Egoscue Method | Rick Mathes

In this class you will learn the basics of how your posture impacts the way your body feels and functions, and then we'll take you through a series of simple but powerful exercises designed to restore postural balance, improve your strength and flexibility and eliminate pain.  You'll also be given some free resources you can then use at home to continue moving your posture back to balance.  As you do so, you'll feel your body working more smoothly and efficiently, with greater power, strength and flexibility."

Rick Mathes grew up in Tucson, Arizona and graduated from the University of Arizona where he met his wife, Theresa. He held a position at Hughes Aircraft in Tucson for many years before being recruited in 1996 by Western Data Systems/Manugistics in Calabasas, California as a software architect/designer. While living in California, he discovered the Egoscue Method and began frequent seven-hour round-trip visits to the San Diego clinic. Rick had been experiencing chronic, debilitating pain since he was involved in a near-fatal auto accident six years prior. Doctors told him he would never run or play tennis again despite 19 months of physical therapy six times per week. Miraculously, in less than one year, Rick’s pain was gone; he was off all medications and was even back running and playing tennis again without pain. After experiencing how life changing the benefits of Egoscue can be, he became a certified Postural Therapist and opened the first franchised clinic with his wife, Theresa in Austin, Texas in 2003. Rick works with clients in the Austin clinic, gives talks at various businesses, and conducts frequent travel clinics to Dallas and Houston with another therapist. He also sees clients at a distance both by video and by digital photos.

To read Rick's full Egoscue story, click here.

Culinary Experiences at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Marie Simmons

Marie Simmons is an award-winning cookbook author, recognized food writer, talented cooking teacher and lively storyteller. Marie is the former senior food editor at Cuisine magazine and test kitchen editor at Woman’s Day magazine.

Marie has made hundreds of radio and TV appearances including: CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Mike and Maty, CNN Cooking 101, TV Food Network, Home Matters, The Main Ingredient, and At Home.

She has written a monthly column, “Cooking for Health,” for Bon Appetit magazine and a syndicated newspaper column, “Fresh & Fast,” for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, for over 15 years. Marie currently writes a bi-monthly column, "Simmons Sez," for the Contra Costa Times. In addition, her recipes and articles have appeared in over a dozen popular consumer magazines, including Eating Well, Food & Wine, Fitness, Shape, Cooking Light, Ladies Home Journal, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Modern Maturity, Redbook, Prevention, Real Food and McCall’s. Marie has taught on both US coasts, and in between, including: The New School Culinary Center, Peter Kump's Culinary Center, New York University, and Macy’s De Gustibus, on the East Coast; and Ingredients in Danville, CA; Ramekins in Sonoma, CA; Let’s Get Cooking in Los Angeles, CA; and Sur la Table, nationwide. Marie has also guest-taught at In Good Taste in Portland, OR; The Rocky Mountain Culinary Center in Boulder, CO; and Central Markets in five locations in Texas. She also held the position of Culinary Programs Manager at Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts in Napa, CA. Marie has authored (or co-authored) over 20 cookbooks. "365 Ways to Cook Pasta" (Harper & Row, 1988) has over 450,000 copies in print. "The Good Egg" (Houghton Mifflin, 2000) won the James Beard Award. "Lighter, Quicker, Better" (co-authored with Richard Sax), won both the Julia Child and James Beard cookbook awards. Another cookbook, "The Light Touch," was nominated for both of these awards, as well. Marie wrote the Beans and Grains chapter for the "New Joy of Cooking" (Scribner 1997). She is the writer of the first cookbook from Sur La Table, "Things Cooks Love: Implements and Ingredients.” She is also the author of "Fresh & Fast" and “Fresh and Fast Vegetarian” (Houghton Mifflin).

Marie offers three hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, on Tuesday from 4: - 7:30, Wednesday from 11 – 2:30, and Thursday from 4 – 7:30, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our new culinary center.

For more information and registration, please click here.

Concert | Martha Aarons, flute, Lev Polyakin, violin, Frances Renzi, piano

Enjoy a wonderful performance with Martha Aarons, flute, Lev Polyakin, violin, and Frances Renzi, piano. Their program will feature popular selections from the classical period to the romantic, including virtuoso showpieces.

After 25 years with the Cleveland Orchestra, Martha Aarons embarked on a freelance career that has taken her to many major orchestras around the country. Most notably, she is a regular guest with the Philadelphia Orchestra, with whom she has toured to Asia as well as in the U.S. Other guest appearances have been with the Metropolitan Opera, Mostly Mozart Festival, the Orchestra for World Peace, and the orchestras of Minnesota, Milwaukee, San Diego and Baltimore. She also taught and performed at the Aspen Music Festival for 19 years. Her CD, History of the Tango, is a collaboration with pianist Frances Renzi and guitarist Jason Vieaux.

Lev Polyakin, who at 21 was co-concertmaster of the prestigious Moscow Chamber Orchestra, is now assistant concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has won prizes in international violin competitions, such as Carl Flesch in London.

Pianist Frances Renzi appears regularly as a featured guest artist on the Toledo Symphony Chamber Series, performs each summer as a soloist and chamber musician at the New Hampshire Music Festival, and has performed as a solo pianist for the New York City Ballet.

Food Markets of the World | Paulette Mitchell

Food markets where cooks mingle are a feast for the senses and a cornucopia of diversity. Paulette Miitchell shares her colorful photos and tales from places where food is not only sustenance but also a way of life.

Paulette will also present FOOD MARKETS OF CHINA: A slideshow on densely populated Chinese cities, where modern life contrasts with timeless traditions. See the food markets where freshness is so important that some Chinese housewives shop twice daily for meals that are appreciated not only for fine flavors but also for their health-promoting properties.

Paulette Mitchell, the author of 14 cookbooks, is known globally for her quick-to-prepare recipes with gourmet flair. She is recognized as the author of the award-winning 15-Minute Gourmet cookbook series. She also is a video producer, media spokesperson, freelance writer, culinary speaker, cooking instructor, and television personality. As an avid world traveler, Paulette is most inspired by flavors from diverse cultures both near and far. Paulette's most recently published cookbook is "The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet: Creative Cuisine Made Fast and Fresh."

The Great Mexican Muralists | Diane Arkin

Join DIANE ARKIN to explore, discover and discuss the extraordinary cultural and artistic legacy of Mexico. Also this week, Diane Arkin offers the following programs:

• THE POWER OF WOMEN ARTISTS OF MEXICO
• FRIDA KAHLO: Video and discussion
• ENJOYING MODERN ART

Diane Arkin is currently Lecturer and Manager of Adult Program Docents at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, where she provides scholarly and entertaining lectures and tours for the public, and trains docents on art from the 13th century to the present. She also lectures nationally on museum education, trends in theory and practice, active learning strategies, and museums as unique learning environments. Prior to coming to The National Gallery of Art, Diane served as Curator of Education at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design in Washington, DC, and as Director of Education at The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. In addition, Diane's work as a Program Coordinator in both the Resident Associate Program and the International Study Tours division of the Smithsonian Institution included years of lecturing on a broad range of art historical subjects, both domestically and internationally.

Before entering the museum field, Diane had an active career as an academic. She was Assistant Professor of Art History at George Mason University and at The University of Colorado, and also taught extensively throughout the Washington, DC area.