Health & Wellness   

Foam rollers are versatile tools used both for massage and to enhance various exercise classes. They can help increase workout intensity or promote relaxation and muscle stretching. In this course, you’ll experience the many ways foam rollers can be used to improve flexibility, strength, and recovery.

The Neighbor Experience is designed to help participants understand what our neighbors may experience when they visit food pantries and the way current policies and practices can cause discomfort or unwelcoming spaces. The exercise is designed to set the stage for conversations about the neighbor experience, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Participants will be actively involved in this course as they "visit" a local food pantry and experience different scenarios that our neighbors may encounter. An open class discussion will follow.

We will be focusing on turning our perspectives toward wellness and how to spiral out and up in life in health, vitality, and wellness, rather than downward toward decline. We will explore how it is possible to continue to grow in age, healthy and well, simply by adjusting some of our perspectives. Some of these perspectives will be of ancient Eastern ways including Qigong, to show us how we are more empowered within ourselves for healing and health then we may have experienced or be aware of. So be ready to practice some healthy breathing exercises, as well as movement. We will explore a variety of options that will support our health and wellness in nourishing, uplifting, and fun ways!

Special notes: Wear comfortable clothing and bring water for hydration.

Heart failure is a major source of chronic illness and mortality worldwide. There are 6.7 million Americans living with heart failure. The understanding of this complex disease continues to evolve. This course will explain the types of heart failure and their pathophysiology. Examine contributing risk factors and discuss heart failure treatment.

Dr. Rolls is excited to share the results of studies conducted in her lab at Penn State that explore the factors in food that drive people to eat in excess or move away from optimal nutrition. She will explain the underlying principles of the Volumetrics approach to weight management and healthy eating. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks Volumetrics as the third-best diet for weight loss and among the ten best diets overall. The course will be interactive, and she welcomes participants’ questions.

Dr. Rolls is excited to share the results of studies conducted in her lab at Penn State that explore the factors in food that drive people to eat in excess or move away from optimal nutrition. She will explain the underlying principles of the Volumetrics approach to weight management and healthy eating. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks Volumetrics as the third-best diet for weight loss and among the ten best diets overall. The course will be interactive, and she welcomes participants’ questions.

This course, led by Dr. Libby Tisdell, explores how to embrace life as a pilgrimage in the second half of life, even beyond cancer. Participants will learn to engage in walking and movement-based practices, cultivate gratitude through meditation and artistic expression, and connect with supportive communities that promote well-being. The course integrates spiritual reflection with practical strategies for aging well.

As adults and seniors, we sometimes forget the basic fire prevention training we had as children. This course is intended to remind us of some of those basic fire prevention skills as well as talk about what we can do as older adults to reduce the danger of causing a fire and what we can do to help us escape those fires if they do occur.

From birth, each of us begins learning who we are and what we are worth according to the world. For some, the process is a delight. For others, it begins an agonizing lifelong struggle to become who they really want to be. What factors shape us when we are little? How much control do we have in that process? There are barriers to change and ways to overcome those barriers to become more secure in yourself. Learn how our self-image forms, the factors which matter most, and how to overcome difficulties and thrive. Join us in a no-pressure atmosphere to find the answers.

In this course, Dr. Nader will discuss the importance of maintaining muscle during the aging process and its role in communicating with other organs such as the brain and skeleton.

In this course, Dr. Nader will discuss the importance of maintaining muscle during the aging process and its role in communicating with other organs such as the brain and skeleton.

Addiction has enormous social, legal, medical, and personal costs. Addiction might be a disease, and yet using is a choice. New data show that brain changes resulting from addiction perpetuate the cycle of relapse. Are children destined for addiction? Discussion will range from the history of the disease concept to the neurobiology of addiction and the effects of stress on relapse. Discuss how brain science informs the discussion of disease vs. choice.

Addiction has enormous social, legal, medical, and personal costs. Addiction might be a disease, and yet using is a choice. New data show that brain changes resulting from addiction perpetuate the cycle of relapse. Are children destined for addiction? Discussion will range from the history of the disease concept to the neurobiology of addiction and the effects of stress on relapse. Discuss how brain science informs the discussion of disease vs. choice.

This course features a full-length film (Lonely, 1 hour 35 minutes), followed by a "reactions period." Thereafter, a brochure will be distributed that contains a challenge. Participants who accept the challenge, focused on impacting loneliness, will reach out (in the next 7 days) to a person they believe to be lonely. Participants will do something to help the person feel less lonely. In the second session, participants will discuss how they met the challenge. Their effort, measured in minutes, will be submitted to a LIGHT (Loneliness Impacted by Getting Healthier Together) Meter, tracking the collective effort.

Course fee includes $15.00 ticket for the movie.

Special notes: Please bring a notepad and a writing instrument so you can write your thoughts as you watch the movie.

Join Weis dietitian Emily Santanna to learn more about the Mediterranean diet, which is not your typical fad diet, but a lifestyle or way of eating. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to be beneficial for a variety of chronic diseases and general health. Take a look at what this style of eating includes and see how it can seamlessly fit into how you already eat.

Join us for a tasty trip to the Mediterranean! During Let's Cook Mediterranean, learn to eat the Mediterranean way by enjoying the foundational foods of this healthy eating plan, including whole grains, vegetables, beans, fruits, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats. Attend this cooking demonstration and discover the art of Mediterranean cooking! During this course, we invite you to discover new recipes as we prepare a delicious Mediterranean meal.

Course fee includes $10 for food.

In the twenty-first century, we accept natural, organic, vegan, and herbal remedies; vitamins; supplements; and exercise to stay healthy. Where did this start? Maybe Edgar Cayce, who inspired and healed by his intuitive knowledge of the human body and what cures were needed. This course portrays the life story of an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift who became known as the father of holistic medicine. Edgar Cayce was a mystic healer; when consulted by medical doctors from around the world, he could provide a diagnosis, invariably accurate. His suggested remedies were equally helpful. His legacy lives on in the records of his work and in the modern practice of self-care. In his honor, the Edgar Cayce Foundation has been established in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which continues to offer access to his unique treatment methods.

Life transitions can leave us feeling uncertain or disconnected. This course offers a safe and supportive space to explore your personal “why”—the deeper reasons that motivate and inspire you. Learn how purpose is linked to better health and emotional resilience, and take part in hands-on activities designed to help you clarify your values and goals. Come curious, leave empowered.

Practicing mindfulness is learning to train one's attention to stay in the present instead of ruminating over the past or racing into the future. In this session, we will learn to direct our attention on purpose toward ourselves, others, and the environment around us. Also, we will discuss and practice mindfulness meditation—which is an integral part of mindfulness. Research has shown this practice increases intentional control, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. BONUS—meditators lose less gray matter and may have a reduction in the cognitive decline often associated with aging.

Doctors interrupt patients after a median of eleven seconds—how do you make those seconds count? This course teaches strategies for effective communication with health care professionals. Participants will learn how to ask better questions, understand diagnoses, and advocate for themselves or loved ones in medical settings.

You have probably been in a situation where you wondered, “Gee, this seems like a minor problem, but how do I make a reasonable decision about whether to seek medical help?" This course will address those issues and allow you to make informed decisions. Problems will include: Moles—when are they worrisome? Cuts—do they need stitches? Upper respiratory infections—what is the best treatment and do I need antibiotics? Urinary infections—how do I avoid them and treat them? How do I approach exercise to steer clear of strains and sprains? Ample time will be left for individual questions.

Hospice of Central PA will provide a course on grief and loss throughout life. Susan Resavy, an experienced LSW, will dispel common misconceptions and examine the various factors that influence an individual's grieving process. The course covers different types of loss, including the often-overlooked area of "disenfranchised grief," and provides practical strategies for navigating holidays and special anniversaries. Participants will discover local community support.

The brain is a mysterious organ. Overwhelmingly, people embrace beliefs about the brain and how it works that are complete myths! In this course, Dr. Dennis will dispel common myths about the brain (e.g., that we only use 10% of our brain, that brain damage is always permanent, or that you cannot generate new neurons) by presenting research from psychology and neuroscience. As she addresses these misconceptions, she will also highlight useful lifestyle factors that support optimal brain functioning with age. Ample time will be reserved for questions and an interactive discussion.

The brain is a mysterious organ. Overwhelmingly, people embrace beliefs about the brain and how it works that are complete myths! In this course, Dr. Dennis will dispel common myths about the brain (e.g., that we only use 10% of our brain, that brain damage is always permanent, or that you cannot generate new neurons) by presenting research from psychology and neuroscience. As she addresses these misconceptions, she will also highlight useful lifestyle factors that support optimal brain functioning with age. Ample time will be reserved for questions and an interactive discussion.

Learn what medical aid in dying (MAID) means and what it doesn't mean. Find out why it is an important right because it gives adults the freedom to determine how and when to end their extended pain and suffering. See how you can help make MAID a legal right for all Pennsylvania adults.

Consciously Co-Creating in Your New Season invites retired individuals to see this stage not as an ending, but a new beginning. Through awareness practices, reflection, and practical tools, participants will evolve the stories they tell themselves, align their time with what matters most, and rediscover inspiration right where they are. This course offers guidance, community, and encouragement to create a life of purpose, joy, and conscious choice in retirement. Bring a notebook and pen as well as an open heart and mind.

Human survival depends on our stress response, but big increases in blood pressure and cortisol are risky for long-term health. Why is too much stress bad for us and how can our behaviors protect us? Discussion will range from the emotional and physiological impacts of stress to the impact of small dietary changes on chronic disease risk. Through lecture and discussion, explore how scientific knowledge of this system can enhance survival and resilience. Sheila agrees with the famous stress physiologist Hans Selye, who said about his book, The Stress of Life, “This book is dedicated to those who are not afraid to enjoy the stress of a full life, nor too naïve to think that they can do so without intellectual effort.”

Human survival depends on our stress response, but big increases in blood pressure and cortisol are risky for long-term health. Why is too much stress bad for us and how can our behaviors protect us? Discussion will range from the emotional and physiological impacts of stress to the impact of small dietary changes on chronic disease risk. Through lecture and discussion, explore how scientific knowledge of this system can enhance survival and resilience. Sheila agrees with the famous stress physiologist Hans Selye, who said about his book, The Stress of Life, “This book is dedicated to those who are not afraid to enjoy the stress of a full life, nor too naïve to think that they can do so without intellectual effort.”

Artificial intelligence is transforming health care, from managing hospital capacity to reducing documentation burdens for doctors. This course offers a clear, accessible introduction to AI in medicine, covering how these technologies work, where they are used, and what risks and benefits they bring. Case studies will highlight both successes and challenges, with discussion on ethics, privacy, and the role of human judgment. No technical background is required—just curiosity about how AI is reshaping modern care.

Artificial intelligence is transforming health care, from managing hospital capacity to reducing documentation burdens for doctors. This course offers a clear, accessible introduction to AI in medicine, covering how these technologies work, where they are used, and what risks and benefits they bring. Case studies will highlight both successes and challenges, with discussion on ethics, privacy, and the role of human judgment. No technical background is required—just curiosity about how AI is reshaping modern care.

Learn why the Medicaid program matters to you. Ask most people, “what is Medicaid?” The typical answer is: “Health care for poor people.” But with our health care system, the Medicaid program affects all of us, even if we are not eligible for Medicaid. How so? The money from Medicaid services supports the operation of rural hospitals and providers. The money from Medicaid for long-term care helps to relieve our children of significant financial burdens and hours spent on caregiving. Finally, it is our safety net when we need help as we age.

We often do not know how to process through feelings from unpleasant or traumatic events in our lives. Suppressed emotions can then be triggered by present events creating a response, behavior, or mindset that is not in alignment with who we really are. These unprocessed feelings can stay stuck in us for decades. They may stop us from pursuing dreams, connecting with others, and reaching our full potential. Learn how to slow down, create space, and explore your emotions through Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) as well as understanding how to connect the dots from present and past to create change.

Dr. Patricia Fogelman, DNP, clinical director of palliative medicine at Mount Nittany Health, will lead an informative session on advance directives, explaining how these documents help people share their health care wishes before a medical crisis. She will discuss how to talk with loved ones and health care providers about what matters most and will guide attendees through completing an advance directive form. This course will help participants feel more confident making and communicating future care decisions for themselves or their family members.

Course fee includes light lunch and drink.