Instruction / Support GroupsFREE TRAVEL-RELATED PROGRAMS are offered weekly at REI, 9901 Capital of Texas Hwy. N. Sept 11: On the Border - Chile and Argentina; Sept 18: Guatemala: Mayan Splendor; Basic Maps/Compass & Orienteering. Thursdays, 7pm. 343-5550.
THE UNITED NETWORK FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS will offer a free course to inform immigrants about home buying. The workshop will prepare immigrants to purchase their own homes by getting them familiar with practices and procedures used in the U.S. Classes will be held at Reagan High School, 7104 Berman Dr. Saturdays, Sept 13, 20, & 27, 9-11am (Spanish); 11am-1pm (English). 441-7977.
LAUGHING AT THE SUN GALLERY offers jewelry workshops and classes at their "Scrap Yard Studio," 2209 S. First. A beginner and intermediate workshop is offered this weekend. Cost is $50. Sat, Sept 13, 8am-11am. 326-4410.
AN ALL-SAFE SELF DEFENSE SEMINAR will be led by Master Jon Blankenship, teaching simple-to-devastating techniques. Register now. Sat, Sept 13, noon-5pm. 452-3618.
A FREE MEDITATION PRESENTATION on the "God-Self as Light and Sound" will be held at BookPeople, Sixth & Lamar (third floor community room). Sun, Sept 14, 7:30-10pm. 482-0374.
SCULPTURE AND DRAWING CLASSES are offered at the Elisabet Ney Sculpture Conservatory, 305 E. 45th. Courses include clay sculpture, portrait and figure drawing, creative interpretations in plaster, stone carving in limestone, bronze casting, life drawing, and more. Begins Sept 15. 371-7606.
CLASSES IN MASSAGE THERAPY begin this month at the School of Massage Therapy at Texas Healing Arts Institute, 2704 Rio Grande, Suite 11. Begins Mon, Sept 15. 236-8424.
THE COMMUNITY ARTS SCHOOL, a new educational venue of DiverseArts Production Group, will offer a variety of seminars, workshops, and master classes this fall at the Heritage House, 810 E. 13th. Classes in music, dance, and internships in music/event promotion, production, and publicity are offered. Call for a schedule. Begins after Sept 15. 477-9438.
RENEWAL! BACK TO WORK, BACK TO LIFE is a free informational series for persons living with HIV/AIDS who are considering returning to work and rebuilding their lives. The course will be offered at the Austin State Hospital, 41st & Guadalupe. Fri, Sept 19, 1:30-4:30pm. Also, an HIV/AIDS Treatment Update Community Meeting will be held Sat, Sept 20, 1:30-4:30pm. 467-0088.
A SOUTH ASIA SEMINAR titled "Auchinleck and the Partition" will be held in the W.C. Hogg, Meyereson Conf. Rm., on the UT campus. Admission is free. Thu, Sept 18, 3pm. 471-5811.
ISIS INSTITUTE OF WOMEN'S STUDIES is offering a variety of workshops and programs for women this fall. "The Quest for Women's Soul, Part II" will be led by Jan Carlson on Thursdays, noon-1:30pm, Sept 18-Nov 19. Cost is $60. "Mythology of the Bible" will be held Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm, Sept 17-Oct 15. Cost is $60. "Diet is a Dirty Four-Letter Word" will be led by certified hypnotherapist Cindy Tincher, Sat, Sept 20, 10am-2pm & Thu, Sept 25, 7-8:30pm. Cost is $75. More programs will be held in October and November. Call for details. 474-4669 (ISIS-NOW).
"FALLING INTO STEPS: A DAY IN OA," a workshop sponsored by The Heart of Texas Intergroup of Overeaters Anonymous, will be held at the Westover Hills Church of Christ, Steck & Mesa. $5 donation request. Sat, Sept 20, 9am-3pm. 502-9932.
A WOMEN'S SELF-DEFENSE CLINIC for ages 13 and up will be held at the South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland Rd. Register now. Sat, Sept 20, 1-3pm. 444-6601.
A DISABILITY MINI-CONFERENCE & PROVIDER FAIR for parents of a child with disabilities will be held at Round Rock High School, 300 Lake Creek Dr. The event will feature a keynote address, a variety of workshops, light refreshments, and more. No charge for admission. Sat, Sept 20, 8:30am-1:30pm. 476-7044, ext. 102.
A TIBETAN BUDDHIST WEEKEND COURSE will be offered by Geshe Sopa, Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin, at Casa De Luz. Geshela will teach "The Three Principal Aspects of the Path to Enlightenment." Register now. Sat & Sun, Sept 20 & 21, 10am-noon. 447-4406.
A NEW STRING IMPROVISATION SCHOOL is currently enrolling students for the fall semester. String players at all levels will have the opportunity to learn improvisation in a small class setting, in a variety of musical styles. Register now; begins Sept 20. 419-4983.
ART & SCIENCE OF AROMATHERAPY, a four-session workshop, will be offered at Herbs & Things, 204 E. 53rd. Cost is $10 per session/$30 for all four. Register now. Tue/Thu, 7-9pm, Sept 23-Oct 2. 459-4372.
FALL WEEDFEED, a class focusing on native, useful wild plants of Texas, will be held this fall, beginning in Sept. Activities include slide lectures, field trips, weekend trips, a campout at Big Bend National Park, a banquet, and more. Cost is $225; space is limited. Register now! Online: http://www.emultimedia.com/weedfeed. Begins Sept 26. 928-4441.
CLASSICAL VOCAL INSTRUCTION is offered by Ann Whitworth this fall at her studio, Mopac at Westover Rd. Limited space. 479-SONG.
THE UNIVERSITY YWCA and its programs - AWARE and the Women's Counseling & Resource Center - will offer a variety of classes and workshops in September. Courses include Relapse Prevention; Intimacy Building for Couples; an ongoing women's therapy group; The Spiral Journey; Looking Good, Feeling Better; Chemical Dependency Class for Women; and more. Call for fees and a schedule. 326-1222.
THE JUNG SOCIETY OF AUSTIN is currently taking registration for Early Fall classes and workshops. Courses include Exploring Fairy Tales; Ageing as an Adventure?; Mayan DNAology; Rhythms of Destiny; Beyond Consciousness, Recognizing and Utilizing Unconscious Influence; and more. 458-1108.
ART ADVENTURES in watercolor are offered by Joyce Zook, co-sponsored by the Northwest Recreation Center. Ongoing. 266-7550.
PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES for all levels are offered at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd. Classes include Dynamic Photography - all you need to know about your camera, film, light, composition, and shooting techniques; as well as Beginning Darkroom and Field Trips. $85/eight-week sessions. 450-1045.
A BREATH AND BALANCE WORKSHOP will be offered by Liz Scanlon at the Power Yoga Space, 1017 E. Sixth. Cost is $35 (save if you register early). Sat, Sept 20, 3-5pm. 457-8760.
HATHA YOGA CLASSES are led weekly by Paul Smith at NiaSpace, focusing on calming the mind while stretching and strengthening the body. Sundays, 6-7pm. 452-6623.
ALL LEVELS HATHA YOGA CLASSES are offered weekly by Tamar Rivers at the Friends Meeting House, 3014 Washington Square. By donation. Tuesdays, 8pm. 476-4064.
PAM'S NIA CLASS is a cardiovascular movement course that draws on the elements of dance, martial arts, and yoga. Offered at the Yoga Studios, next to Whole Foods, third floor, Sixth & Lamar. Cost is $8 per class. Mon/Wed, 9-10am. 326-8417.
A YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSE with international certification for early fall will be offered by the Austin Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association. Over 15 weekly classes are offered now in the Austin area. 474-7159.
ASHTANGA "POWER" YOGA, Series One, will be offered by Sharon Moon, including techniques on postures, breath, heat, locks, and sweat. 453-5594.
AN INTRO TO POWER YOGA is led weekly by Jennifer Biggers at the Power Yoga Space. Kids yoga is also offered. Tue/Thu, 2pm and Sat, 11:15am (power); Sat, 12:30pm (kids). 457-8760.
YOGA FOR WOMEN in the menopausal and post-menopausal years are offered at Cafe Dance, 2207-B Hancock. YogaMotion is offered Mon/Wed/Fri, 8am and Hatha Yoga is offered Tue/Thu, 8am & 10:15am. 459-1870.
HATHA YOGA is offered by Marci Winters at the Nob Hill Bldg., 2520 Longview, #412 (Wed & Fri) and at Divine Touch Day Spa, 801 W. 17th, Bldg B (Tue & Thu; a free one-month spa pass is offered when you sign up). First class is free. Fri (gentle yoga) 5:30-6:30pm; Tue & Thu, noon-1pm & 1:15-2:15pm; Wed, 7:30-8:30pm. 462-9862.
FREE MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS are presented weekly by Master Jon Blankenship at Austin Cha Yon Ryu, 2108 White Horse Tr. Mon/Tue, 7pm (Cha Yon Ryu) and Thu, 6pm (Tai Chi). 452-3618.
Adult Children of Alcoholics, 444-9188
support groupsAfrican-American Men with HIV/AIDS, sponsored by ALLGO/Informe-SIDA and AIDS Services of Austin, 472-2001 or 406-6122
Anorexia, Bulimia Support Group, Mondays, 5:45-7:45pm, 469-7678
Anxiety and Panic Support/Therapy Group begins in late September, 448-5732
Austin HELP, Herpes Support Group, free; 419-4449
Austin Newcomers Club, 314-5100
AWARE/Women's Counseling & Resource Center, groups for women`s issues, 326-1222
Battered Lesbians Support Group, sponsored by the Center for Battered Women, 385-5181
Bisexual Women's Support Group meets the third Tuesday of every month. Free, 370-9573
Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered African-American support groups, 472-5575
Hospice Austin offers several free grief support groups for anyone who has lost a loved one due to death. Pre-registration required, 342-4700
Incest Survivors Group, 800/554-2323
National Depressive/Manic-Depressive Association, 251-0679
Project Transitions offers bereavement groups for those who've lost someone to AIDS, including a family and partners group and a caregivers support group, 454-8646