Course Description

Do you have trouble handling the stress of conflicts and deadlines?  You are not alone.  Most of us are ill equipped to manage the stress of modern life in general, particularly in the USA and other economically developed countries.  Our inability to manage stress is making us sick, as evidenced by an increasing number of studies that have implicated high stress, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle in the rise of systemic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and the opioid crisis. Even during the COVID 19 pandemic, systemic disorders largely replaced infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and influenza, as the leading causes of mortality in the USA and other developed countries. During the pandemic itself, 80 - 90% of the deaths attributed to corona virus were accompanied by one or more systemic comorbidities, most of which can be prevented and treated with healthier lifestyles. 

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Consequently, public health policy makers and health care providers are increasingly looking towards “Lifestyle Medicine” for both prevention and treatment of systemic diseases. Recommended lifestyle interventions include meditation, positive psychology, a whole food plant-based diet, and physical exercise (including yoga).  These same elements are also effective for stress management and relief from the effects of anxiety and depression. 

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In this course students will learn about both the promise and challenge of lifestyle intervention for personal and public health.  Students will also receive instruction in meditation, yoga, dietary choices, and strategies for stress management and long-term health.  Students will be encouraged to develop their own daily meditation and yoga practice, and a weekly schedule of aerobic and strengthening exercise. Students will also be encouraged to set and follow dietary goals.  We cannot effectively advocate for what we ourselves do not practice. 

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Experience a completely unique learning journey! Students will:​

• Be happier and achieve a greater sense of well-being;

• Have established a consistent daily meditation practice; 

• Have evaluated and adjusted their time management approach; 

• Develop a balanced and mindful physical exercise program;

• Respond to stressors with awareness rather than reactivity and maladaptive coping strategies; 

• Make healthy dietary choices and critically evaluate fad diets;   

• Feel confident in advocating for healthier lifestyle choices for friends, family members and the public.