Retirement should be about freedom—not financial stress. In this class, we’ll break down the 5 biggest expenses most retirees face and share practical strategies to help reduce or better manage them. From housing and healthcare to transportation and unexpected costs, you’ll walk away with simple, actionable ideas to help protect your income and make your money last.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that can offer great relief, with no side effects, from symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, bloating, headaches, irritability, nausea, insomnia, anxiety and even weight gain. Learn which points balance hormone levels naturally, including thyroid hormones. Acupressure is a wonderful self-help tool that will help you feel your best. We will discuss breathing techniques, nutritional musts, and more. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. More information will be sent before class.

Acupressure is an Eastern healing technique that involves pressing or massaging key points on the body to stimulate energy flow through pathways called meridians. When the points that regulate metabolism, digestion and thyroid function are blocked or out of balance, losing weight will seem like an impossible task. In this workshop, you will learn the main pressure points that help strengthen thyroid function, boost metabolism, control appetite, decrease food cravings, reduce stress eating and strengthen the entire digestive system. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. More information will be sent before class.

Acupressure is a healing technique that works with how energy flows through your body. Just as you have blood that flows through vessels, you have energy that flows through pathways called meridians. Acupressure involves pressing or massaging key points on the body to stimulate energy flow which can offer great relief with no side effects. We will focus on the points that relieve and prevent migraines and headaches as well as nausea and vertigo. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. More information will be sent before class.

Get up and running with the best photo editing program on the market. Learn the basics of cropping, re-sizing, rotating photos and saving them in different formats. Then go on to use the tools to fix flaws, adjust lighting, and improve your results. Learn the basics of using layers and creating panoramic photos. Students must have PhotoShop or PhotoShop Elements installed on their laptops.

The POPULAR Air Fryer Hype Copycat KFC® experience is back by popular demand, and taken to the next level! Are you curious about the air fryer craze or ready to go beyond fries and frozen foods? Whether you’re a seasoned user of considering your first purchase, this experience is for you. Join Chef Tess for an elevated, fun, and interactive cook-along experience featuring crave-worthy favorites including her mouthwatering Copycat KFC® chicken, and from-scratch yeasted air fryer glazed doughnuts, plus additional scratch-made pizza, burgers and egg rolls. Participants will be invited to cook-along and create the Copycat KFC® Chicken and fresh homemade yeasted glazed doughnuts, then sit back and enjoy demonstrations of the remaining recipes. All recipes are included along with tips for air fryer success, ingredient insights and tips for freezing. Delicious recipes your family will love—leftovers may just become a thing of the past. Equipment Needs:Air Fryer. A stand-mixer with dough hook attachment is also recommended for making the doughnut dough. If stand mixer is not available, dough can be made by hand. More info will be provided in the ingredient list packet. While cooking-along is loads of fun, and highly recommended, it is optional. This class will take place on Zoom, free online software. Participants will receive instructions on how to access the class prior to it starting. A list of ingredients and class details will be received in advance of the class with enough time for shopping and preparation. The Instructor’s Personal Recipe from this class will be included in a professionally made PDF packet to be received by participants after the class. NOTE: The instructor’s recipes are copyrighted and are only shared with those who register for this class. As an added bonus, the instructor has created a private group and a public group on Facebook for participants of her cooking classes. Everyone will receive an invite to the groups although joining is optional. Come join the fun! Note: One registration fee for this online virtual interactive class can include immediate family members living full-time in the same home ONLY. If children are participating, adult supervision is required. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, EACH household must register SEPARATELY even if participating together. Equipment Needs: Air fryer. A stand-mixer is also recommended for making the doughnut dough. If stand mixer is not available, dough can be made by hand. More info will be provided in the ingredient list packet. Refunds for any cancelations from this class will only be given if notice is received at least one week in advance, or prior to receiving the initial ingredient/prep packet. Refunds will not be given after the ingredient/prep packet is received, which is approximately one week prior to class.

What if inspiration wasn’t something you had to chase, but something you could tune into? Experience an evening awakening intuition, creativity and connection, with gallery-style readings offered throughout the night. Opening the Channel is an immersive, one-night experience blending dynamic teaching, live demonstration, audience participation, Q&A and gallery-style readings. Intuitive channeling is the ability to receive and interpret subtle information beyond ordinary thinking—felt as insights, impressions, emotions or a powerful inner knowing. It’s not reserved for a select few; it’s a natural ability that often reveals itself in creative flow, when writing pours through you, music plays effortlessly or your voice feels guided and alive. Throughout the evening, you’ll discover what channeling really is, explore whether it’s something you can access (hint: yes) and learn how to strengthen both your intuitive awareness and creative expression. Whether you’re an artist, a seeker or simply curious, you’ll gain practical tools to help you open your own channel with clarity and confidence.Note: This class will take place at Minnetonka Community Education Center located at 4584 Vine Hill Road, Excelsior, MN 55331.

Fill your sketchbook with beautiful works of art. Art journaling is a great stress reliever and way to practice and refine your drawing skills. Each week we will follow practical examples that will strengthen our drawing and painting skills, as well as tap into our creative sides. We will work on basic to more advanced drawing skills, color theory, watercolor technique, and explore our creativity as artists, as well as, learning therapeutic art approaches for mental health and healing. Students should bring 8 x 10 or larger notebook or pad of mixed media paper 90 lb. or higher to class each session. Note class location: Ridgedale YMCA, 12301 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305 (class participants do not need to be a member of the YMCA)

Perimenopause starts around the age of 35 for most women and can last 10-15 years. Common symptoms include fatigue, migraines, weight gain, water retention, depression, sleep disturbances, joint aches, hot flashes, anger flashes, migraines, fibroids, exaggerated PMS and more. Once you understand exactly what is causing all the troublesome symptoms, they are much easier to correct. We’ll discuss how to get hormone levels measured - blood test vs. saliva test and what to do with the results; traditional HRT vs. bio-identical; acupressure points to assist in symptom relief and nutritional musts. You’ll leave with multiple tools and techniques for restoring health and well-being. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. More information will be sent before class.

Gain confidence by learning to repair minor plumbing problems or replace fixtures yourself. We will review metal and plastic pipe, valves and fittings. Take apart different types of faucets, replace pop-up drain assembly, and discuss internal workings of the toilet. Handouts included with the class.

Becoming Superhuman is an inspiring workshop that reveals how the internal states we cultivate shape the results we create in our lives. In this powerful session, wellness educator and author Ally Aletha teaches participants how to consciously shift their mental and emotional state in ways that dramatically improve clarity, energy, relationships, creativity, and overall well-being.Participants will learn practical tools and simple daily disciplines that help them quiet mental noise, access greater focus and vitality, strengthen emotional resilience, and unlock a more empowered way of living and working.This engaging presentation blends insight, inspiration, and actionable practices that participants can begin using immediately to elevate their mindset, performance, and quality of life.Open to adults of all ages.

Create a beautiful stained glass window approximately 8” x 10” in size. This class is for both beginner and experienced stained glass participants! The copper foil technique will be taught from cutting to assembly. The first night focuses on choosing a pattern and discussing colors of glass, equipment and layout. The other sessions will focus on assembling your stained glass window. Glass and materials are purchased directly from the instructor at class - approximately $65. Tool kits are provided. Please bring safety glasses to use while cutting and grinding glass. This class includes one free Saturday morning Open Studio visit. Youth age 14-17 are welcome to register if attending with a registered adult. NOTE LOCATION: Orono Discovery Center, 5050 Independence St., Maple Plain, MN 55359, Room 201. Park in the back north side of the building and enter through Door 5.

Enjoy this 3-hour class where you will follow the step-by-step instruction in the Bob Ross Wet-on-Wet oil painting technique. The relaxed atmosphere will teach you how to use all the equipment to paint mountains, trees, bushes, lakes, rivers and sunsets. You will walk away with your own Bob Ross replica painting on a 20x16 canvas that you may keep for yourself or give as a gift. All equipment and materials will be provided except for aprons and smocks. Youth ages 13-17 may register and attend with a registered adult.

Retire with dignity and build generational wealth. Retire with confidence by learning how to optimize distributions from Social Security, Pensions, work retirement plans and Traditional IRA. Learn about the benefits of Roth IRA and how they can help reduce your taxes. The class also covers importance of Estate Planning, Long Term Care Insurance and when Annuities are useful.