Yoga addicts, Italian conversationalist and wine connoisseurs can find a communal haven in the Student Union’s leisure classes.
Beginning Dec. 7 at 8 a.m., those who are interested in taking leisure classes in the spring can log onto www.lsu.edu/leisure classes to register. The University will offer 126 noncredit courses.
Lynne Maxwell, coordinator for the leisure classes, said the University has offered these classes since 1968. The program was created by Student Government.
The classes are open to both University students and the general public. During the 2006-2007 school year, about 18 percent of the students in leisure classes were University students, according to Maxwell.
“A lot of people from the community who take the classes went to LSU,” Maxwell said. “They say, ‘I always wanted to do this at LSU but never got the chance.'”
The courses range in price from $16 to $161. Maxwell said the most expensive class is horse care and riding, and the cheapest class is cookie blossom.
“Most of our classes are under $60 for students,” Maxwell said. “Some good classes to look at are the dance classes at $40 and the wine tasting classes at $50. Just know that you must be 21 to be enrolled in the wine tasting classes.”
Maxwell said some of the most popular classes are wine tasting, golf and yoga. The dance, cooking and craft classes are also favorites.
Ric Seeling has been teaching various dance classes – including ballroom, Latin, swing, two-step and Western – through the leisure classes program for 35 years.
“‘Dancing with the Stars’ simply brought to attention how much fun and healthy dancing is,” Seeling said. “You don’t have to be a dancer to do it, you can be a normal person.”
Seeling said taking a dance class can have many physical and emotional benefits.
“Dancing kept me in shape, helped me with the women, and people in dance classes are very sociable people,” Seeling said. “And you fall in love with the dance. Each dance has its own feeling, its own emotion and its own atmosphere.”
Ashley Statham, psychology junior, took the beginner’s ballroom dancing class this past year.
“I’ve always loved to dance, and there aren’t really any places around here to learn,” Statham said. “It’s a great experience. It gives you something to do when there’s nothing else to do.”
Joining the course offerings for spring 2008 are several new classes, including digital scrapbooking, archaeological excavation and Spanish II, as well as 10 others.
“Archaeological excavation will allow students to delve into Louisiana’s past,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell said students will have a hands-on experience with different archaeological processes through archaeological excavation.
Another new class is altered books.
“Altered books is an art form where you can take a book, add to it, subtract from it and make it a piece of art through an endless variety of techniques,” Maxwell said.
No matter which classes you choose, however, there are always benefits.
“Anytime you enrich yourself, that is beneficial,” Maxwell said. “They are a great way to explore new subject matter that you have been interested in. It’s positive anytime you’re learning and enriching yourself. There are no grades. So it takes the pressure off.”