As the weather cools off and you settle into the pace of the fall season,  add making sure you are healthy to your list of things to do!  Also, if you are gluten-free, bracing for the upcoming holiday season or all those Sunday football parties might not sound too fun. However, finding some tasty gluten-free recipes especially for those special get-togethers with family and friends will make them all the more enjoyable.

If you fall into any one of these categories, we have two classes coming up at Valley Natural Foods next week that you should take.  For both classes, save $3.00 by entering coupon code “5130″ online or print one for in-store registration at customer service. You can also call 952-891-1212 ext. 221 to register. Be sure to register 36 hours in advance of each class.

On Tuesday, September 25th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. join Eileen Johnson, RN, for her Achieving Wellness class. Eileen,  who is also an employee at Valley Natural Foods, is extremely passionate about helping others take a holistic approach to better health. The ultimate goal of the class is to reduce your lifetime risk for type 2 diabetes. She will help you understand key pre-diabetes health numbers along with how to change your diet to include more nutrient dense, toxin-free foods.  Other important components to health, including exercise, supplementation and stress-relief practices, will also be discussed.  Eileen’s calm demeanor, expertise and careful guidance will steer you on the path to lifetime wellness. If you attend this introductory class, be sure to sign up for her intermediate class held on either October 9th or November 7th. Cost for each Achieving Wellness class  is $17 for members and $20 for non-members.

Shawn Binkowski and Sandra Calcutt have been cooking gluten-free for a combined 20 years. They know the ins-and-outs of what works and what doesn’t and what really tastes good.  Let their expterise guide you to holding your first gluten-free party! Take their Gluten-Free Appetizers class on Thursday, September 27th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to learn how to make delicious flour tortilla wraps, appetizer pizza and sausage cheese balls and several other great gluten-free recipes.  Besides all the tasting in the class (do come hungry), be ready to get your questions answered about following a gluten-free diet. Shawn and Sandra are bubbly and delightful and enjoy sharing what they have learned over the years. Cost is $27 for members and $32 for non-members.

Have you checked out the fall class line-up at Valley Natural Foods?  If not, it’s time to fall into the flavors of our September and October classes!

One of our premium offerings is the Achieving Wellness: An Introduction to Lowering Your Diabetes Risk Naturally class. In addition to eating right, it is essential to take a holistic approach to attaining overall wellness. Instructor Eileen Johnson, RN, will give you the important lifestyle tools needed for healthy eating, exercise, supplementation, stress relief, and understanding key pre-diabetes health numbers. The ultimate goal of this class is to reduce your lifetime risk for type 2 diabetes. It will be held twice, once on September 10 and again on September 25 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The cost is $17.00 for members and $20 for non-members. Those that attend this introductory class are encouraged to take the intermediate Achieving Wellness class offered twice, once on October 9th and again on November 7th. Practice what you learned in the introductory class as you meet with guest practitioners to craft specific, individualized plans for exercise, diet and stress relief.

What other classes can you look for this fall? We have canning, FRESH & LOCAL Flavors of Autumn and gluten-free cooking classes, movie nights and several vendors teaching classes including Michael Larson from Cocokefir, Lynn Sunde from Alakef Roasters and Christine and Claire Jones from Pure Soap Flakes.  Look for many more offerings online.  Many of the offerings are free to both members and non-members.  Use discount code number “5130″ to receive $3.00 off any class with a registration fee. You can also print the $3.00 coupon here if you are registering in-store.

Register for all classes 36 hours in advance online, in-store or by calling 952-891-1212 ext. 221. View the September-October class flyer here.

It’s the New Year! Make a resolution to become stress-free this year!

Join us for our free educational health fair in the Valley Natural Foods eating area this Saturday, January 8th from noon-3pm to learn how.

Eileen Johnson, Valley Natural Foods staff RN, has invited a team of practitioners to address alternative ways to better handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices. We all face daily stressors in our lives, sometimes major ones. It isn’t the stressors that cause health problems, it is how we react to them. Think about how stress might be affecting your life and if you need assistance, consider coming on Saturday!

Come meet with these practitioners to get some ideas on how to deal with many different stressors in life:

Eileen Johnson, RN - will discuss Valley Natural Foods wellness products that help relieve stress. Come by to try a sample of Tusli tea!

Pamela King-Rediger -  will be present to read excerpts from her touching memoir, Loving Yourself Home that tells the story of how you can go from the point of losing everything to living a happy, new life.

Joel Ronningen - a Valley Natural Foods wellness employee and owner of Ametrine Bodyworks, will be available to talk about massage and craniosacral therapy techniques. Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, relaxing method of releasing restrictions in connective tissues of the body.  The bones of the skull and spine are used as handles to release the connective tissues inside.

Lois Bergman – a homeopathic practitioner, will reveal natural, safe remedies that will help strengthen your body’s general vitality, improve emotional well-being, and work to heal your body from many types of pain and stress.

Bonnie West - a licensed acupuncturist from Karuna Acupuncture, will talk about how acupuncture can be used as a pain and stress reliever to distribute energy (or “qi”) and blood to every area of the body, nourishing and protecting it.

What do negative stress reactions influence?

This is a small part of a long list:

• Blood sugar
• Inflammation
• Cardiovascular health, including blood pressure and the rhythmic beat of your heart
• Cholesterol
• SLEEP
• Tendency toward auto-immune disease
• Brain chemistry and neuronal connections and firings
• pH of  the blood
• Bone and muscle strength

Tuesday April 6, 2010
7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Cost: Introductory Class on April 6 is FREE
Full course: $300 per person/$400 for team of two

New Directions is a course to health. Come in for a free introductory class. Are you ready to begin making some changes to achieve a healthier lifestyle?

This is not a step by step answer to your health questions, but an all-inclusive look at your total health such as diet, exercise and stress relief. You’ll receive three personalized private consultations with the course instructor (scheduled outside of class time).

Eileen Johnson, RN, leads the course through a close look at food options, stress relief techniques and exercise habits. In a group setting you’ll have an opportunity to learn healthy lifestyle techniques through demonstrations and discussions.

Come in for a free sneak peak at this 12-week course on April 6. See what it’s like and decide if you’re up for it. (Ask about how partners can save $200.)

New Directions Class Schedule*:
Tuesday April 6 | 7-8:30 p.m. – Free introductory Class
Tuesdays April 20-May 18 | 6-7:30 p.m. – First Semester
Tuesdays June 1-June 22 | 6-7:30 p.m. – Second Semester
*Three private wellness consultations are included in this course. Consultations are scheduled in between semesters.