Educational Opportunities

By Marilyn Zink

Summer is also a good time to plan for the educational opportunities offered in the fall in the natural health field.

There is a plethora of courses and workshops offered, from weekends to several months to full year full-time programs.

We will look at some options here and also refer you to other articles in this issue.

Herbalism - Herbs and herbalism is one of the oldest ways of practicing natural healing. Today there are many options for study, from correspondence and full-time courses at Dominion Herbal College in Vancouver to Herbal Healing Pathways, with courses offered in Victoria and Vancouver. The Practical Herbalist Program (also known as the Herbal Healing Journey) starts in the fall in Vancouver and Victoria and can be followed up with a second level Consultant Herbalist Program. Owner Don Ollsin says the course teaches about herbs, how to choose which herbs to use, medicine making, harvesting herbs, herb walks and much more.

"Compared to Dominion, this is more practical hands-on with plants, oriented towards earth-based science like native and ayurvedic medicine. I'm a huge fan of awareness, I'm not a huge fan of rote learning."

The course is offered one weekend a month for nine months, so it's easy for people to keep their job and attend. See his website at www.herbalhealingpathway.com.

Ollsin, who is president of the B.C. Modern & Traditional Herbalists Guild, says there is currently no recognition of herbalists by the provincial government. Both the Guild and the Canadian Herbalist Association of B.C. have been lobbying the provincial government to establish a College of Herbalists, similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Yoga: If you've ever thought about teaching yoga, Helen Duggan has been a trainer since 1998. She created a home study program with 10 modules, which also gives a practicum. She teaches a 2-week summer intensive in August and has certification programs in the fall.

"It's a comprehensive practical program that seems to prepare people fairly well," she says, noting that yoga is a growing trend.

"Now it's everywhere. There are a lot of different styles. It's a wonderful adjunct to other sports. Yoga is safe and sane, tones the mid-section and provides core strength."

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Currently, three colleges in Victoria offer Chinese medicine where students can learn the basics of acupuncture or take the full program to become a TCM practitioner.

Hypnotherapy: Students wishing to become a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist can try the CrossRoads Training Institute in Port. Alberni. Brick Saunderson, training director, says the school offers 225 clinical hours in a set program that is accomplished over 10 month, starting in September. The program is highly academic with in-session practicums and out-of-session supervised practicums.

"We also provide foundations of counseling skills as well in the field of psychology," says Saunderson. "So it's quite an in-depth program."
After accomplishing academic credentials, students can be accepted into the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy program.

Homoeopathy: Please set the article for in-depth information.
Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is another growing trend and is showing up in health spas, esthetic studios and other area.

Healing Scents Holistic Clinic in Victoria offers a full professional aromatherapy certification and spa practitioner. Students take a five-month program where they attend one day a week for a minimum 1400 hours study. Of that, 500 hours of case studies, research papers and practicum are required. Students learn about anatomy, physiology, chemistry and the proper use of essential oils. On completion and passing exams, students become registered aromatherapists.

Owner Lynn Longmuir says B.C. is the only place in North America which has the designation of registered aromatherapist. She says there is a growing demand for aromatherapists.

"More and more spas want their spa to have registered aromatherapists."
They email the B.C, Alliance of Aromatherapists, which is the governing board of aromatherapists.

"We've done a lot of advertising with the Alliance to make the public aware (of aromatherapy). We do want to see our registered aromatherapists be able to go in hospitals."

Longmuir says aromatherapy is healing therapy, it's not necessarily about a scent. To find out more, go to the Alliance website at www.bcaoa.org or check out the website for associate and professional members at www.capa.org or Healing Scents website at www.vancouverislandaromatherapy.com

Reflexology: Students can take food, hand and ear certification programs offered through the Reflexology Association of Canada (R.A.C.) by instructors Linda Baril and Allison Rippin. These programs are currently offered through local colleges in Victoria and Courtena/Comox.

In addition, Rippin offers 2 hour and 1/2 workshops for the general public and is offering a 12 hour workshop with Duncan Malaspina this fall.

Acupressure/Shiatsu: Acupressure and Shiatsu are healing bodywork therapies that are in demand in the spa industry. The Canadian Acupressure College in Victoria offers acupressure certificate programs, a Shiatsu diploma program and a Continuing Education program. College director Kathy DeBucy says the college is currently promoting their continuing education courses for special interest. These courses are offered over a period of six weeks for three hours a week. She said the college started offering courses when they received inquiries from people who wanted to learn new skills, improve their learn and help manage pain.

"We put this on because they wanted to learn something but didn't' want a career," she notes.

Gardeners - The Master Gardener program is a non-credit certificate program that is proving to be popular through Malaspina University College. It was started in Duncan at the Cowichan campus in 2002 and is being offered for the second time in Nanaimo this fall. Janet Germain, administration co-ordinator, said 22 students attended the program the first time it was offered in Nanaimo.

"It's a great program, people really enjoy it," she says "We get really good guest speakers who are specialist in their field.

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