes, Program Director of ASU’s Distinguished Innovation Fellows, an innovation-focused program for individuals 55 and older. You'll learn practical strategies for protecting and enhancing your mental sharpness, emotional resilience, and daily functioning. Participants will create a personalized plan to integrate brain-boosting activities into their everyday routines, and begin shaping a thoughtful, proactive retirement plan centered on lifelong cognitive well-being.

Join Penny Friedberg, MBA, MS, on December 1st and 3rd for a two-session course designed for those cooking for one or two. In week one, the focus is on breakfast, highlighting the benefits of home cooking and offering practical techniques to make it more manageable. Participants will explore essential tools and cookware for a healthier kitchen and watch a live demo featuring granola, vegetables, and eggs. Week two shifts to dinner, featuring a thoughtful discussion on sugar, artificial sweeteners, fats, and oils, followed by a live cooking demonstration of stir-fry and other healthy dinner recipes.

Current students from Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski’s Medical Humanities course at ASU (HON 394 Poetry & Medicine) will lead this intergenerational session exploring the efficacy of reading and writing poetry as a means of navigating aging, illness, and loss, while promoting wellness and healing. Students will share excerpts from studies, lead discussions of selected poems, and engage attendees in short reflective writing exercises.

Please consider joining us for a night of fun and education. Chef Paul Lindsay from 2322 PHX will be treating us to a dinner that includes time-honored Asian cuisine. He comes with 25+ years of global experience, and is an innovator who will inspire us with a commitment to flavor, nutrition, and service. Our educator will be Dr. Ann, who is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine. Ann is trained and has been practicing at the highest level of her field at Harmony and Health. She will talk about her journey and answer questions about the differences between Western and Eastern Medicine. Your host, Tammy Austin, is a home cook who focuses mostly on delicious food, but always with health and nourishment in mind. She has taken cooking classes for more than 25 years and is a trained (but not practicing) Health Coach.

FEE: $75 will be added to your cart for this SIG

If ruminating on the past can lead to depression and stressing about the future can lead to anxiety, what’s the answer? The practice of mindfulness involves choosing to focus on the present moment. It doesn’t ask that you attempt to quiet your mind – by design, our brains are meant to be active – but it does encourage you to relax, focus, and breathe, thus calming the mind and body. Otherwise known as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), this meditative practice has been found to improve physical symptoms such as chronic pain, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and insomnia. It has also been shown to decrease emotional and psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety. Come practice with us! We will meet once a month at Hospice of the Valley Dementia Campus, in Phoenix, located at 44th St. between Indian School & Osborn, for a 30-minute meditation followed by several readings and poems. We’ll leave time afterwards for sharing thoughts and discussing the practice. We’ll also explore mindful walking and eating. Facilitated by Aimee Shramko We’re honored to partner with Hospice of the Valley, well-regarded experts in the practice of mindfulness, for this new SIG. Our sessions will be led by Dr. Gillian Hamilton, MD, PhD, and Medical Director for the Supportive Care for Dementia program at Hospice of the Valley.

There is no fee for this SIG

Join us for a fun, monthly hiking group exploring easy to moderate trails (3–6 miles) around the Valley. We’ll meet on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at designated trailheads, with the first location shared after registration. Some hikes may be led by volunteer trail docents who will share insights about local desert plants and wildlife. Future trail locations will be selected by participants during the first hike. Hiking sticks, snacks, and water are recommended. This is a great opportunity to enjoy nature, stay active, and make new friends while discovering the beauty of our desert surroundings. Hikes run once a month through December — come explore with us!

There is no fee for this SIG

This course is an introduction to qigong and simple stretching patterns. Movements will be taught as physical and energetic exercises and as methods for improving present-moment awareness and mindfulness of subtle perceptions. Although qigong can be studied for a lifetime, this series will give you a taste of the practices. Students will learn a set of simple movements that can be integrated into a daily routine. The exercises will challenge and enhance flexibility, balance and coordination. Students will have access to videos on the instructor’s YouTube channel, and an optional DVD is available for purchase. This online course will include social time with other students using breakout rooms. No special clothing or experience is required. Come as you are, ready to have fun with others! Please take care of DST changes for the last session of class.

In this course we will look at what research in neuroscience is teaching us about how the brain and mind work. We will also learn about using that knowledge to provide better care for patients. The role of AI, brain imaging, immunology, and genetics will be included. Please take care of time zone changes due to Daylight Saving.