This class will focus on what makes us feel alive and brings us joy. We'll explore how passion connects to positive psychology and how it can boost well-being no matter our age.

Learn about practical & proven tools to cultivate well-being and improve happiness in your everyday life. From tips on creating habits to build positive emotions to developing resilience skills to deal with stress and challenges that arise in everyday life, this class will help you find ways to have a more positive mindset.

Callie received her certificate in Positive Psychology in 2017. During the pandemic, she began hosting online workshops and presentations for individuals and small groups. She is a NYC native, a graduate of CUNY, and a media professional. She’s also a lifelong learner interested in growth & transformation and passionate about helping others find ways to positively improve their everyday lives.

In this final session, we’ll delve into traditional Chinese clothing, how the dynasties affected clothing styles, and how ethnic clothing varied by region. We’ll discuss the history and trends of traditional clothing and their continued presence and significance in Chinese culture today.

Lauren is a candidate for a Master of Social Work degree at Columbia University. I invite you to join me at VSC as we explore the rich history and culture of China through a personal lens. This series, China Through My Eyes, is an opportunity to share various aspects of my heritage with you. Together, we’ll uncover the stories of the past that have shaped China into what it is today.

Join Cheryl, Ron, and volunteers as they showcase their furry friends. Enjoy their antics, cuteness, and tricks. They're waiting for you to have a great time! CJ will be hosting calls with her special little dog, Lucy! They are a therapy dog team that loves serving others virtually and in person.

Lucy is an AKC Distinguished Therapy Dog and a trickster! She also has the AKC Performer Elite title (highest level). They are excited to host these virtual pet therapy calls with VSC and look forward to having fun visits with you! Ron will be hosting or co-hosting with his dogs, Snow & Rosie - a sure good time!

Discover the art of chess with Benjamin and fellow students as your guides! Each class begins with a brief introduction, after which you'll move into separate 'breakout rooms,' where individual students will lead you through the intricacies of chess piece movements. Not only is chess a delightful pastime, but it also nurtures memory, logic, and fosters social connections. So, get ready for some fun!

Benjamin and his friends are passionate about chess, often competing in tournaments. Benjamin, in particular, is the driving force behind 'Chess in the Homes,' an intergenerational chess program. He and most of his fellow chess enthusiasts who facilitate VSC classes attend Stuyvesant High School.

Join Sam and Natalie as they explore the reasons behind the architecture you see today!

Natalie and Sam are both juniors at Stony Brook University, where they participate in the Women in Science and Engineering Honors Program. They’re very excited to share their interests in food, weather, and architecture!

Every person has a fantastic life story that needs to be told. In this series of classes, we look at the memories of our lives. We explore the questions, both big and small. All of our lives are so different, and we celebrate how different we each are.

Our classes usually have a shorter, more straightforward question and a more involved question afterward. All of us share our stories. There are lots of smiles and laughter.

Ross lives in Sydney, Australia, and he enjoys hearing about the differences in our lives in the US. He has been happily working with Seniors for many years. Ross works part-time in a nursing home, trying to help people live happier, better lives, and looks forward to the VSC weekly sessions very much.

Join Charles for a lot of musical potpourri and a little of “other”! The musical content will include some basic teaching of how to play a piano, singing as a group, viewing music videos to include songs and teaching about music. Then, if time, Charles takes class requests and will devote some time to discussing or finding interesting things on the internet. Enjoy the Entertainment hour!

Charles has always been a music lover and his earliest memories of loving music are hearing his beloved Mom humming, singing and listening to a transistor radio, challenging as it was to tune in to a radio station. Today he wants to bring joy to you by helping you to build a simple toolbox for playing the piano (a super user friendly and approachable instrument), that will enable them to play a lot of song as well as just enjoy the pleasures of singing and listening to Music!

This game will be based on the TV show "What's My Line?". Everyone will get a chance to ask questions to the person whose job they are trying to guess. The person with the "job" can only answer "yes" or "no" to the questions.

The person asking the question will get to keep asking as long as they get "yes" answers to their questions. They will stop when they get a "No" answer and the next person will ask questions. The group will get up to 10 "no" answers to guess their profession to win the game. This is a chance to give your inquisitive minds a real workout!

Dave was formerly a Radiation Therapy Physicist. He loves a variety of gambling games including Poker & Blackjack, as it incorporates memory, psychology, and logic into an interactive group where everyone is an equal and he's happy to share that with the enliveo group!

Improvisation, or Improv, is spontaneous, entertaining, and fun! The first 8 people entering the class who wish to be an actor that day will be doing 2-person scenes for about 5 minutes. It’s a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a scene or story are made up in the moment.

You will be doing 2-person scenes for about 5 minutes. Kathy will give each pair of “actors” a situation. The actors will each be given a character to pretend to play. After the scene is acted out, the rest of the class will guess what characters they are portraying. There will be several scenes played out as time allows. Example of a situation for doing an improv scene: You are preparing for your first ride in a hot air balloon.

Kathy Knox discovered improv when she took an improv class in 2016. Since then she has enjoyed teaching and performing improv at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University in Greenville, SC.

Join for a live view of The New York Historical Society's galleries and a highlight of treasured historical artifacts. Kionah Tucker is an experienced museum professional with a passion for making history education accessible and fun.

She currently serves as the Education Coordinator at the New-York Historical Society, where she manages the museum’s internship program for college and graduate students and supports programming related to the museum’s many initiatives for students and teachers.

Originally from Newport News, Virginia, she relocated to attend St. John’s University in 2011 and has called New York City home since. Other than her love for history, she is a lover of fashion, travel, animals, game shows, and great food.

Stress doesn’t disappear with age, but we can learn to manage it in healthy ways. In this session, we’ll explore relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, and tools to help us find peace even in difficult times.

Join Daniela in this series of classes, which will focus on different wellness topics. Daniela attends Capella University and is currently a Social Work Intern. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, crocheting, and looking for new ways to stay active.

Staying socially connected is key to overall well-being at any stage of life. This interactive class will explore the importance of meaningful relationships and offer practical ways to strengthen social connections. Participants will discuss the benefits of staying engaged, share experiences, and learn strategies for fostering friendships both online and in daily life. Join Abby in a welcoming virtual space to connect, learn, and build a supportive community together.

Abby is an MSW candidate attending the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. She is interning at Selfhelp, working in the VSC/enliveo department. She looks forward to discussing wellness and hearing about what strategies you have to keep life meaningful and healthy.

Are you surrounded by clutter? Either a little or a lot? Do you wish you could use your dining room table to eat off of and not be a catch-all for stuff? Then come to this class...and bring your clutter!

Felice will motivate you (who are we kidding, the push!) to start saying "Buh-bye!" to your clutter during class. She will also offer great tips for doing it on your own if you want.

Felice is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and professional organizer with extensive experience helping people get rid of stuff and live the lives they want.

This class will include a variety of methods, including lymph drainage, blood circulation, Ayurveda, and tapping. Deborah Brandt, Doctor of Physical Therapy and retired dancer, developed it for seniors' movement education and wellbeing.

During each class, participants will lubricate joints and muscles through their full range of motion, stimulate balance, and practice mindful movement.

Whatever your strength or ability, enjoy this opportunity to explore the elements of functional movement while you energize and surprise your mind and body in a fun, creative environment!

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical. The work reflects the creators' observations of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the late 1960s, and several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement. The work broke new ground in musical theatre by defining the genre of "rock musical", using a racially integrated cast, and inviting the audience onstage for a "Be-In" finale.

Maddie Gwinner is a junior at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Political Science and International Relations. Outside of the VSC, she’s on the Arkansas Alpha Delta Pi’s executive board and Vice President of her university’s Mock Trial program. Maddie has been performing in musicals for as long as she’s been able to walk, and she’s excited to share her passion for classic Broadway shows!

To celebrate International Guide Dog Day, Rob will play a selection of songs that feature man's best friend. Rob will launch a series of sessions with some of his favorite songs from yesterday and today across a range of genres. Enjoy the music and the stories behind the songs.

Rob Lutes is an acclaimed songwriter and performer, a multiple Maple Blues Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominee, and recipient of the 2018 Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Singer of the Year. He has released eight albums, including 2021's Come Around, which hit #5 on Folk Radio in the US in August 2021. https://roblutes.com/

Join David for a class focusing on increasing strength and improving overall vitality for various health-related issues such as Arthritis, balance, etc. They include a mixture of movements based on yoga, pilates, and PT exercises. Do as many or as few exercises as you can, as he explains how the exercises help you with your daily movement.

David is a NASM certified personal trainer and holds a certification in Senior Fitness. He also specializes in Parkinson Wellness Recovery programs from PWR4LIFE. His business focuses on Mature Adults, leads individual and group training of all ages, as well as works with people with various conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. David also teaches in the Arts & Science department for the past 16 years as part time Faculty for Columbia College in Chicago, IL.

Join Alan to continue the trip to the Middle East. The next stops will be Bahrain, a tiny island in the Persian Gulf, along with the two very rich oil-producing countries of Oman and Kuwait. These countries have a very rich history and play a key role in the Middle East.

A former high school math teacher, Allen enjoys leading virtual classes on various topics.

Ponce de Leon named the mythical fountain of Youth – La Florida-“land of flowers” due to its lush vegetation. Learn about the builders of Florida, including Henry Morrison Flagler(the railway to Key West), Henry Plant (the Plant system of railroads), and Walt Disney. Port of Miami has transformed Miami into one of the busiest cruise ship hubs in the world.

Join John for an educational/informational series of lectures designed to spark interest and enthusiasm in students to learn about the rich and fascinating history of traveling to diverse locations. It’s an adventure through early European and North/South American history that tells the stories of the people, places, and events that shape the world's institutions.

Born in Jersey City, NJ, John enlisted in the Army, served as a construction engineer, and graduated from CUNY with an Economics degree.

Explore travel tech resources, including top websites for booking hotels, flights, accommodations, transportation, and tours. This guide also covers tips for using AI to streamline your planning process and tools to create itineraries to make your travel planning secure and efficient. Join Johanna of Smarter Service for Tech tips, including using your device, surfing the internet, using Email, and many more relevant tips to keep up with today's technology trends.

Johanna has over a decade of experience in the tech industry and is passionate about helping older adults navigate and build confidence with technology. Originally from Texas—a place she still fondly calls home—Johanna now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband of over 12 years and their three beautiful children. When she's not spending time with her family, Johanna enjoys baking and decorating cakes!

Sarah is an engineering student at Stony Brook University in New York. Her goal is to one day work for NASA or SpaceX as an aerospace engineer, building rockets, rovers, and satellites.

When she's not in school, she enjoys baking, sewing, and exploring new genres of music. She enjoys expressing her creativity through these activities.

Nicole Li is a student at Stony Brook University majoring in Information Systems. She enjoys a wide range of things, from origami and fashion to criminology! She enjoys sharing her knowledge with everyone!

Maegan enjoys leading classes on Women Leaders and researching women from the past to the present day in all walks of life. Join her to learn about these dynamic women!

Maegan is an editor and French translator by profession, allowing her to work with writers, artists, nonprofits, and businesses worldwide. Her work combines two passions: helping people build relationships through communication and learning new things. Maegan moved to NYC in 2011 for the Publishing and Digital Media program at NYU. She was excited to discover an online community center for older adults--something she had longed to see in her home city of Montreal while working for HelpAge Canada.

She has been leading VSC classes ever since, and cherishes the bond she shares with the participants over women leaders throughout history and their influence on our lives today. She loves to spend time in nature and has two small dogs, Cindy and Tucker (who sometimes pop in on classes!)

This is an excellent class for students with mobility issues. All welcome – We will focus on physical movement, flexibility, balance, and breath work. This gentle form of yoga is practiced in a chair. Some standing poses will be practiced.

Cristina is a SoCal native seeking to expand her yoga practice among several specialized groups, including senior communities.

Join your friends and play some Dealer's Choice poker. When it is your turn to deal, you get to choose between Texas Hold'em and stud poker with wild card variations. The first 6 players who sign in will play at the table and have a chance to be the big winner for the night! This is not a class on how to play; you should already be familiar with the rules for stud and Texas Hold'em.

If you are uncomfortable playing but just want to watch and learn how the game is played, you are more than welcome to join the session and pick up some pointers! The hand rankings for poker are posted under the "Materials" tab if you wish to print that out.

Dave was formerly a Radiation Therapy Physicist. He loves poker, as it incorporates memory, psychology, and logic into an interactive group where everyone is equal, and he's happy to share that with the VSC group!

Learn about various health issues, including their symptoms, prevention, and suggestions for healthier living, with gerontologist Dr. Raik.

Dr. Raik spent 40 years practicing and teaching geriatric medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and its associated medical schools. She has just retired from clinical work but continues teaching medical students.

Join Tyler to learn how to use paper to create a pebble beach scene. Materials: Construction paper or card stock in brown, blue, white, tan, and black, scissors, double or single-sided tape, black and brown marker.

Join Tyler in either watching or working along with her to create lovely crafts using simple materials. Join Tyler in watching or working with her to create lovely crafts using simple materials.

Tyler works in marketing by day; however, she loves working with paper and other media to create practical crafts in her spare time. She enjoys researching and finding simple projects for everyone to share and express their own creativity.

What’s the biggest news story that you remember? Is there something about yourself you don’t like?

Every person has a fantastic life story that needs to be told. In this series of classes, we look at the memories of our lives. We explore the questions, both big and small. All of our lives are so different, and we celebrate how different we each are. Our classes usually have a shorter, more straightforward question and a more involved question afterward. All of us share our stories. There are lots of smiles and laughter.

Ross lives in Sydney, Australia, and enjoys hearing how our lives differ. He has been working with Seniors for some time now. Ross continues working part-time in a nursing home, trying to help people live happier, better lives, and very much looks forward to the VSC weekly sessions.

Join Charles for a lot of musical potpourri and a little of “other”! The musical content will include some basic teaching of how to play a piano, singing as a group, viewing music videos to include songs and teaching about music. Then, if time, Charles takes class requests and will devote some time to discussing or finding interesting things on the internet. Enjoy the Entertainment hour!

Charles has always been a music lover and his earliest memories of loving music are hearing his beloved Mom humming, singing and listening to a transistor radio, challenging as it was to tune in to a radio station. Today he wants to bring joy to you by helping you to build a simple toolbox for playing the piano (a super user friendly and approachable instrument), that will enable them to play a lot of song as well as just enjoy the pleasures of singing and listening to Music!

This game will be based on the TV show "What's My Line?". Everyone will get a chance to ask questions to the person whose job they are trying to guess. The person with the "job" can only answer "yes" or "no" to the questions.

The person asking the question will get to keep asking as long as they get "yes" answers to their questions. They will stop when they get a "No" answer and the next person will ask questions. The group will get up to 10 "no" answers to guess their profession to win the game. This is a chance to give your inquisitive minds a real workout!

Dave was formerly a Radiation Therapy Physicist. He loves a variety of gambling games including Poker & Blackjack, as it incorporates memory, psychology, and logic into an interactive group where everyone is an equal and he's happy to share that with the enliveo group!

Improvisation, or Improv, is spontaneous, entertaining, and fun! The first 8 people entering the class who wish to be an actor that day will be doing 2-person scenes for about 5 minutes. It’s a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters and dialogue of a scene or story are made up in the moment. You will be doing 2-person scenes for about 5 minutes. Kathy will give each pair of “actors” a situation. The actors will each be given a character to pretend to play. After the scene is acted the rest of the class will guess what characters they were portraying. There will be several scenes played out as time allows.

Example of a situation for doing an improv scene: You are preparing for your first ride in a hot air balloon.

Kathy Knox discovered improv when she took an improv class in 2016. Since then she has enjoyed teaching and performing improv at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University in Greenville, SC.