Monday Session 1   

This course is geared for those new to yoga, those interested in a slower and more gentle practice, or those recovering from illness or injury. It includes a combination of meditation, breath work, and flowing movement intended for all abilities. Participants will move from seated on the floor (or a chair) to standing and then will return to mats. Participants will experiment with balance, strength, flexibility, and stillness while practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques. 

NOTE: The Gentle Yoga A and B classes are companion courses. Members can just register for both or just one. 

The course will introduce a "toolbox" for studying history and examining the trends of the 20th century. World War I serves as a springboard for the entire century. The Russian Revolution, the Global Economic Crisis, and the rise of the totalitarian states emerge from the ashes and desolation of World War I. Members will see the connections that run through the first half of the 20th century (and into the second half) that were launched by the holocaust of World War I. It continues to serve as a cataclysm and aberration in the flow of human history.

Is Barbara Stanwyck the greatest actor of the 20th century? This class will explore Stanwyck’s range and longevity by viewing and analyzing five films. We begin with one of the most daring dramas of the brief pre-code era, and end with the better of the two Hollywood movies that go by the name Titanic. In between, we will try to capture that amazing range, from screwball comedy to Gothic noir to one of the saddest, most poignant Christmas movies ever made (don’t worry, there is a happy ending).

What did it mean to be a "follower of the Christ" in the Roman Empire in the first century? This course undertakes a close reading of the letters of Paul the Apostle (as our primary evidence), drawing upon critical methods of analysis in modern New Testament and historical interpretation. Paul is often described as the true "founder" of the religion of Christianity, and we will explore the way in which his writings came to influence the later Church. We also survey the cultural context of his communities and the ways in which this culture may have contributed to Paul's thinking, specifically in relation to "salvation," women, and the role of the early Christians as citizens of the Empire.

 

Laughter. Curiosity. Play. That is improv! Imagine that for 90 minutes, everything you say or do will be absolutely right—you cannot make a mistake. Games and scenes are inspired by your life experiences or made up on the spot. “Yes, and” means you agree with whatever suggestion your partner offers, then add something of your own to move the action forward. You make your partner look good. Your partner does the same for you. Everyone shines. You leave refreshed with the sound of laughter to brighten your day.

This gentle form of yoga is practiced using a chair as a prop/stabilizer for support during standing poses or adapted for sitting on a chair. It is especially beneficial for people concerned with balance or coordination issues or those who have felt they are unable to participate in other yoga experiences. The class includes poses for strength training, mobility in the joints, and more relaxing poses to help steady the mind. Modifications will be offered throughout the course so that participants learn to adapt to their personal situations and comfort as well as challenge themselves. The course is appropriate for all levels.  

 

In this course we explore literary texts representative of some of the major Austrian writers. Using both texts and films, we will navigate cultural history during various time periods, namely the Holy Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the First Republic.

The decade of the 1960s was one of the most turbulent eras in American history, marked by massive social, cultural, and political changes. Fittingly, the decade also saw three of the most politically skilled and highly accomplished, but tragically-concluded presidential administrations America has ever experienced. In this course, we will look closely at these three leaders, examining both how they set changes in motion and how they responded to changes they often could not control. We also will explore the three very different tragedies that brought each administration to a shocking end.

Why did Hitler decide that Operation Barbarossa, a Vernichtungskrieg (war of annihilation) against the Soviet Union, should be launched in 1941? Intended to obliterate the Soviet Union and create a mega-Germany poised to take on the United States for global dominion, Barbarossa was the largest military operation in history, yet it failed. Why? Were there options that could have prevented the failure of Barbarossa? Were there alternatives to Barbarossa that could have altered the contours and even the outcome of World War II in Europe? This course will examine these and other questions emanating from Hitler’s most fateful decision of World War II.

Playwrights do many things. They philosophize, entertain, reflect on current events, and break new ground. This course will deal with recent plays that have become headliners, award winners, and critical successes. We will study how they work, how they differ from earlier forms, and whether they deserve their accolades. Mostly we will get close up, imagining staging and acting, to bring them to life in the stages of our minds. Members will prepare for class by reading the plays and coming to class ready to dig in.

In our quest for approval during the first half of our lives, we often conform to expectations. Carl Jung, Swiss psychologist, stated that beginning in the second half of our lives there arises a deep calling to develop the "undeveloped" parts of ourselves—a journey toward wholeness. Those who take the journey to discover their authentic selves experience an awakening, a rebirth, a freedom. This course will provide an overview of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung’s work on the psyche and self, discovering why in the second half of our lives we experience a calling to develop our undeveloped selves.

The Spanish Civil War represents one of the most important global political events of the 20th century. It inspired some of the most revered texts and well-known works of art in the western world. This course will introduce students to the history and artistic legacies of the Spanish Civil War. Together, we will examine how a national struggle became a global confrontation between democracy and fascism and consider the long-term political implications of its outcome. We will also learn about local Pittsburgh residents who joined International Brigades and explore how their experiences shaped world history as well as their hometown.

This course borrows its title from a famous 1979 non-fiction book by the British art historian Kenneth Clark. Critics of art have long wrestled with the question of what elevates a work of art to masterpiece status. We will do the same through a series of historical and theoretical considerations. Traditionally reserved for an artist’s greatest works, the term masterpiece now appears routinely in auction catalogues, raising questions also about how much the art market shapes our views. A portion of this course will be dedicated to such masterpieces as Velázquez's "Las Meninas" (1656), Picasso's "Guernica" (1937), Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" (1974-79) and other favorites.