Tuesday   

We will explore the subject of human enhancement and consider the social implications of the alterations humans are capable of making to themselves and others. Whether a tattoo, the consumption of a drug designed to boost performance, or the surgical alteration of the body, we have a rapidly advancing ability to alter our biology and, in so doing, to challenge cultural norms and potentially threaten long-established social structures. Is this hubris? Do alterations offer the promise of enhancement or threaten peril? Join the discussion!

In this class Steven Cliadakis from OLLI sponsor Altum Wealth Advisors will discuss how tax law changes, inflation, falling interest rates, and a changing economy may affect your investments and retirement plans. The class will cover various investment vehicles, such as CDs, Treasurys, index funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and others. Hear the financial market perspectives of respected economists and explore investment trends and best practices. The class will highlight key principles of financial planning and how they can be applied to your personal retirement goals.

Tap dance involves rhythmic, percussive, and precise movement of the feet while promoting flow and individual style of the entire body. Classes will include warm-up, structured movement phrases that will build in complexity, and creative explorations. All levels are welcome. Good standing balance is recommended.

What is behavioral finance and how does it work? What is the psychology behind risk-taking and investing? What makes people feel the way they do when making financial decisions? In this class Steven Cliadakis from OLLI sponsor Altum Wealth Advisors will highlight the theories of leading behavioral finance academics and discuss how they attempt to explain irrational investor behavior. The goal is to explore how we may develop a better understanding of our cognitive and emotional selves to help us make better financial decisions.

Let go of stress and come home to yourself. Over millennia, the sages of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition developed highly effective methods of movement, relaxation, and meditation. In this study group you will learn foundational practices from the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. Each session will have three phases: gentle movement and breathing, deep relaxation, and meditation. Members can expect to leave this class refreshed. Please note that the movements taught in this study group are not acrobatics. They are suitable for people with no yoga experience. If you've attended yoga classes and found them to be too strenuous or otherwise challenging, this study group is for you.

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class you will learn the first third of the forms, or about 36 moves, in a workshop environment.

Collage is a creative medium accessible to people of all artistic skill levels. We'll explore the world of collage by using different papers and techniques. There is no wrong way to create a collage. It is simply a matter of layering color, texture, and patterns. And it's fun!

Being able to sketch or draw is a foundation for creating art in a variety of mediums and helps in explaining ideas and thoughts. This class will address beginning graphite pencil drawing approaches and techniques. Participants will actively draw in every class session while learning to construct simple to more complex drawings along the way. Join us to explore drawing together.

Chico is known for its rich biodiversity and parks. Get to know Chico's non-human residents with highlights from four years of weekly wanderings and the research they inspired. Courtship displays, playful otters happily munching, a drinking fountain hawk bath, wildflower blooms, a rare mutant carpenter bee, and more surprises are captured on this photographic journey through parks and surrounding neighborhoods in the heart of Chico.

Spiritual principles help us follow a path to experience life with strength and resilience. These are fundamental truths that are universally accepted and passed on over many years and through many traditions. As suggested in The Eye of the I by David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD, we will talk about some of the following principles: attitude, humility, kindness, giving up guilt, willingness to realize that "truth" is dependent on context, acceptance, and non-attachment.

This class will educate you about various mortgage loans and how they can be applied to your unique situation. Experts from OLLI sponsor Tri Counties Bank will address Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) and other home mortgages, with an emphasis on dispelling myths surrounding reverse mortgages. Learn about current mortgage rates, loan terms, down payment requirements, mortgage insurance, and closing costs and fees of all kinds. Understanding the difference between various mortgage options can help put you in the driver's seat on your next home sale or purchase. This class does not provide legal advice.

Grab your sketchbook and assorted art materials! The goal of this class is to complete a piece of art each week during class time. For each session we will look at a photo, video clip, or artwork, briefly discuss it, and then create our own piece. Prior to each session, specific art materials that will be used by the instructor for that week will be shared. Participants are welcome to follow along with the instructor or take off in a direction of their own.

Five OLLI members who love collage will share techniques and projects each week. Come and make art!

Embark on a journey to inner peace with these tranquil yoga sessions. This class is designed to calm the mind and foster a deep connection with your inner self through gentle movements. Participants will engage in exercises performed both seated on the floor and through simple standing postures. This class is open to all, regardless of prior yoga experience. Please bring a yoga mat. While not essential, you're welcome to bring any personal yoga props to enhance your practice.

Start your Tuesday with music and songs. Join us in a fun, informal sing-along. Bring your voices and/or musical instruments. The operative word is "fun." If you like music, you will like this class. All levels welcome!

Join us for a collaborative read of Shakespeare's The Tempest, a play about colonialism and the dispossessed. You'll be encouraged, but not required, to join in the discussion. This class is for beginners and Shakespeare veterans alike. You will want your own copy of the play, but any good standard edition will do. E-mail Jack (jdayer@ucdavis.edu) for guidance.

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class we will review the first 36 forms in a workshop environment. Additional forms will be taught as the group is ready.

This class will examine the art and architecture of later South Asia (India and Pakistan) from the time of the introduction of Islam in 711 CE to the present. We will consider the social, religious, and political context for the various monuments. Special focus will be given to the Mughal Dynasty and the culture that influenced the creation of Taj Mahal.

Cribbage is a great card game for two people: fast, unpredictable, and portable. Though the game has many rules, this class will take you through all facets of the game, step by step. By the time you have finished this class, you will not only know the game well, but you will also know how to teach the game to others. If you already know the game, come play with us. Been looking for someone to play with? Maybe you will find a new friend and opponent here!

Feng shui teaches that your spaces are a reflection of your life. If some part of your life is out of whack, your spaces will indicate that. The motto is: change your spaces, change your life. You'll learn to see where you spend time (home, office, car) from a new perspective and get useful solutions (called "cures") to help shift your spaces. This class shows you that these modifications can help enhance and balance your life.

Each week the class will read poems by an individual poet, a collection of poems on a specific subject, or a collection of poems in a specific style. A wide range of poets and poetry will be presented, from classic to contemporary, and we will discuss them from the perspective that the poet creates the work but the reader activates it.

The class will examine common flaws in logic which lead to questionable conclusions: opposites and falsehoods, blame and responsibility, paradoxes, fallacies, emotions, etc. The goal is to become aware of one's own blind spots that are obstacles in the search for truth.

This is a participatory, discussion-based class exploring the hidden assumptions in our language. Does the way we speak influence and manipulate the way we think? Our language is replete with militaristic euphemisms and metaphors, political code words and dog whistles, and hidden assumptions about power, patriarchy, hierarchy, and identity. Many of those words and phrases are so ingrained in our lexicon that we are oblivious to the potentially manipulative power they hold over us and our way of thinking.

Knitting with others is a wonderful learning environment. This class is designed to give knitters who have mastered the basic stitches of knit and purl a chance to work on a project of their choosing while we chat and share ideas online with other knitters. All levels of ability are welcome! Gale contributes to the class by offering tips and suggestions for patterns, yarn, and tools based on her years of knitting experience.

California Master Gardeners provide educational outreach from University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offices throughout the state. The mission of the Butte County Master Gardeners is to extend research-based education and technical assistance throughout the non-commercial gardening community and to foster successful gardening practices by helping individuals make informed decisions about plants, pests, and the environment, with an emphasis on sustainability. Join us as we address a wide range of fascinating subjects.