The NIU Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI), established in 2000, is a member-directed group of individuals primarily age 50+ who enjoy learning in informal, flexible, non-competitive groups and like connecting with peers who share their interests. No grades, no tests – just learning for the fun of it.

Wednesdays, April 17, 24 and May 1, 8
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

COVID-19 has presented us with challenges most of us never anticipated, including isolation, social awkwardness and depression. This class will explore personal opportunities for development using creative ways to meditate and to promote positive thinking, spiritual connection and emotional support.

The sessions will be interactive and focus on the use of meditative expressions such as chanting, sound and the use of crystal and metal tone bowls. It will offer suggestions on how to use ritual and positive mindset strategies to help build harmony and explore dissonance. We will examine the resolution of stress and process the effects of sound and vocal exercises to deepen and calm the mind and spirit.

Conveners: Rev. Linda Slabon is the minister emerita of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of DeKalb and is an affiliated community minister with the UU Church of Rockford. Linda serves as a board member on the Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois and maintains a small private practice as a clinical social worker.

Toni Tollerud is a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita of the College of Education at NIU. She serves as president of the NIU Annuitants Board, and she leads statewide seminars on supervision and trauma. For 26 years Toni served as music and choir director at the UU Congregation of DeKalb.