Cognitive Wellness Through Hands-On Exercises & Living Stories
Spring 2026
Spring 2026
Cognitive Wellness Through Hands-On Exercises & Living Stories is a dynamic class designed to promote brain health and enhance cognitive functioning through practical tools and engaging activities. This course combines a brain-healthy curriculum with hands-on activities scientifically designed to improve cognitive abilities.
Weekly Email Updates: Receive a weekly email outlining topics and activities for the week.
Weekly Zoom Classes: Engage with classmates through weekly Zoom sessions.
Unique Weekly Lessons: Explore a variety of topics and hands-on activities that support brain health and cognitive fitness, incorporating BrainHQ exercises, mindfulness practices, and journaling.
Mindfulness & Meditation: Guided practices designed to reduce stress, build resilience and improve focus.
Reflective Journaling: Writing exercises to connect your personal living stories with cognitive health.
Brain Training: Targeted exercises to actively improve your memory and attention.
BrainHQ License: Returning Brain Fitness students keep their BrainHQ access and their passwords remains the same. New students currently enrolled in Brain Fitness Basics and this class will receive a semester license for BrainHQ.
Recorded Lessons: Select weekly lesson recordings available on the class website for review.
Welcome! We are thrilled to begin this new semester and embark on an exciting journey together in this class. Let’s make it a semester of growth, learning, and success!
Watch this short video tutorial on how to log in to your BrainHQ account and get access to the exercises (2 minutes).
ylorberfeld@sdccd.edu
Yael Lorberfeld has been teaching Brain Fitness since 2019. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology by the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She has been working since 1997 in Mental health as a Psychotherapist, School Psychologist and teaching topics related to Mental Health and Wellbeing, in Spanish and in English. She has a certificate on Family Leadership Coaching by The San Diego University for Integrative Studies. She is the cofounder of a nonprofit organization and an active volunteer in her community, working as an educator for children to develop social responsibility. She loves to teach and to study. She enjoys to read, to hear music and travel.
Desirée brings a rich, interdisciplinary background to the Brain Fitness Program. She holds both a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Psychology and a Master's degree in Kinesiology (2012) from the University of Texas at Austin. During her time at UT Austin, she taught Fitness/Wellness classes and managed an oral history project for the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team. Desirée went on to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine, where her clinical education focused on training in physiology, neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neuromuscular rehabilitation, and geriatrics. Working as a licensed physical therapist in San Diego since 2017, she specializes in empowering older adults with practical tools for cognitive and physical longevity. She joined the Emeritus faculty in Spring 2025 and is excited to share her diverse experiences and passion for healthy aging with the Brain Fitness community!
Erika Peralta
Erika Peralta is a dedicated public health advocate with a master’s degree from NU and a bachelor’s from UCSD, both in public health. As a Certified Health Education Specialist, Erika is committed to promoting wellness, preventing diseases, and addressing health disparities in underserved communities. Her passion lies in intergenerational collaboration and tackling infectious diseases, emphasizing inclusive, tailored solutions that resonate with diverse populations. As a first-generation college graduate, Erika brings a unique perspective and deep empathy to her work, fostering connections and prioritizing community well-being.
Join Erika in building healthier, more inclusive communities through education, empathy, and action.
We have a website just for Emeritus students. You can access it by going to (sdcestudent55.com). On this site, you will find:
Information for Spring 2026: Complete schedule, registration tutorials, details, etc.
Student Guides (Guide to understanding online instruction, Guide to using Zoom, Guide to find your class on the sdcce.edu website)
Student resources (Job opportunities, list of resources from SDCCE available to students, classes from previous semesters)