Qi gong

Paradise Ridge Acupuncture, Herbs and Massage offers qi gong classes at 9 a.m. Fridays. Qi gong, a set of Chinese exercises, includes physical and meditative movements.

Everyone is welcome. See www.vashonprahm.com for more information.

Permaculture and

tantra

“Tantra and Permaculture, What’s the Connection?” will be offered from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Vashon Cohousing Common House, 10421 S.W. Bank Rd.

Rudy Ballentine MD, a holistic doctor, tantra teacher permaculture instructor visiting from North Carolina, will lead the talk and a question and answer session.

Contact Elizabeth Randall for more information at 375-2422 or Wholebodyz@gmail.com.

A $10 donation is appreciated.

Vashon 101

Vashon College is gearing up for its fall 2008 course offerings. Early bird special tuition is available until Aug. 17.

The first of the classes this fall is “Vashon 101,” a survey course about Vashon’s physical, environmental and social fabric, offered for the fourth time. The course will include 11 sessions held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, from Sept. 4 to Nov. 20. Early bird tuition is $225; regular tuition is $275.

Contact the college at 408-8022 or info@vashoncollege.org.

Student success

“Strategies for Success in Middle School” will meet from Aug. 18 to 22 at the McMurray Middle School portable. Sixth-graders meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon, seventh-graders from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and eighth-graders from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

This course helps students learn strategies that encourage better organization, time management and study skills.

Tuition is $90 ($45 for returning students), and scholarships are available for students who receive free and reduced lunch.

Call Devon Atkins at 353-9227 for registration and information.

“Success Strategies for Middle School Parents” will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the McMurray Middle School portable.

The focus of this one-evening workshop is to teach parents straightforward strategies that will encourage greater confidence and productivity in their child’s school experience. Tuition is $20 for one parent or a couple. Call Devon Atkins at 353-9227 for registration and information.

Eat for health

The class “Eating for Health and Weight Loss” will offer three new sessions, and each will run for five weeks. They start at 7 p.m. on the following dates: Wednesday, Aug. 27, (for men only), Monday, Sept. 1 and Thursday, Sept. 18.

Inflammation can be a big factor in most chronic conditions including hypertension, arthritis and diabetes. Diet can effectively reduce inflammation and the problems it causes. In this class participants will learn why some foods quiet inflammation while others increase it. Eating to quiet inflammation provides significant benefits that include a relatively effortless weight loss (if needed), improved sleep, and reduced aches and pains.

Advance registration at the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie is required; the cost is $75. Contact Kathy Abascal at anemopsis@yahoo.com for more information.