The Vitality Series

Bow Valley College's Vitality Series is a fun and engaging six session series designed to explore areas of personal vitality.  On six Wednesday evenings between January 18 and April 4, Karen Anderson will lead two hour workshops that she has designed to explore areas of personal vitality.

• Sessions are often held at different locations in the city and feature special guests who specialize in different areas of vitality.
• The Vitality sessions are held at a variety of venues around Calgary and feature special guests who are experts in different areas which are known to add vitality to our human existence.

ABOUT KAREN - Vitality Series Instructor and Facilitator

Prior to starting a career as a freelance writer and owner of Calgary Food Tours Inc in 2006 Karen had a 20-plus year career as a nurse.  She holds a Masters Degree in Adult Health Nursing from Simmons College in Boston, Ma and she helped develop and teach Alberta's first Community Nurse Practitioner Program for Athabasca University. Karen is a great example of someone living a vital life; she's been able to change careers in life's midstream, raise a family, be creative, contribute, adapt and succeed as a published author and small business owner. She's looking forward to life getting better each day she's alive and she'd like to help our course participants feel the same way.

WEEK 1 - FINDING YOUR JOY (2 HOURS)
Fees: $49.00 plus GST

Joy, sometimes elusive, is broadly defined as a sense of well being or good fortune. This session will focus on the power of perspective, self-knowledge, values clarification and developing a credo as the foundational elements for a joyful life. We'll explore the "Joy of Laughing" with humour therapist and guest lecturer JoJo Brooks. JoJo is an oncology nurse at Alberta Children's Hospital who started humour therapy in Calgary.

Date: Jan. 18 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

WEEK 2 - THE JOY OF MOVEMENT (2 HOURS)
Fees: $69.00 plus GST (includes a copy of "Effortless Exercise")

Guest lecturer and author, Grant Molyneux, will explore the principles of effortless exercise and movement including walking as a group and enjoying it. Grant is owner of Vitalize.ca, holds a Master's in Exercise Physiology and regularly coaches participants on the principles involved in developing a sustainable exercise program. Included in the course fee is a copy of Grant's book Effortless Exercise.

Date: Jan. 25 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

WEEK 3 - THE JOY OF COOKING AND EATING... AND GIVING! (2 HOURS)
Fees: $49.00 plus GST (includes supplies)

This is a hands-on session with Chef Judy Wood at Meez Fast Home Cuisine in Lakeview Village. Judy is a graduate of LaVarenne Cooking School and a regular on Global TV. Participants will cook with Judy and Karen and learn three fast, easy, healthy meals that can be whipped up with ingredients kept in the pantry. We'll explore the joy of doing for others and the deep connection that is our reward for such efforts.

Date: Feb. 8 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

WEEK 4 - THE JOY OF MUSIC (2 HOURS)
Fees: $59.00 plus GST

We'll have a corner of BeatNiq jazz club to ourselves on special night devoted to exploring the joys of music. We'll learn about the effects music has on the brain, the joy of developing personal play lists, and of exploring the vast selections and styles of music available. Our special guest speaker is Gerry Hébert, leader of the Gerry Hébert Quartet and artistic director of BeatNiq Jazz Club.

Date: Feb. 22 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

WEEK 5- THE JOY OF BEING (2 HOURS)
Fees: $49.00 plus GST

Moments of quiet and self-reflection can center us and help us manage day to day stress. We'll study the importance of worship, nature, meditation, and the difference these moments of calm existence can have in our lives. We'll balance these strategies by exploring a variety of brain stimulation methods to achieve healthy aging and we'll finish the class with some basic yoga poses.

Date: March 21 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

WEEK 6 - THE JOY OF THE JOURNEY (2 HOURS)
Fees: $49.00 plus GST

In this final session of the Vitality Series, we'll explore popular world views and paradigms that can either contribute to or detract from the amount of joy and vitality in your life. The idea is to expose you to new ideas, philosophies and ways of being in the world, to shake you up a bit and then turn you lose to decide what's right for you in your pursuit of Vitality.

Date: Apr. 4 (Wed)
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.