Integrative Nutrition live classes to end next year

Recently, I learned the school that I graduated from, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, will cease to offer live classes starting next year. That means the upcoming school year (beginning January 2010) will be the last opportunity to sit in a live classroom.

Starting in 2011, the school will move entirely online with its Distance Learning Program. The effort according to its founder, Joshua Rosenthal, is to make the school more of a global one as opposed to a regional one.

While I think it's great that the school will be opening up itself to those unwilling to travel to New York City, I was upset to learn of this development. In my opinion, there is nothing that compares to the opportunity of attending live classes. I made so many great friends and loved being in the same room with so much like-minded energy.

My intention though is not to criticize the school, but rather to urge those of you who've been on the fence about enrolling to seriously consider taking the plunge. I know there are some of you out there! It's truly a life-changing experience - and you won't regret it.

The school's curriculum is unique, and so much more engaging than any other educational experience I've had. Integrative Nutrition does not have an espouse any sort of dietary ideology. You learn about it all - from raw foods to macrobiotics to Atkins. In the end we have to make our own decisions. I remember starting the school as a vegetarian. Now I'm a conscious carnivore. It happens.

The school is also fun. Joshua said his intention was to create a school that students would be excited to come to - more rock concert, less boring classroom. Which is why the school has chosen to host classes in vibrant spaces like Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

And if you're outside the New York area or have a full time job, don't let that stop you! Classes are on the weekends, so you can still earn that paycheck. The school also offers discounts for those traveling from outside of New York. I myself was living in San Francisco when I started the program.

Integrative Nutrition: The education that changed everything

I'm not one for nostalgia, but admit I felt some last night. I was at the Integrative Nutrition fall gathering in New York City. It was here that hundreds of sharply-dressed holistic health counselors came together, to reconnect, munch on carrot sticks, and introduce others to this world-class education.

You see it was at this school, three years ago, that my life changed. I came into the school a lost soul. I didn't know much about what I wanted to do with the education. All that I was certain about was I wanted to quit my job - a corporate marketing gig that was lucrative, but left me unfulfilled.

I had flown in from San Francisco months before enrolling to attend one of the school's orientation sessions. I heard about Integrative Nutrition from a friend and thought it was worth checking out. Little did I know I'd be signing up before the end of orientation. I had grown interested in natural foods and holistic health in the Bay Area, and there was something about the school that 'clicked' with me. And after a year of searching for my next act, I knew this would be it.

The signs were all there. I had met Dr Andrew Weil at a conference on holistic health in British Columbia months before the orientation. It was literally the first time in my life where I liked every single person in the room (good luck finding that in the corporate world). And guess who would be teaching at Integrative Nutrition? Yes, Andrew Weil himself, as well as Deepak Chopra, Paul Pitchford and a host of others I admired.

But perhaps the biggest draw for me, was the founder of the school, Joshua Rosenthal. To this day he remains one of the most inspiring people in my life - a visionary who 'gets it.'

I was reminded of this last night, when I stood listening to Joshua's remarks. He spoke about a recent visit to Bonobo's, a raw foods cafe in Midtown. It was there he was served by two individuals, one natively from Bosnia and the other Croatia - two countries that were recently engaged in a civil war. Thousands of miles from their homeland, these two were able to come together over warm coconut chai and raw nutmeat patties. And it was no coincidence. They believe the world would be far more peaceful if we ate differently - as modern factory farming and industrialized meat production have lead to aggressive behavior. It was remarks and stories like this that drew me to the school - beliefs that cannot be proven by science, but still need to be heard. I knew we were dealing with more than food here.

Joshua likes to say that Integrative Nutrition is not only a school, but also a movement. I've seen countless graduates go out and do amazing things with the education. Some have written books, others have created natural food products (like an agave-sweetned ketchup, flax crackers, or energy bars). Most though go out and become holistic health professionals or complement their existing health-related work. Regardless, everyone leaves with an amazing experience - either improving their own health or finding a new career that energizes them. Some lucky individuals manage to do both!

I could really go on singing the praises of this school. However, I must stop. (I think I've exceeded my 300-word blogging limit.) If you think you might be interested in learning more about Integrative Nutrition, I'd be happy to answer any and all questions. Either post a comment here or email me.

If you are interested in enrolling, Integrative Nutrition is offering a $500 scholarship. Just mention my name when you enroll.