For reflection - The 2019 Poster Presentations

The 2021 Virtual Gathering has concluded, and we are working on details for the 2022 Gathering. The Call for poster presentations closed on March 1, 2020, and the selection committee has chosen the 2022 presentations.  While we are certainly hoping for an in-person gathering in 2022, we continue to monitor the pandemic situation. The TLS Board will make a final decision in the spring of 2022.  In the meantime, the information on what was offered in 2019 is provided here for your reflection:

Poster Presentations Saturday 3:00 - 3:45 pm in Jubilee

Helping College Students Learn: Results From A Single Labyrinth Walk
Presenters: Melissa Powers, C.Diane Rudebock
In this poster, we share the results of a project examining the perceived impacts of a single labyrinth experience on college students.  We found that students reported being less stressed, more peaceful and relaxed, and more centered and reflective. A labyrinth walk may be a helpful way for students to find a calming break and develop focus. 

Melissa Powers is a Professor of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a Veriditas-Certified Labyrinth Facilitator. Dr. Powers has collaborated with students to conduct research on the labyrinth and uses the labyrinth as a tool for reflection in her graduate and undergraduate courses.   

C. Diane Rudebock, is Emerita in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma.  She has served as TLS Resource Vice President and Research Committee Chair and is a Veriditas-Certified Labyrinth Facilitator. She provides labyrinth consultation services and is also an Ignatian Spiritual Director, Healing Touch Practitioner, and Parker Palmer Facilitator.  She conducts workshops in health and wellness focusing on overall life balance using a holistic approach to wellness. 

Journey of the Heart: Making Connections, Building Community, Finding Common Ground for social vulnerable groups in Lithuania
Presenter: Ruta Januleviciene
This poster presentation will be divided in two parts. One part will aim to present the presenter's work with inmates in the Šiauliai Remand Prison. Another part will present the recent plans to implement the European Social Fund Project (2019 – 2021) “Healthy and Peaceful Mind, Healthy and Peaceful Community” for disabled children in Vilnius Special Nursey-Kindergarten “Čiauškutis”.

Ruta Januleviciene is an internationally recognized Reiki Mercar Master Teacher. She is a registered Karuna Reiki Master Teacher of the ICRT. Ruta enjoys working with energy and  draws on her gifts of clairvoyance, clairaudience, and channeling. Her gifts help intuitively identify the root cause of patterns keeping individual attached in recurring life or health situations. She has been a member of the Labyrinth Society since 2012. Ruta facilitates various practical workshops using the of labyrinth. Scientific interests are: psychology, coaching, the Silva method, psychotherapy,  and psychodrama. 

Making Connections and Finding Common Ground: Labyrinth Effect and Communication Apprehension in an Exercise Physiology Project
Presenter: Darla Fent-Kelly
This poster examines “labyrinth effect" and “oral communication apprehension” in students completing Exercise Physiology projects during three semesters. Project activities included walking the labyrinth, reflecting, and working in groups with research articles to present orally. Results may impact instructors’ project development, timing of projects in students’ degree plans, and students’ self-knowledge. 

Darla Fent-Kelly, Ed.D., is a professor in the Kinesiology and Health Studies Department at the University of Central Oklahoma. She also serves as an Assistant Dean and Curriculum Coordinator in the College of Education and Professional Studies. She is interested in aging  and holistic wellness; has presented at state, national, and international conferences; recently completed requirements for Veriditas’ Labyrinth Facilitator Certification; and completed “Foundations of Healing Touch” in the Healing Beyond Boarders’ curriculum. She shares her life with husband, Grant, and rescue dog, Maya.

Shawala Point Peace Labyrinth
Presenter: Traci Mc. Merritt
Creating a temporary peace labyrinth within city park and recreation natural area.
When a place calls for a labyrinth every time you walk in it, you listen.  When a place calls for a place for peace in gathering together, we listen.  This poster will show the installation of the landscape art, insights for creating temporary labyrinth installations as possible inspirations for permanent installations, and the participation of community for World Labyrinth Day. 

​Traci Mc. Merritt is an author, artist, and professional laughter leader having fun bringing laughter and labyrinth meditations as powerful tools for employee wellness programs, schools, healing organizations, and retreat centers.  She offers simple, yet profound ways to welcome the fullness of life.  Traci's background as a Forest Service landscape architect and as an author of Laughing Labyrinth Timepeace inspires her work as a landscape artist. She creates indoor and outdoor places for joy and leads unique and transformational seminars.    

Study of Labyrinth Walking as Co-Curricular Activity in College Course Interpersonal Communication
Presenter: Nancy Bandiera
Study investigates labyrinth-related effects/shifts from exposure over longitudinal time, a 12 week semester, with community college students in context of an interpersonal communication course as a co-curricular active learning technique drawing from theories and practices of: (1) contemplative pedagogy; (2) mindfulness practice; and (3) transformative learning. 

Dr. Nancy Bandiera teaches communication within the City University of New York (CUNY) at LaGuardia Community College. She earned her doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin in Communication Studies and an M.F.A in Acting. In addition, she earned a master's degree at the University of Texas at Arlington in Interdisciplinary Studies (Applied Linguistics & Education). She served as TLS Publications Chair for a short time. She loves everyone at TLS who inspires her to keep walking those twists and turns in life with the grace and peace of the labyrinth. Listen to her TLS podcast interview, read an article in Labyrinth Pathways (9), and view her research work in TLS Research Bibliography.