Harmony Within: Understanding Holistic Health: Practitioners and Modalities

With Judith Dreyer Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 107 Aug. 25; Sept. 1, 8, 15 Cost: $40

This course explores well-being amid stress and uncertainty fueling chronic diseases. It covers complementary/alternative practices, practitioner licensure and scope, overviews of Ayurveda and TCM (WHO-recognized). Plus histories of Western medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy. Benefits, pros/cons, and practical holistic applications for daily life are examined.

Judith Dreyer is the author of three nonfiction books, blending nutrition and nursing with holistic practices. She taught university-level holistic health for over thirteen years, hosted the Holistic Nature of Us podcast, and speaks widely on wellness and nature connections.

Exploring Kundalini Yoga for ANY Body

With Jennifer Perry Tuesday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | IH 117 Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Cost: $45

Kundalini Yoga strengthens both the body and intuitive mind, expanding "conscious awareness" while restoring vitality. We'll explore breathwork, kriya, mantra, and meditation, ending class with deep rest and homemade yogi tea. Chairs and variations are offered, making this yoga accessible to ANY body. Please bring a mat and blanket(s).

Jennifer Perry (Dass Priya Kaur) is a certified teacher of Kundalini Yoga (KRI), Conscious Pregnancy Yoga, and Radiant Child Yoga. She is a Usui Reiki Level III Master and founder of smallSEEDS, a local studio devoted to offerings of Kundalini Yoga, Reiki, and community connection.

Merely Players: Reading and Watching Shakespeare

With Amanda Kellogg Tuesday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | IH 104 Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Cost: $45

This class will select one of the plays that is on the schedule for the American Shakespeare Center's fall season. We will read through the play to ensure comprehension, identify major themes, and discuss staging challenges. The class will culminate with a trip to the ASC to see a live production.

Amanda Kellogg is Director of Professional Development for JMU's School of Professional & Continuing Education. She holds a PhD in Early Modern English Literature and has taught Shakespeare in settings ranging from high school and college classrooms to a maximum-security prison.

Unique Beaded and Wire-Wrapped Jewelry

With Donna Barber Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22 Cost: $40 (+$30 supply fee, collected by instructor first day, cash or check)

This course provides instruction and practice in making jewelry using beads, wire-wrapped stones and shells. Information will also be provided on where to find economically priced jewelry and how to upcycle them into wearable art. Each week, students will make jewelry to take home and wear right away. The final week, students will have the opportunity to make copper jewelry.

Donna Barber earned both her undergraduate and graduate education degrees from JMU and taught for more than 25 years. She has practiced beaded jewelry making for over 18 years and loves teaching others to create beaded pieces, wire-wrapped stones, and shell jewelry.

Media Literacy: Making Sense of News, Scams, and AI

With Bridget Manley Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 117; Sept. 15 in IH 106; Oct. 6 in IH 104 Sept. 1, 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6 Cost: $45

Learn strategies to evaluate news, spot scams, and comprehend AI's impact on information. Participants will explore credibility, bias, misinformation, and digital tools to make informed online decisions.

Bridget Manley is a publisher with The Harrisonburg Citizen and has freelanced for WMRA and Virginia Public Media. She spent much of her career as a radio reporter and produced her own podcast, Birds in a Tree.

Garden Allies: How to Attract and Support Beneficial Insects

With Sue Dickson Tuesday, 1:30 – 3:30 pm | IH 106 Sept. 8, 15, 22 Cost: $35

A healthy landscape depends on diverse insects that support pest control and food webs. This course explores beneficial insects and butterflies, teaching identification, lifecycles, and habitat needs. Learn how plant choices influence these "garden allies" and how to design a landscape that attracts and sustains them, creating a thriving, low-input environment.

Sue Dickson is a certified arborist and veteran educator. Former NVCC professor for nine years, she taught 650+ plant species and core horticulture courses. She has taught at Blue Ridge CC and now focuses on ecological landscape consulting, speaking, and coaching homeowners.

Cave Formations

With Daisy Obst Tuesday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | Grand Caverns Sept. 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13 Cost: $45

Explore how caves form, the geological forces at work, and the remarkable formations beneath Grand Caverns. Through photographs, diagrams, video clips, and discussion, participants will learn about dissolution, erosion, mineral deposition, cave ecology, and the historical significance of America's oldest show cave.

Grand Caverns interpreters bring expertise in geology, cave interpretation, and environmental education, providing an accessible and engaging introduction to the hidden world beneath our feet.

What's All the Excitement About Prediction Markets?

With Pamela Drake Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 117 Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Cost: $40

Prediction markets enable betting on events and have expanded recently. Key questions include their regulation, who profits from them, and whether they can influence event outcomes. This discussion will explore these topics and more.

Pamela Peterson Drake is Professor Emeritus of Finance at James Madison University, where she taught full-time for 41 years. She continues to teach as an adjunct at JMU and in LLI, now focusing on engaging topics such as AI, cryptocurrency, and financial scandals.

Ethics of World Religions

With Laura Yordy Tuesday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | IH 117 Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10 Cost: $50

Explore how the world's major religious traditions answer enduring questions about the good life, knowledge, and the origins of suffering. By examining these traditions from their own perspectives rather than a Western lens, this course highlights shared ethical values, key differences, and how diverse worldviews can expand our understanding of ourselves and others.

Laura Yordy is a retired Bridgewater College professor of philosophy and religion specializing in ethics, justice, gender, and the environment. She writes on Christianity and climate justice, works part-time at Booksavers (Gift & Thrift), and volunteers with Cats' Cradle.

Qatar! Singing Sands, Camel Lands, and Gifts from the Sea

With Susan Hagadone Tuesday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | IH 104 Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10 Cost: $45

Come explore a modern Arab state in the Persian Gulf with an expat who lived and worked there. What do you know about Qatar? Delve into Qatari culture through a survey of their history, geography, geology, economy, government, education, religion, arts, sports, nature, agriculture, daily life and other topics including controversies.

Susan Hagadone is a twice-retired educator whose career spans elementary teaching in Virginia's Appalachian region, Peace Corps teacher training in West Africa, correctional education, rural public schools as a reading and learning-disabilities specialist, and learning support roles in international schools.

Modern Russian History from Tsar Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin

With Mary Louise Loe Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 (3 weeks) 117 (3 weeks) Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17 Cost: $50

Trace Russia's turbulent path from empire to revolution, Stalinism, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Putin era, ending with the Ukraine war and its consequences for Russia, Europe, and global stability.

Mary Louise Loe earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. A longtime JMU history professor, she has taught for LLI since 2013, specializing in Russian history, European history, and modern human rights.

Symbology and Its Use in Dreams

With Rose Longworth Tuesday, 9:30 am–11:30 am | IH 104 Oct. 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17 Cost: $45 (Optional dream journal: $15)

Explore the language of dreams through Carl Jung's Man and His Symbols. Participants will keep a dream journal and use drawing, mandalas, symbols, and other creative exercises to examine archetypes, the shadow, the unconscious, and other tools for personal insight.

Rose Longworth, a native of Ireland, holds degrees from James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University. After 20 years in Virginia community mental health services, she established a private practice in Bridgewater specializing in dreams, symbolism, art therapy, and holistic approaches to mental health.

Introduction to Process Art for Adults

With Dawn Murray Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH Flex Space Oct. 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17; Dec. 1 Cost: $45

If you've ever said you don't have a creative bone in your body, this class is for you. Designed for beginners and the creatively curious, this course introduces a variety of art supplies, concepts, materials, and methods. The focus is enjoying the creative process rather than striving for perfection. No previous art experience is necessary.

Dawn Murray is a process-art teacher who helps artists of all ages explore and express their creativity. Founder of the Village Arts Center in Broadway from 2016–2020, she teaches in traditional classrooms and leads creative workshops for team-building events, retreats, and private gatherings.

Beyond Basic Beads: Intermediate Jewelry Making

With Donna Barber Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 Nov. 3, 10, 17; Dec. 1, Dec 8 Cost: $45 (+$30 supply fee, collected by instructor first day, cash or check)

Explore advanced jewelry-making by creating hammered copper earrings and pendants, using wooden mandrels and wire jigs, and crafting a Tree of Life from upcycled materials. Basic knowledge of jewelry loops and stringing techniques is beneficial.

Donna Barber earned undergraduate and graduate education degrees from JMU and taught for more than 25 years. She has practiced jewelry making for over 18 years and enjoys teaching others to create beaded pieces, wire-wrapped stones, shells, and copper designs.

Jane Austen's First Two Novels: Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice

With Diane Lending Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 106 Nov. 10, 17; Dec. 1, 8, 15 Cost: $45

Jane Austen, despite writing only six novels, is a highly influential author known for her wit and social commentary. This course examines "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice" in the context of Regency-Era power, class, gender, and women's economic realities. It includes discussions on Austen's life, her lasting popularity, and modern adaptations, featuring both lectures and book discussions.

Diane Lending, a retired JMU professor of Computer Information Systems, has taught several literature courses for LLI since 2022. She deepened her study of Jane Austen through a course at Oxford University and a Jane Austen–themed tour of England.

Gardening Connections 2: Holiday Greens Workshop

With Jennifer Matthaei Cottrell Tuesday, 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | IH 104 Dec. 8, 15 Cost: $30 (+$25 supply fee, collected by instructor first day, cash or check)

Create a beautiful holiday swag using fresh-cut greens and a recycled wooden coat hanger. Add texture and seasonal fragrance with pine cones, holly berries, and ribbon, then leave with a finished decoration ready to hang on a door or mantel.

Gardening Connection is a collaborative group of six local gardeners—Chris Chrisley, Joy Coakley, Jennifer Matthaei Cottrell, Kim Landis Hamner, Diane Hirsch, and Janet Wendelken—dedicated to sharing their love of gardening and hands-on horticultural practices.