Stress less: integrative design for healthy thriving

Catalog description

This course will bring together design thinking and integrative medicine to achieve optimal health thriving. Integrative medicine has evolved beyond solely being alternative or complementary medicine and is now considered to be an important component of whole person care. There is also growing awareness that optimal physical, mental and emotional wellbeing depends on lifestyle components and environmental factors disproportionately more than encounters with the healthcare system. This introductory course is designed to increase students' awareness of and knowledge about the role and potential of various integrative modalities in health. The course also expands medical discourse beyond the more conventional model of "response to illness" to one of maintaining and restoring wellness. We will use a design-thinking approach as we learn about these modalities to optimize your current health and provide a blueprint for current and future thriving. Invited experts will talk on the various modalities of different Integrative treatment modalities, introduce their broad philosophies, indications, limitations, and safety considerations, and critically analyze the relevant evidence base about their efficacy. The class sessions will provide in-class introduction to modalities including acupuncture, meditation, yoga, culinary health with class time for journaling. Students will be able to refine their health plan design during the quarter, with final presentation showing health areas they focused on and interval progression during the course of the year. The class will prioritize sustainable changes and lifestyle adjustments that will maximize health and well-being not only at this stage, but throughout the life course.