University Park   

This course explores how the trillions of bacteria in our gut influence health, digestion, and disease. Look at how diet, medications, and environmental chemicals like PFAS, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ("forever chemicals"), affect the balance of these microbes. Topics include the gut’s role in immunity, metabolism, and conditions like obesity and inflammation. Through real-world examples and discussions, learn how everyday exposures impact gut health and what we can do to support a healthier microbiome.

This course explores how the trillions of bacteria in our gut influence health, digestion, and disease. Look at how diet, medications, and environmental chemicals like PFAS, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ("forever chemicals"), affect the balance of these microbes. Topics include the gut’s role in immunity, metabolism, and conditions like obesity and inflammation. Through real-world examples and discussions, learn how everyday exposures impact gut health and what we can do to support a healthier microbiome.

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? How do we understand these contradictions? Discussion will range from the neurobiology of addiction to the effects of stress on relapse, and we’ll discuss how brain science informs this discussion.  
 

 

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? How do we understand these contradictions? Discussion will range from the neurobiology of addiction to the effects of stress on relapse, and we’ll discuss how brain science informs this discussion.  
 

 

If we are not vigilant with our exercise, like most self-improvement endeavors, we can backslide. Failing to exercise with proper form will, at best, feed dysfunctional movement and, at worst, lead to injury. This alone is reason enough to invest ourselves into knowing and practicing proper form while training. The “Back to Basics” course teaches and reinforces important fitness concepts to help you exercise safely and effectively.

Special notes: Please wear exercise clothing and be prepared for movement.