Welcome to the Course Syllabus!

PLEASE READ IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTICE: This Spring 2022, Joyful Living will only be held online. While we welcome your interest, please note that this Course may not be suitable for all students. See points below and please make an informed and logical decision for yourself on registering for this Course at this time:

-This course requires "doing" things each week. So if you are overloaded with credits and already too busy, the Course may not be suitable.
-This Course is primarily about exploring and evolving the self, weekly wellness concepts, self empowerment and yoga and mindfulness. If you are not interested in this, the Course may not be suitable.
-If you are taking this Course because you think its an easy A or you need some credits, you may be surprised that it is not easy. If you do the weekly requirements, you will do well. However, as noted above, there are things to do; working on ourselves poses a different kind of challenge than a typical University course. You do have to engage in the material and engage in practices. If you are not taking the Course for these reasons and only for elective credits, there is a chance you may not connect, please be aware of this.
-If you have limited space where you cannot roll out a yoga mat, then please think about how you could access yoga practices each week.
-While videos are recorded, with online classes, there is a feeling that you can wait and do things later. If you let things pile up, it becomes very challenging and you will not maximize the benefits of the weekly experiential practices. If its difficult to keep, this also may not be suitable at this time. Of course there will be weeks when things are busier, however, the practices of the Course are actually intended to assist you during these times, so skipping them because you are too busy defeats the purpose how this Course can be beneficial for you.
-Each week the modules build and integrate with the next module. So it is important you engage in the Course from the very first week. Try not to miss anything!

If the above is not relatable for you, then please read on and thank you so much for your interest!

課程大綱：
歡迎各位參與本課程！
請注意此修課須知：本學期僅有線上課程，並無實體課。我們十分歡迎各位對本課程的興趣，但此課程可能並不適合每位學生。請在閱讀以下幾點，並確認已經充分了解各項要求後，再決定是否修習此課程：
-本課程要求每週都有「實作」的體驗。若您學分已經充足，甚至過於忙碌，本課程可能不適合您。
-本課程大致上歸類為：探索與進化自我、每週的健康概念、自我賦權、瑜珈及正念。若您不感興趣，本課程可能不適合您。
-若您為了輕鬆拿到A或為了學分，而修習此課程，您會驚訝的發現並沒有那麼容易。能充分完成每週的要求，您就能順利達成所想的目標。然而，同上述所言，本課程不同於其他普遍的大學課程，要求且注重「實作」(如練習瑜珈的姿勢、各式各樣不一樣的挑戰等等），需要您投入在每一次的課程以及每一次的體驗。若您僅僅為了學分而修習這門課程，有可能讓您無法感受到「連結」的感覺。
-請確保您有足夠的室內空間或適當的戶外空間，能夠每週鋪設瑜珈墊以及進行課程。
-本學期課程將全程採用預錄上課影片的方式，請盡量於當週完成課程內容，避免將事情累積到最後再一次完成，這可能大大降低您每週收穫的效果。若您無法做到每週準時完成作業，請再三考慮後再修習本課程。當然，每個人都會有過於忙碌的時候，本課程就是意圖在這種時候能夠提供給您適當的幫助，所以因忙碌而跳過某些課程，和我們建立本課程的目的相去甚遠。
-每週的課程之間都會有所連結，需要您從第一週開始投入於課程中。盡量避免錯過任何事情！

若以上內容無法引起您的共鳴，我們仍歡迎您看看下面的內容，也感謝您對這門課程產生興趣！

Course Description
(PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE IS ONLINE ONLY)
Joy and love are intrinsically our authentic nature. However our life experiences, chronic stress and unresolved cumulative trauma can be a precursor to disconnection from our authentic nature and inherent strengths. In our pursuit of success and ‘happiness’, or the “good life” we have become bombarded from an early age with what seems like a societal mapping for success. This is often inclusive of responsibilities, tasks, and the pressure of doing and achieving more. Alongside this, environmental stressors such as digital overload, political instability, climate change and health pandemics can often feel overwhelming. Over time, our nervous systems become overloaded, taking a toll on our body, mind and spirit. Our physical and mental health may decline or our relationships and life satisfaction may deteriorate. At the end of the day (and life), will what we do and achieve matter if we are unhappy and suffering? What does the evidence tell us about creating a joyful, happy and meaningful life? This practice based, self-development course brings forth empirical findings and evidence based approaches for holistic wellbeing and a meaningful life. We explore diverse and integrated wellbeing constructs from the lenses of social work, positive psychology, and yoga and mindfulness. The evidence demonstrates how a balanced body, mind and spirit connects to overall life satisfaction. Students will explore and log about weekly practices and approaches designed to foster tools for holistic wellbeing. Students can learn new techniques and approaches to navigate the ebbs and flows of life’s daily stressors and challenges. This can prevent chronic stress and dis-ease and enhance resilience and wellbeing. This is more than an academic course, it is a journey of self discovery, self care and self empowerment.

This course is fully online and offers a unique transformative learning experience. Resources offered are from the lenses of integrative social work, positive psychology and yoga and mindfulness. Each week the students will watch recorded videos and audio. These will include instructor lectures of the topic, wellness practice videos of yoga, breath and other mindfulness practices. Also a variety of weekly resources and learning tools will be available for students to refer to. Weekly articles offer deeper insights into wellbeing topics and often summarize and give access to scientific evidence and research around the topic. While resources will include access to scientific papers, they will offer a more dynamic and interactive learning experiences for the students that may be more accessible and interesting. For example, engaging videos, particularly TED Talks, offering valuable highlights and tools of the wellbeing constructs or life experiences of speakers. Audio recordings will include podcasts, guided mindfulness practices and breathwork from experts. Websites will offer deeper examples and insights into topics as well as a depository of scientific evidence. Students have the option to dive deeper into these topics per their interest but will they not be required to access all resources under each topic. Some will be required and some will be optional. All resources are free and web based. Students will be required to have a yoga mat and yoga blocks to safely practice yoga.

I will also offer OPTIONAL live wellness sessions this semester. At least 2 virtual and 2 in person (to be held on lawn in front of main library). This is our chance to practice together and experience group chi :). I offer an experience that is inclusive of yoga, breathing, connection activities and small group and partner practices.

As you know, this is a self-development course. If you are currently experiencing physical and mental health disharmony and life challenges, you are encouraged to also access student counseling. This Course can be a support for you but does not replace counseling. The Professor is happy to support you in your efforts for wellbeing and is open to discuss and work with you. Students are encouraged to utilize Professor office hours for further clarification into Course materials, lectures, assignments or for any important matters. They can contact TA also.


課程介紹：
愛與喜悅是我們的本能，但是在許多壓力和創傷下，我們忘記了這些本能。為了追求世俗的成功與快樂與滿足社會期待，我們承擔太多壓力，甚至政治、氣候、社群軟體都在讓我們喘不過去。長時間下來我們神經系統超載，對身心靈造成嚴重影響，我們的身心健康都因此惡化。最後，如果我們身心都感到痛苦，任何成就、功成名利還有意義嗎？科學證據告訴我們怎麼擁有一個充滿喜悅與意義的人生？這個實證與自我成長課程將讓您知道如何擁有全人的身心健康。我們從社會工作、正向心理學、瑜珈與正念等練習探索多元與整合的身心健康。這些資訊教導我們如何擁有身心靈整合、滿意的生活。學生會透過指定的練習來探索全人健康、學習各種技巧和方法和度過許多人生的起伏與困難，如此可以避免慢性壓力和疾病以增進心理韌性與幸福感。這不只是一個學術的課程，而是一個與自我發現、自我關懷、自我充權有關的課程。

本堂課是全線上的課程，並提供獨特的學習經驗。參考資料都與社會工作、正向心理學、瑜珈與正念有關。每周學生會看指定影片和聽音檔，包含了老師的講課、瑜珈練習、呼吸與正念練習。另外也有許多資訊和學習工具會給同學參考。每周參考資料的文章會讓學生更深入了解該周的主題，並讓大家了解更多相關的科學證據和研究。雖然有些資料會包含科學論文，但會提供更有互動性的學習經驗給學生。例如有TED Talks給大家參考、Podcast讓大家聆聽、專家學者的實際操作練習。也會有提供實用的網站(免費的)與科學資料給同學進行更深入的學習，因此學生可以在每周的主題上自由學習更多更深入的東西而非強迫。因為課程有瑜珈的練習，因此需要同學自備瑜珈墊與瑜珈磚。

這是一個自我成長的課程，如果你正經歷身心痛苦與困難，很鼓勵您來參與本堂課，但本堂課不會心理輔導中心，因此還是鼓勵同學可以前往心理輔導中心。教授非常榮幸可以在大家為自己身心健康努力的同時助一臂之力，歡迎同學利用老師的office hour來和老師談更多課程資料、講課內容、作業等等與課堂有關的重要資料。同時也歡迎與助教聯繫。