Whether you’re a student trying to balance the demands of community college classes, or if you are a professional or stay-at-home parent wanting to find out about how to better take care of yourself, community colleges across the country have developed popular programs for physical, emotional, and personal well being.
Nutrition, Health, and Cooking
As a hobby or even as a career path, students can enroll in a wide variety of food-based courses. Some of these classes may provide more insight into the science of the human body and nutrition, while other courses may focus on lessons for cooking, food preparation, and beyond.
For example, San Diego Community College in California offers a wide range of class options for career or continuing-education students, including classes such as “Professional Bakeshop Skills,” “Bread Making,” and “Catering.” Here, students will learn about pastry, basic culinary skills, and the science behind the art of baking. Also, students can take the “Eat For a Healthy Lifestyle” course, which encompasses the entire realm of healthiness from the physiological standpoint to menu planning.
Other courses offered at San Diego Community College focus on learning about the diversity of food, such as their “Ethnic/Regional Foods” class, which focuses on preparing a variety of ethnic and regional foods by learning about “ingredients, food preparation techniques, and traditions of differing cultures. The course includes recipe adaptation to achieve maximum nutrition.” And for more cooking classes, students can enroll in “Time Saving Cooking” or “Menu Planning/Menu Planning Basics.”
This video offers a look at the wellness and exercise sciences program at Bergen Community College.
Fitness Opportunities
Dance Classes
Community colleges are excellent venues for interaction and activity for adults or young students looking to learn more about a particular sport or physical activity or for individuals wanting to exercise. For example, South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, offers a wide range of physical classes—among the most popular are the dance and aerobics courses. Students can try “dance classes in salsa, ballroom, and even the Texas two-step, and many other types of dance classes.”
Yoga and Pilates
And if dancing isn’t what students are looking for, South Mountain and community colleges nationwide also offer exercise classes like Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi. According to Ann Pizer, Yoga is more than just the common perception of a stretching exercise. Moreover, “yoga is about creating balance in the body through developing strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession […] or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the pose's alignment.”
Conversely, according to Margurite Ogle, Pilates is “a form of exercise, developed by Joseph Pilates, which emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness in order to support efficient, graceful movement.” Pilates often involves various methods and instructional techniques but ultimately strives to focus on improving core muscles in the body. “The core muscles are the deep, internal muscles of the abdomen and back. When the core muscles are strong and doing their job, as they are trained to do in Pilates, they work in tandem with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support the spine and movement.”
This video offers a look at the wellness programs at Haywood Community College.
Independent Exercise
For people looking to work out independently or try out a variety of group fitness courses, many community colleges provide residents access to public fitness centers. Here, individuals can use workout equipment such as cardiovascular machines, weight training equipment, flexibility mats, and perhaps even free weights. Group fitness is often offered on-site at these locations.
Meditation and Well-Being
For unique avenues of interest, many community colleges offer meditation courses, philosophy classes, spirituality and religion classes, and even more specific focus areas, such as aromatherapy. North Seattle Community College in Washington is one of the many community colleges nationwide offering programs in this field, mainly focusing on the ancient art of aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy
Whether students are simply interested or are feeling stressed, uninspired, or overwhelmed, North Seattle’s aromatherapy class will “teach you how to take better care of yourself and loved ones with the ancient wisdom of aromatherapy.” In addition, from a professional standpoint, you can learn how to create your aromatherapy products, which are great for the entrepreneur student. These types of courses are an accessible and affordable outlet for personal interest and betterment while also providing students with hands-on activities and interactive discussions.
Tai Chi
Like Yoga and Pilates in subtle ways, many individuals practice Tai Chi as an opportunity to mediate, relax, and connect. As Phylameana Lila Desy explains, “The practice of Tai Chi promotes the circulation of chi or life energy within the body, encouraging wellness and vitality of the person. Tai Chi benefits both genders and people of all ages.” Available at most community colleges, Tai Chi is a popular course option that allows students of diverse physical and age backgrounds to study the art of this ancient practice.
From what you eat to how you exercise, community colleges are an excellent resource for improving your overall wellness. Whether you are a continuing education or full-time career student, adding these affordable courses to your schedule will help you achieve greater relaxation and health.
Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @communitycollegereview
