The Women's Herbal Symposium of Northern California class descriptions session 1

1. Drum Circle all levels
Feel and express the rhythms that are already in your body! We are already polyrhythmic. We breathe, walk, and talk at the same time. Our hears beat while we are doing all of those things. Access your connection to rhythm with your body, drums, bells, shakers and sticks. We will learn two to three simple rhythms with their various parts and play those parts ensemble (all together). At the end of the class, you will have learned several patterns that you can take with you into any drum circle. Maddy has been playing Conga drums since 1996 and teaching since 2005. Come and join in a safe space where you can let your spirit fly and set your joy free through rhythm!

2. Zumba Fitness Class entry- level, all ages are welcome
Zumba Fitness is circling the globe! People form 150 different countries around the world are taking Zumba Fitness clasess. Zumba is a cross between an aerobic class and a Latin Dance Party. In our class we will learn some basic steps for Cumbia, Salsa, Merengue and Reggaeton that we will do together to upbeat, fun music that will get you shaking your booty and hips in no time! Zumba is an amazing workout that tones and electrifies you from head to toe.

Since most Zumba classes are an hour or less, we will spend the first half hour actually learning some steps so once we get going, you can feel confident as you follow the lead. The point isn't to "do it right", rather it is to have fun, express the joy of being in a body, sweat and burn calories. Maddy is licensed to teach Zumba Gold, the modified program for active crones, baby boomers, and people with joint replacements and other physical challenges or limitations. Modifications will be shown for those who need them. You can do Zumba sitting in a chair if that is what you need.

1. INTENSIVE: Breast Health & the Lymphatic System (Immunity) all levels
The lymphatic system is called Rasa in Sanskrit, meaning the river of life. Keeping this river flowing allows all the tissues to receive nutrients, hormones to communicate, and creates good immunity to cleanse impurities. Many do not know that the lymphatic and the immune system are the same system in the body with two different names. This class will include demonstrations on how to do a lymphatic breast massage, answers to student’s questions about their own breasts, assessments of what the breast tissue needs when imbalanced, and discussion of what tools we can use to support change and prevent diseases. Students will leave with a clear understanding of the lymph system and how to keep it, and our breasts, healthy. There is strength in a river which is flowing.

2. Spice Up Your Life all levels
In Traditional Medicine spices, fresh herbs, chutneys, pestos and ferments are utilized in every meal to support the enzymatic process, as to assure the breakdown of nutrients in the digestive system. Learn how digestion works, in a nutshell, and what it needs to do its job efficiently. Students will receive recipes and be inspired to make medicinal pestos, chutneys, and chai, and use fresh herbs to build circulation, get valuable enzymes, and make taking medicine tasty, easy, quick and all in one meal. Food is Energy – you may as well enjoy it!

1. Communing with Herbs
In this experiential class we will commune with plant allies in the imaginal realm. Through guided imagery exercises, you will have the opportunity to invoke the spirit of plants that are sacred to you, communicate with them, and then integrate their unique qualities into your being. You will learn practices that you can continue at home for further guidance, healing and transformation.

1. Kitchen-craft: Basic Skills for Making Yummy Whole-Food Embellishments
In this hands-on workshop, we will learn basic whole foods preparation skills using an assortment of knives, kitchen gadgets; food processor, Vita-mix/blender and dehydrator.
It is always more pleasant doing a task when we are comfortable with the tools we are using, so as a beginning, you will learn how to choose knives, sharpen them properly and use them safely. Skills will be built practicing on piles of beautiful veggies and each participant will be personally coached on how to improve techniques, gain confidence, be safe and have fun working/playing with a wide variety of cutting styles.

Machines are magic, and we will learn to use them, along with our newly practiced skills, to make Embellishments, aka condiments, dressings, toppings, spreads and sauces that add flavor to simply prepared foods. A freshly made salad dressing, dollop of garden pesto, ponzu sauce, gourmet gomasio or cashew cream can shift a meal from so-so to oh-yea yummy!

We will use garden fresh produce, sprouted nuts, seeds and grains and basic whole foods in our creations. Fermentation and dehydration will also be discussed, along with samples of live sauerkraut, pro-biotic-rich Kiefer water, sprouted and dehydrated nuts, seeds and granola, and fermented veggie crackers. Recipes, inspiration and professional tricks-of-the-trade will be woven throughout out the class and Bliss Balls will be made for desert.

1. Herbal Wellness in Pregnancy, part 1
We will explore the use of herbs to promote and maintain health in pregnancy, including herbal foods, nourishing infusions, decoctions, teas & topical remedies. Herbal safety in pregnancy will be addressed. Some common complaints/discomforts of pregnancy will also be covered, and how they can be addressed herbally.

2. Herbal Wellness in Pregnancy, part 2
We will continue.

By looking at the ideas of Permacuture and applying these principles onto oneself we can observe our true nature and where we are in this moment in time. We will then be able to design the life that we want to create. By using the Permacuture mind set and model we will dive into and assess the “Zone 0”, our body, mind and spirit incorporated. Just like a piece of land that is observed before implementing a design, we will go through the steps to observe our “inner landscape”. We will take the initial steps to peel the layers of illusions and set up a plan to design our dreams.

2. Herbal Activism, part 1 all levels
This class is set up for it to be continued year after year. This is a class that brings the empowerment of commitment and action to NCWHS, it creates the space for womyn to witness each other making an expressed commitment to make a change in themselves, their families and their communities. Some womyn already do this because that is how they are naturally. Some womyn need the structure of witness and support to make it happen. Each womyn who decides to take on the year commitment will decide on three plant allies that she will develop her relationship with throughout the year. We will discuss what plant allies mean to us in our daily lives. We will explore in what ways she will be able to get to know these three plants like she has gotten to know many of her best friends and lovers. She will receive a list of “to do’s” based on the cycles of the moon for the year, an example of some of the activities are:

outreach at women shelters,
spontaneous alters in cities, parks and buildings with her plant allies incorporated,
kitchen herbs and plant allies class for her family and friends in her home.

The following year she will bring her “commitment” back to the Symposium and she will gift her findings and experiences of her journey, along with her self-made booklet to three womyn that she does not already know. She will do this outside of the class times.

Womyn are encouraged to come back the following year and share their experience to the next group of womyn, who then take on the commitment and possibly offer their time to mentor what they learned from their journey. The idea is that if every womyn teaches at least three other womyn about how three herbs can help them, and those three women continue to add onto the expanding circles and so on, we have the possibility to occupy ourselves, our families and our communities in holistic healing traditions… bringing the power of health and harmony back into the hands of the people, the 99%.

3. Herbal Activism, part 2
We will continue. See part 1 for complete description.

INTENSIVE: Step Into the Power of Your Own Authority-A Revolutionary Ritual and Discussion using Herbal Allies all levels
Five plants have been chosen for their physiological and spiritual properties to ground,protect,and guide us as we go deep to discuss the concept of Revolution-to Reclaim our Power and Make Friends with the Word, Idea, and Actualization of Revolution. This class combines Philosophy, Visualization, and Ritual in a symbiosis of intellectual and spiritual ideas.

1. Loving Life After Menopause
Crones, come share lunch with other Wise Crones. We will discuss loving life after menopause, finding joy, appreciation, and health in our Crone years. We will also discuss our part in the Maiden’s Rites of Passage Ceremony and our own Crone’s Honoring Ritual.

2. The Spirit Side of Being a Crone, part 1
This is time to reflect and share our experiences of Cronehood and our love for our Wise Crone ways and bodies. Past menopause and into memorypause, we will tell our stories. A time to make a ritual Crone Broom will follow.

3. The Spirit Side of Being A Crone, part 2
Crones, come share another lunch with other Wise Crones. We will continue our plans for the Maiden's Rites of Passage and our own Crone's Honoring Ritual.

4. Honoring the Loss of an Unborn Child
Join us for a quiet honoring of the loss of an unborn child through miscarriage or abortion.

1. Making Natural Herbal Gifts, part 1
In this class we will learn about medicinal herbs, putting together teas, making herbal vinegars and herbal honey. We will be able to touch, smell, and taste the herbs as we talk about how they can help us as medicine as well as how to use herbs as food.

2. Making Natural Herbal Gifts, part 2
In this class we will learn more about medicinal herbs and essential oils, making topical decoctions: oils, bath salts and shampoo. We will touch and smell, choosing essential oils and herbs to put in our gifts. We will talk about the importance of natural ingredients and herbs for our skin.

1. Stargazing With Li, 1 all levels
Come gaze at the stars sparkling in the night sky. Learn to find your way around the sky and identify the spring constellations and brightest stars, and hear the stories associated with them. Li uses a greenlaser pointer to trace the constellations that makes it easy for everyone to see exactly which stars we’re looking at. Bring a blanket or sleeping bag for warmth and comfort.

2. Stargazing With Li, 2 all levels
This is a repeat. See Stargazing With Li, 1 for full description.