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June 22 – July 6 Tuesday01:00 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 3Instructor: Marcia PincusLocations: ZoomNote: This is a livestream class via Zoom. The Qigong Taoist Water Method is a 3000-year-old practice developed by Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and author of the Tao Te Ching. This qigong method emphasizes softness and specific body movements to increase the qi flows within the body and to age gracefully. Learn basic qigong movements to increase qi... read moreNote: This is a livestream class via Zoom. The Qigong Taoist Water Method is a 3000-year-old practice developed by Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and author of the Tao Te Ching. This qigong method emphasizes softness and specific body movements to increase the qi flows within the body and to age gracefully. Learn basic qigong movements to increase qi flow and the circulation of fluids in the body, including around the joints. Please have a yoga mat to stand on if you have one. Limited enrollment. Marcia Pincus has been practicing Chinese martial arts for nearly 35 years. Her practices have included kung fu, tai chi, qigong, and bagua. For the last decade, she has practiced and taught the Qigong Taoist Water Method. She has taught qigong for the City of Albuquerque and the Chinese Culture Center. She is a certified Energy Arts instructor, and she holds degrees in geology and engineering with a specialty in environmental engineering. -
July 20 – July 27 Tuesday01:00 PM → 02:15 PMSessions: 2Instructor: Gloria DrayerLocations: ZoomDo you have difficulty falling and staying asleep at night or feeling rested in the morning? Yoga can help. Gentle yoga before bed can ease your mind and reduce tension. Learn some simple yoga and breathing techniques to help you sleep better. Bring your yoga mat or a blanket for this two-session class, as we will be lying down to practice several of these... read moreDo you have difficulty falling and staying asleep at night or feeling rested in the morning? Yoga can help. Gentle yoga before bed can ease your mind and reduce tension. Learn some simple yoga and breathing techniques to help you sleep better. Bring your yoga mat or a blanket for this two-session class, as we will be lying down to practice several of these techniques. Seated variations available. Limited enrollment. Gloria Drayer holds a 500-hour Kripalu yoga certification and has nearly 30 years of experience teaching yoga. Her sessions are given in a non-competitive environment where participants are encouraged to engage at a healthful and enjoyable level. Her workshops, including those dealing with life-altering topics such as grief, insomnia, osteoporosis, and back care, are held around the country. She is co-author of the book Yoga and Grief: A Compassionate Journey Toward Healing. -
August 6 – August 20 Friday09:00 AM → 10:00 AMSessions: 3Instructor: Cindy RussellLocations: ZoomDeep breathing and gentle stretching greatly improve the body's ability to relax. Join us for an end of the week practice focused on posture, strategic breathing techniques (e.g., abdomino-diaphragmatic or "belly" breathing), and a blend of stretching techniques, including modified yoga poses. We gently stretch from either a standing or seated position (no... read moreDeep breathing and gentle stretching greatly improve the body's ability to relax. Join us for an end of the week practice focused on posture, strategic breathing techniques (e.g., abdomino-diaphragmatic or "belly" breathing), and a blend of stretching techniques, including modified yoga poses. We gently stretch from either a standing or seated position (no floor work). The final component of this practice is a brief visual meditation and individual relaxation/meditation. Limited enrollment. Cindy Russell followed her love of physical activity to become a personal trainer after many years in business and finance. As a senior fitness and fall prevention specialist, she has been able to follow her passion: working with older adults and assisting them towards their desires to live healthy lives. She has a BA in human and community services and is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, an ACE Certified Group Instructor, a health coach, and a senior fitness specialist. -
August 19 Thursday09:00 AM → 10:00 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Ellen TatgeLocations: ZoomHave you wondered what tai chi chih is and why it is so widely recommended, particularly for better balance, mental focus, and its calming effects? Tai chi chih is a modern form of tai chi that is easy to learn and practice. In this one-session class, practice several movements and learn the principles behind the practice. Even a short taste of this moving... read moreHave you wondered what tai chi chih is and why it is so widely recommended, particularly for better balance, mental focus, and its calming effects? Tai chi chih is a modern form of tai chi that is easy to learn and practice. In this one-session class, practice several movements and learn the principles behind the practice. Even a short taste of this moving meditation is a useful tool to enhance health and well-being. Limited enrollment. Ellen Tatge is known for her kind and gentle teaching of this life-enhancing practice. A former high school teacher and then a corporate trainer, she is a certified instructor and has been practicing and teaching tai chi chih for more than 25 years, including many courses for older adults. Tatge takes great joy in sharing this effort that develops balance in all aspects of our lives and maximizes our most precious gift: good health. -
May 17 – May 24 Monday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 2Instructor: Richard BellLocations: ZoomBorn the tenth son of a humble family of puritan candle-makers, Franklin's rise to the front ranks of science, engineering, and invention was as unexpected as it was meteoric. In this 2-part program we’ll examine many of Franklin's ideas to make life simpler, cheaper, and easier for himself and everyone else. It turns out that those ideas encompassed not... read moreBorn the tenth son of a humble family of puritan candle-makers, Franklin's rise to the front ranks of science, engineering, and invention was as unexpected as it was meteoric. In this 2-part program we’ll examine many of Franklin's ideas to make life simpler, cheaper, and easier for himself and everyone else. It turns out that those ideas encompassed not only natural science and engineering, but also public works, civic improvements, political trail-blazing, and new business ideas. Richard Bell is a professor of history at the University of Maryland. He is the author of the new book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home. He is the recipient of more than a dozen teaching awards and the National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar Award. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
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May 19 Wednesday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Charles SteenLocations: ZoomThe seventeenth century was a brilliant period for Rome culturally. The extraordinary design of the city took shape with long avenues connecting piazzas with beautiful fountains and elaborate churches. Music, painting and theater thrived but under close church supervision, limiting intellectual life. Rome became the center of the Grand Tour for the wealthy... read moreThe seventeenth century was a brilliant period for Rome culturally. The extraordinary design of the city took shape with long avenues connecting piazzas with beautiful fountains and elaborate churches. Music, painting and theater thrived but under close church supervision, limiting intellectual life. Rome became the center of the Grand Tour for the wealthy aristocrats of Europe and for students of art and music, who took the culture back home at the end of their studies. Charlie Steen's classes place historical events in context with art, architecture, religion, and other cultural aspects of a period. He teaches western civilization at UNM. He is the author of several books, including his recently published A Cultural History of Early Modern Europe. A graduate of UNM, he also holds a PhD in early modern European history from UCLA.
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June 9 Wednesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Richard BellLocations: ZoomMen of Irish heritage played crucial roles in fighting the American Revolution, siding with the patriots against the British Army in overwhelming numbers. In this program, University of Maryland historian Richard Bell explores the Revolution from the perspective of the Irish and their descendants in America. Drawing on the latest scholarship, Bell... read moreMen of Irish heritage played crucial roles in fighting the American Revolution, siding with the patriots against the British Army in overwhelming numbers. In this program, University of Maryland historian Richard Bell explores the Revolution from the perspective of the Irish and their descendants in America. Drawing on the latest scholarship, Bell reconstructs the history of English and Irish antagonism, the role of religious faith in decisions about loyalty and liberty, and the political and economic impact of the American Revolution on Ireland itself. See bio #
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June 17 Thursday02:30 PM → 04:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Richard FieldLocations: ZoomGermany invaded Russia in 1941, but failed to subdue the Red Colossus. After a long, hard, winter with many casualties and failed bid to take Moscow, Hitler looked for a chance to renew his offensive in the summer. He set his eye on the oil fields of southern Russia. As the offensive opened, the focus was drawn to Stalingrad. This titanic struggle which... read moreGermany invaded Russia in 1941, but failed to subdue the Red Colossus. After a long, hard, winter with many casualties and failed bid to take Moscow, Hitler looked for a chance to renew his offensive in the summer. He set his eye on the oil fields of southern Russia. As the offensive opened, the focus was drawn to Stalingrad. This titanic struggle which would cost millions of lives, would be the turning point of WWII in Europe. Since middle school, Richard Field has been an avid student of history in general and military history in particular. He earned his BS and MS from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. He earned an MA from St. John's College in Santa Fe and a PhD from UNM. Field has taught at Albuquerque Academy since 1992 where he began teaching world history and senior humanities in 1994. He is also a contributor to Ancient History Magazine.
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June 21 Monday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: John M. TaylorLocations: ZoomSubmarine warfare was one of the winning components in World War II. Unfortunately, winning came at some cost. The United States lost 52 submarines during the war, taking with them 374 officers and 3,131 men. This presentation discusses losses and the importance of the submarine force. John Taylor will discuss the effort called the Lost52... read moreSubmarine warfare was one of the winning components in World War II. Unfortunately, winning came at some cost. The United States lost 52 submarines during the war, taking with them 374 officers and 3,131 men. This presentation discusses losses and the importance of the submarine force. John Taylor will discuss the effort called the Lost52 project which has discovered the wreckage of 11 of the subs. He will look at the USS Grunion, the USS Perch, and the USS Bullhead. John Taylor retired in 2010 as the manager of the Integrated Technologies and Systems Strategic Management Group Support Department at Sandia National Laboratories. He has a master's degree in nuclear engineering from Stanford University and was a member of Sandia's technical and management staff for 35 years. He is the author or co-author of 50 technical reports and 11 books on a variety of topics including New Mexico history, soccer science, and naval history.
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June 22 Tuesday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Matthew BarbourLocations: ZoomElephants have been utilized in war throughout much of human history. Sometimes referred to as “living tanks,” their strength, height, and intelligence make them ideal for a number of tasks, including destroying enemy fortifications and serving as mobile platforms for sharpshooters. While most commonly used in India and Southeast Asia, the animals were... read moreElephants have been utilized in war throughout much of human history. Sometimes referred to as “living tanks,” their strength, height, and intelligence make them ideal for a number of tasks, including destroying enemy fortifications and serving as mobile platforms for sharpshooters. While most commonly used in India and Southeast Asia, the animals were also employed along the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. This presentation will explore the use of war elephants through time and across the globe. See bio #
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July 15 – July 29 Thursday12:30 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 3Instructor: Creve MaplesLocations: ZoomWhat would it be like to encounter alien civilizations? Despite differences, Asian, European, and African cultures exchanged ideas and innovations through trade and travel. In the New World, civilizations evolved isolated from the rest of the world, creating great cultures that rivaled the best the Old World had to offer. Learn about the mysterious Olmecs,... read moreWhat would it be like to encounter alien civilizations? Despite differences, Asian, European, and African cultures exchanged ideas and innovations through trade and travel. In the New World, civilizations evolved isolated from the rest of the world, creating great cultures that rivaled the best the Old World had to offer. Learn about the mysterious Olmecs, the Teotihuacan City State, the Mayan Empire, and the Aztecs and the disastrous meeting with the Old World in 1519. Creve Maples has a degree in Chemistry (MIT) and a PhD in Nuclear Science (UC Berkeley). He has worked in academia and the private sector, designing advanced computers and developing virtual reality systems. His interest in history and archeology led to the formation of companies active in these areas. These classes result from a scientific curiosity, love of photography and travel, and desire to explore unusual, thought-provoking topics. -
July 20 Tuesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Richard BellLocations: ZoomJoin us for a talk with University of Maryland Dr. Richard Bell, the author of STOLEN, a new book that tells the incredible story of five boys whose courage forever changed the fight against slavery in America. Their ordeal shines a glaring spotlight on the Reverse Underground Railroad, a black-market network of human traffickers who stole away thousands of... read moreJoin us for a talk with University of Maryland Dr. Richard Bell, the author of STOLEN, a new book that tells the incredible story of five boys whose courage forever changed the fight against slavery in America. Their ordeal shines a glaring spotlight on the Reverse Underground Railroad, a black-market network of human traffickers who stole away thousands of legally free African Americans to fuel slavery’s rapid expansion in the decades before the Civil War. See bio # -
July 23 Friday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Gregory GouldLocations: ZoomGreek mythology permeates our language, arts and culture, from the mundane daily use of such terms as 'to tantalize' and 'to have an Achilles's heel,' to psychological diagnosis, such as narcissism and the oedipal complex. Our thinking is shaped by these archetypes. We'll explore insights the Greeks captured and communicated through their story-telling... read moreGreek mythology permeates our language, arts and culture, from the mundane daily use of such terms as 'to tantalize' and 'to have an Achilles's heel,' to psychological diagnosis, such as narcissism and the oedipal complex. Our thinking is shaped by these archetypes. We'll explore insights the Greeks captured and communicated through their story-telling traditions, with a focus on role models of masculinity with an emphasis on Herakles, the 'strong man' and his 12 Labors. Gregory Gould, MPA, LADAC, developed a life-long passion for Greek mythology, spending many hours amongst the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art's antiquities collection as a 6th grader. He has visited Greece and the Middle East pursuing archaeological sites. Mr. Gould has branched out into the history of food and found novel ways of combining his interests resulting in fresh insights and meanings. -
August 16 Monday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Charles SteenLocations: ZoomThe Loire River Valley provided a meeting ground for the different cultures found in northern and southern France and the results are clearly seen in Orleans and Tours as well as in the chateaux in the countryside around them. Cultural life flourished as artists, architects and musicians came to the cities, following the increasing interest the monarchy had... read moreThe Loire River Valley provided a meeting ground for the different cultures found in northern and southern France and the results are clearly seen in Orleans and Tours as well as in the chateaux in the countryside around them. Cultural life flourished as artists, architects and musicians came to the cities, following the increasing interest the monarchy had in residing in the nearby chateaux, making the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries extraordinary times. See bio # -
August 16 Monday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Naomi SandweissLocations: ZoomOne typically thinks of Eastern European Jewish immigrants arriving in the US to live in crowded urban centers. Yet, Jews were settled in isolated farming communities throughout the US in the 19th century, largely funded and organized by well-meaning Jewish charitable organizations. This presentation will illustrate the many varieties of Jewish (and other... read moreOne typically thinks of Eastern European Jewish immigrants arriving in the US to live in crowded urban centers. Yet, Jews were settled in isolated farming communities throughout the US in the 19th century, largely funded and organized by well-meaning Jewish charitable organizations. This presentation will illustrate the many varieties of Jewish (and other Ethnic) agricultural settlements and how the pioneers adapted to their newfound prairie and rural existence in the US. Naomi Sandweiss is executive director of Parents Reaching Out, author of numerous articles and the book Jewish Albuquerque 1860-1960, and past president of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society. -
August 18 Wednesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Timothy C. GrahamLocations: ZoomA remarkable aspect of the Christian tradition has been the production of richly illustrated copies of the Scriptures. The most beautiful Bibles were produced during the European Middle Ages. Learn about the major stages in the history of medieval Bible decoration and illustration, beginning with the oldest surviving complete copy of the Vulgate and... read moreA remarkable aspect of the Christian tradition has been the production of richly illustrated copies of the Scriptures. The most beautiful Bibles were produced during the European Middle Ages. Learn about the major stages in the history of medieval Bible decoration and illustration, beginning with the oldest surviving complete copy of the Vulgate and including the Bibles moralisées, the magnificent Bible picture-books made for royal and aristocratic patrons between the 13th and 15th centuries. Dr. Timothy Graham is a Distinguished Professor of history and a Regents' Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNM. He served as director of the Institute for Medieval Studies from 2002 until 2020, organizing the acclaimed annual Medieval Spring Lecture Series. He holds BA, MA, and PhD degrees from Cambridge and an MPhil from the Warburg Institute, University of London. He is the author of Introduction to Manuscript Studies and in 2016 received the Medieval Academy of America's Award for Excellence in Teaching Medieval Studies.
