Education Supplement: Class Action Listings

Oh, sure, you've had macaroons, those gooey coconut rounds that are perennial Passover favorites. But lose just one vowel and you have the macaron, the chic and airy French confection composed of two delicate meringues sandwiching jam or cream. These are dangerously addictive and expensive, so if you'd like to learn to feed your habit in a more thrifty fashion, consider a two-hour hands-on workshop at Cathcart & Reddy on the Lower East Side. The dessert emporium also offers instruction in the chocolate soufflé. desserttruck.wordpress.com

Health/Body/Wellness

Excepting the corpse flower and the sea onion, most plants possess astonishing beauty—and some might improve your own looks. At the New York Botanical Garden's Herbal Spa Workshop: A Natural Approach to Beautiful Skin, you can learn to make your own herbal clay masks, moisturizers, lip balm, skin toners, and foot scrubs. If inner beauty is more your speed, you can take the Herbal Preparations Workshop and learn how fresh and dried herbs are transformed into teas, decoctions, tinctures, and herbal oils. nybg.org

Chakra treatment! If you're looking for a wholly holistic approach to wellness, Reflections Yoga in midtown offers regular classes in Restorative Yoga, which promises to engage "various Energy-Body-Mind Self-Healing Modalities" as well as breathwork and meditation. The studio also offers Naam Yoga, which focuses on healing processes, and the Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity. reflectionsyoga.com

Computers

Samuel Johnson opined that "Many things difficult to design prove easy to perform." Then again, Samuel Johnson never had to design a Web page or code in HTML5. But you might, and if you're flummoxed by the prospect of such, Chelsea's New York Code & Design Academy can likely offer some assistance. Their classes Web Design Fundamentals and Introduction to Web Design and Development will teach students to craft their own pages and mobile apps. nycda.com

For many of us, our media is far more social than we ourselves are, but if you're a digital outcast, perhaps the popular clique at the Social Media School can help you out. In addition to an introduction to social media for business owners and individuals, this midtown school offers instruction in Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogging, LinkedIn, e-mail marketing, and even podcasting. A few meetings and you'll be sitting at the cool kids' table in no time—in cyberspace, anyway. socialmediaschoolny.com

Languages

Two popular Irish sayings insist, "Hear much and say little" and "An open mouth often catches a closed fist." Honestly, they sound even better in Gaelic, so why not ignore these adages and begin to learn the Irish language? The Irish Arts Center, on the western edge of the theater district, offers many language classes, from introductory to advanced, as well as occasional free conversation opportunities. And just think how you'll impress the next leprechaun you meet. irishartscenter.org

Crafts

Man is born free, Jean-Jacques Rousseau taught us, but is everywhere in chains. Yet some chains are nicer than others. (I'm partial to those slim silver ones especially.) You can learn to make some fine ones of your own when Pratt offers its four-day Jewelry Design Intensive I over two weekends in November. In addition to covering basic techniques, learning how to source materials, and establishing a library of resources, students will complete a bracelet, necklace, or pair of earrings. pratt.edu

Since the bedbug scare began, plucking furniture off the street is no longer the joy it used to be. In fact, your own furniture might be in need of refreshing, either for aesthetic or sanitary reasons. Happily, reupholstering fulfills both, and the Textile Arts Center in Park Slope offers a four-session class, Reupholstery 101, in November and December. Students will learn the arcana of "selecting, stretching, and tacking fabric" as well as various finishing methods. The center also offers open studio time to exercise this new textile knowledge. ssreg.com/textileartscenter

Sport

Urban life can make one fighting mad, but just because you feel enraged doesn't mean you possess the requisite combat skills. Fortunately, the Anderson Martial Arts Academy can help, as this Soho studio offers regular instruction in self-defense (and, one assumes, offense) based on techniques drawn from Jeet Kune Do, Filipino martial arts, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, wrestling, kickboxing, and standard boxing. For the particularly ticked off, there is also instruction in weaponry. andersonsmartialarts.com

Bikini season has long since passed. But just because there are fewer occasions to don a two-piece does not mean you should abandon your fitness goals. If you'd like to achieve them more quickly and you enjoy being disciplined by the perky, you can drag your spandex-clad self to Stacy's Bootcamp. Rain or shine, these high-intensity classes are held in Central Park, Battery Park, and Washington Square Park. Bring weights, sneakers, water, and athletic gloves. stacysbootcamp.com

Nature

Flower arranging has a proud history dating back at least 4,500 years to the ancient Egyptians, who prepared elaborate floral designs for burial. So think of that next time you're tempted to plunk a dozen roses from the corner deli into a water glass. (And don't get us started on baby's breath.) Chelsea's Ovando can improve your petal prowess. This floral studio offers one-day workshops on various topics with drinks and snacks included. Upcoming course: Modern Thanksgiving Centerpieces. ovandony.com