PROVIDENCE, R.I. – January 18, 2011 – The Outreach Center at the University of Rhode Island will offer a series of workshops and events focused on wellness, including yoga, drumming, herbal remedies, and therapeutic gardening, beginning in February. The events will all take place at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence.

“The lush, tropical environment of the Botanical Center is the perfect place to get people to focus on the health of their mind and body during the long winter months,” said Sejal Lanterman, coordinator of the Winter Wellness Series.

Yoga will be the focus of three programs in the series, beginning with a program for mothers and their babies on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. Yoga Dance Story Time is a program for parents and their children on Friday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. that uses yoga postures, hand gestures, facial expressions and dance movements to tell a story. Integrated Yoga is an introductory yoga program for adults on Saturday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m. that introduces yoga postures, breathing techniques and relaxation methods to beginners.

Those who register for the yoga programs are encouraged to bring a mat.

Natural Remedies for Winter Ailments, a workshop on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 9:30 a.m., will feature discussions of healing foods and herbal remedies for winter health issues. It will include samplings of teas, tinctures and syrups and how to properly prepare and administer them.

Those interested in herbal remedies should also register for Herbal Contraindications, Safety Measures and Herb-Drug Interactions on Sunday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m. The workshop will address safety concerns regarding the combination of herbs and prescription drugs.

Other programs on the schedule include:

• Eco-Exploration, an environmental science program for 5-12 year olds scheduled during school vacation week on Feb. 22 and 24 at 10 a.m.

• Tabletop Gardens and Terrariums, on Sunday, March 13 at 9:30 a.m. Participants will go home with a completed 8-inch terrarium and instructions for how to make it thrive.

• Metaphors in the Garden, a therapeutic workshop that links the maintenance of a garden to life’s journey, on Saturday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m.

•A Spring Equinox Drum Circle on March 26 at 10 a.m. will use drums and rattles to create a healing circle to focus on the wellbeing of the community and the Earth.

For more information or to register for any of these programs, visit www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/ or contact Sejal Lanterman at 401-874-4453 or sejal@uri.edu.