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Health & Wellbeing   

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If any required or recommended books are listed in the class description and you are interested in purchasing a book through the UMD Bookstore, you must notify the US Program Office to be added to the book list. 

  • Collision Avoidance for Experienced Driver (2nd four weeks)
  • Dates: 4/23/2026 - 5/14/2026
    Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Days: Th
    Sessions: 4
    Building: Kirby Plaza
    Instructor: Kay Bakke
    Many changes in highways, vehicles, laws, and traffic density, as well as in our physical, visual, and cognitive skills, have occurred since we were first licensed to drive. The goal of this class is to help members maintain their driving independence through  discussions, videos, and guest speakers. Topics will address the changes mentioned above as well as trip planning, weather, and electronic (GPS) assistance for long distance travel. For a small extra fee, participants can purchase resource material and be certified to receive an insurance company’s discount. Join us to continue independent, informed, safe, and possibly fun driving. LIMIT 20

 

  • Growing Old Gracefully
  • Dates: 3/25/2026 - 5/13/2026
    Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Days: W
    Sessions: 8
    Building: Kirby Plaza
    Room:
    Instructor: Craig Carlson, Pat Michals
    THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
    Aging is not an ending—it is a time of discovery, reflection, and renewed purpose. In this discussion-based class, participants will explore Joan Chittister’s The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully, a thoughtful and inspiring look at the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual opportunities that come with growing older. Through reflective preparations and guided conversation, participants will be encouraged to share the wisdom of their years, challenge cultural assumptions about aging, and build a supportive community of lifelong learners.

    Book (required):

    The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully by Joan Chittister (2010), ISBN 9781933346335
 

  • Herbals, Teas, and Wellness (1st four weeks)
  • Dates: 3/24/2026 - 4/14/2026
    Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Days: Tu
    Sessions: 4
    Building: Kirby Plaza
    Instructor: Dennis Thielke
    Learn about basic teas and herbals. Topics will include their history, wellness benefits, and preparation methods and styles. The third session will be at the Duluth Tap Exchange so we can pair with spices and appetizers.

    Book (recommended):

    Cancer Hates Tea: A Unique Preventive and Transformative Lifestyle Change to Help Crush Cancer by Marie Uspenski, ISBN 1624143121

 

  • Medicinal Herbs of Early Spring (2nd four weeks)
  • Dates: 4/20/2026 - 5/11/2026
    Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Days: M
    Sessions: 4
    Building: Kirby Plaza
    Instructor: Tenby Owens
    Prepare to focus on spring plants you are likely to find in this environment and to learn their healing benefits. Discussion will include medicinal plants you might grow in your garden in the coming season and local wild plants to watch for. Slides and samples will be provided to aid identification and discussion of guidance for use. Each week, the class leader will bring seasonally available herbs that participants are encouraged to try.

 

  • So You Love an Alcoholic/Addict? A Guide to Partners, Spouses, Children, Colleagues, and Friends (2nd four weeks)
  • Dates: 4/21/2026 - 5/12/2026
    Times: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
    Days: Tu
    Sessions: 4
    Building: Online via Zoom
    Instructor: Elizabeth Blue
    Relationships take work no matter the circumstances, and loving an alcoholic or addict adds an additional set of challenges. There are mental health risks for both parties, as well as subtle and overt physical scars and questions about how to address substance use disorder head-on. All this can be exhausting, draining, and terrifying. If you or someone you care about is in such a relationship, there are ways to cope with it personally while simultaneously encouraging recovery for all parties. This class will educate and offer potential solutions but is not to be seen as a "fix" for these relationships. LIMIT 35

 

If you have registration questions, please contact the US Program Office: (218) 726-7637usask@d.umn.edu

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