REL 89 — Cultivating Calm: Exploring Spiritual Wellness
Quarter: Summer
Instructor(s): Tiffany Steinwert
Date(s): Jul 29—Aug 26
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Tuesdays
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Tuition: $275
Refund Deadline: Jul 31
Unit(s): 0
Status: Open
Quarter: Summer
Day: Tuesdays
Duration: 5 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jul 29—Aug 26
Unit(s): 0
Tuition: $275
Refund Deadline: Jul 31
Instructor(s): Tiffany Steinwert
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
How can spirituality help us cultivate resilience, equanimity, and balance in pursuit of a life well-lived? This course will help students explore a range of contemplative practices—accessible and easily woven into daily life—including mindfulness meditation and poetic reflection. We will discuss spiritual disciplines such as lectio divina and Buddhist-inspired breathwork, all aimed at fostering a sense of calm amid life’s chaos. Together, we will reflect on essential questions about the meaning of life, the development of purpose, and the value dilemmas that inevitably arise. Students will deepen their self-understanding by examining diverse wisdom traditions and engaging with sacred texts, contemporary podcasts, interviews with spiritual leaders, and scholarly research on spirituality’s impact on well-being. By the end of this course, students will possess a robust understanding of spiritual wellness and a personalized roadmap for nurturing their own across a lifespan.
Stanford Continuing Studies has lowered the tuition for this course to increase access to education supporting mental health and personal well-being.
TIFFANY STEINWERT
Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life, Stanford
Tiffany Steinwert nurtures religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical education for students, staff, and faculty at Stanford. Trained as a practical theologian, her scholarly work explores emerging pedagogies for interreligious education, chaplaincy in higher education, and contemplative studies. She previously served as dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse and dean for religious and spiritual life at Wellesley College. Steinwert received a PhD in practical theology from Boston University.
Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.