Professor's Drew’s Workshops & Seminars


THE TAO OF HEALTHY LIVING
Introduction to Chinese Herbs and Healing Foods
The Tao’, translated as “The Way”, are the many tools used by the great masters of oriental medicine and modern nutritionists to promote health and longevity. In this class, we will explore strategies of healthy living based on oriental medicine and modern nutrition. Healthy Living includes herbal medicine, a balanced diet, nutritional supplements and internal exercises for stress reduction.

From the information provided in this workshop, each person will be able to determine their specific health needs and design a personalized program based on diet, exercise, and proper nutrition. This workshop will provide the education and motivation needed to help you modify existing health trends and enable you to make informed nutritional and lifestyle choices. Topics discussed will be healthy weight loss, dietary antioxidants, foods that promote longevity, natural pain management, detoxification, healthy aging, environmental toxins, and specific tai chi exercise to promote health and reduce stress. Please join us for this fun, yet informative look at healthy living.


THE TAO OF WEIGHT LOSS AND OPTIMUM HEALTH
More than half of all US adults are overweight. Weight gain is not only affecting our appearance but is a serious health issue. Adults who are overweight are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. According to Chinese Medicine with its roots in Taoist's ideas of natural harmony, being underweight or overweight are both expressions of imbalance.
In this class, we will look at weight loss from a traditional Chinese medical perspective as well as modern nutrition. We will discuss the eight causes of weight gain, and several practical ways to lose weight including the use of specific foods, herbs, and diet strategies to reduce weight, sugar craving and binge eating. Each class will begin with specific qi gong exercises geared to healthy weight loss. Drew will also demystify measurements such as Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) and explain how we can use them as helpful indicators of unhealthy body composition and weight gain. Join Drew for a deeply informative and pressure-free approach to weight loss and enhanced vitality.

                                                                        
HEALING THROUGH MOVEMENT

Internal Exercises, Tai Chi & Qi Gong are a healing system of postures and breathing designed to heal the body and prevent disease. These simple exercises have been practiced by the Taoist physicians for centuries and have recently been proven by science to reduce blood pressure, improve weight loss, increase energy, and strengthen the immune system. This workshop will teach you exercises that are so simple and easy that anyone can do them in just minutes a day.


THE 5 ELEMENT SERIES
The Earth Element: Digestive Health
How we digest our food and assimilate key nutrients plays a large role in determining our energy levels and overall health. According to Oriental medicine, the Spleen plays a central role in digestive function. Chinese herbologist Drew DiVittorio will share herbal and dietary approaches addressing such symptoms as poor absorption, candida, parasites, acid reflux, dysbiosis, food sensitivities, blood sugar imbalances, and irregular bowel movements. He will also discuss the role of some degenerative diseases and the strategies for a safe and effective bowel restoration program.
The Wood Element: Strengthening the Liver for Spring Cleaning
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver is the main organ involved in detoxification and removing stagnations. It is especially active in the spring, so it is vitally important to clean out excess impurities in the body when the weather is warm. A weak liver or long-term low-level exposure to toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides has been linked to depression, immune deficiencies, migraines, food and environment sensitivities, skin condition, neurological disorders, and certain types of cancer. You will learn about herbs and foods that cleanse and strengthen the liver and how to design your own detoxification program.
The Fire Element: Emotional & Spiritual Health
According to Chinese medical theory, the heart houses the ‘mind’ and is the resident of the Spirit (Shen). The Heart balances and controls all mental and emotional activity, consciousness, thinking, memory, and sleep. Therefore, any imbalances in these areas are seen as functional disorders of the organs, especially the Heart.
The Heart is prone to stress and over-stimulation from heat which can manifest from poor eating habits, stress, and externally generated in the hot summer months. We will focus on practical approaches to heart-related health concerns ranging from insomnia, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression, to ADD and ADHD. We will explore herbal formulas and exercises that will calm the spirit, release toxic emotions, and reduce stress, resulting in optimal emotional and spiritual health.
The Water Element: Building Essence Healthy Aging                                                Winter is the season of the Kidney energy or life essence. This energy should be guarded and cared for to prevent our essence from dissipating resulting in rapid aging and chronic illness. In this workshop, we will discuss common syndromes associated with the aging process such as the cardiovascular system, bone health, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and premature aging. We will discuss herbs, foods, recipes, and exercises to strengthen and build our bodies.
The Metal Element: Building The Jade Wind Screen/Colds and Flu
According to Chinese Medicine, the Lungs are in communication with the Autumn season. The Lungs are the roots of our Qi (life force energy). They are the resident of physical strength, their glory manifests in the skin and they regenerate themselves from the environment to feed the entire body. When in harmony, the lungs control our exterior immune function protecting us from colds, flu, and other environmental toxins. They also assist the heart with the circulation of the blood and support our metabolism. In this workshop, we will discuss the disharmonies of Autumn including skin conditions, environmental allergies, sinus infection, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and thyroid disorders. We will also discuss herbs, food cures, and exercises to heal the Lungs.



To Your Health, 
Professor Drew
New York Institute of Herbal Medicine & Nutrition
Founder/Primary Instructor
















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