communityspotlight
Our classes are designed to be used as continuing education for nurses, but usually about half the class are people who are there to learn more for themselves and loved ones.
~Amanda Gustafson, program director
Normandale’s Integrative Health
Education Center by Jackie Flaherty N
ormandale Community College (Normandale) is the largest college in the Minnesota state system, with over 10,000 students. On the side of the campus, in a new, glass-front- ed LEED building, is the home of Normandale’s Integrative Health Education Center, part of Normandale Continuing Education.
For over
a decade, Normandale has been of- fering classes, workshops and certificate programs to the public on holistic health topics. Cours- es this year include Energy Medicine, Reiki, Healing Touch, Ayurveda, Herbalism, Holistic Nutrition, and Aromatherapy. Classes are offered on evenings and weekends to accommo- date working professionals. “Our classes are designed to be used as continuing education for nurs- es,” states Program Director Amanda
14 Twin Cities Edition
Gustafson, “but usually about half the class are peo- ple who are there to learn more for them- selves and loved ones.” Norman-
dale is known
for its quality in holistic health teachers, who generally are working profession- als in their field. “Several of our teach- ers have literally written the book on their subject,” explains Gustafson. “For example, Matt Alfs uses his text on wild plants in both his herbalism and holistic nutrition series. For energy medicine training, people come from all over the
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world to learn from Cyndi Dale, author of the bestseller The Subtle Body.” Tai chi and qigong are a core part of Normandale’s programming. Qigong is the Chinese practice of “energy cul- tivation” used for health and longevity, with tai chi a form of qigong that has its roots in the martial arts. Dr. Russ Smiley, a Normandale faculty mem- ber, personally practiced tai chi in the garden at lunch. People would ask him to teach them, and this evolved into regular six- and 12-week classes. Smiley has passed on, but his
legacy continues in a wide range of classes. Beginners can start with tai chi for arthritis and balance or for diabetes. Advanced students can learn special- ized forms such as fan and sword. There is even a certification taught twice a year for people interested in teaching tai chi for arthritis in their communi- ty. New this semester are courses in Shibashi and Longevity Qigong and Yi Chuan Tai Chi. Normandale’s holistic health pro-
gramming continues to evolve. Some of the new topics this semester include classes in esoteric acupuncture, energy management tools, integrative health applied to vascular disease and pain re- lief, and holistic self-care for caregivers. A new class in December uses a laby- rinth technique to bring participants in touch with their inner guidance. The next tai chi open house will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., October 24.
Location: 9700 France Ave. S., Bloom- ington. For more information, call 952- 358-8343 or visit
Normandale.edu/ce. See ad, page 22.
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