Discovering Japan is a budget- and schedule-friendly series of short, in-person classes that bring the richness of Japanese culture directly to the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø campus and surrounding community. Some sessions are free, while others charge a modest registration fee for materials—but you’ll always leave with something meaningful in hand: a beautiful creation, a new skill, or a delicious treat to continue enjoying at home.
Led by Keiko Morikawa, Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, each class is designed to be hands-on, welcoming, and engaging. You won’t just learn about Japanese traditions—you’ll experience them.
Register for one class that sparks your interest or immerse yourself in the full series. When applicable, be sure to check for available discounts listed with each session.
SERIES At A Glance
January 2026
Sat., Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
In-Person
On-Campus
Cost
Class-$35, Series-$110
See below for discounts!
What will you gain?
Money Matters Made Simple: A Financial Reset for 2026
January 10, 2026, 10 am - noon
- Clarify and define your personal financial and savings goals in a way that guides your decision-making
- Explore 4 practical budgeting strategies and determine which approach best fits your lifestyle and financial needs
- Develop a personalized budget based on your income and learned how to adjust it so it aligns with your short- and long-term financial goals
Reflect and Reset: A Mindfulness Journey into 2026
January 17, 2026, 10 am - noon
- Discuss mindfulness, breathing techniques, meditation and your senses
- Participate in a guided meditation, reflecting on 2025 and intention-setting for 2026
- Prepare a personal gratitude jar to take with you
Stress-Free Meal Planning: Prep-Along to Better Habits in 2026
January 24, 2026, 10 am - noon
- Examine different meal-prepping styles and meal-planning strategies
- Identify smart-shopping essentials and discuss prep and storage basics
- Experience a healthy meal-prep demo and taste the results!
Mindful Movement: Build Your Strength in 2026
January 31, 2026, 10 am - noon
- Examine the history and principles of Pilates and how to complete a self-assessment
- Identify what to discuss with your doctor or trainer to integrate Pilates into your fitness routine
- Practice a series of Pilates exercises, under the guidance of the instructor, so that you can replicate them at home
Who should enroll?
These classes are open to adults (18+). We particularly welcome community members to our campus! We are also happy to offer a discount to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø alumni, students and staff. For the Mindful Movement class, participants should be able to comfortably get down on the floor and get back up again and will be asked to sign a waiver. Please see information on accommodations lower on this page.
What will it cost?
EXTENDED! Earlybird Registration (20% discount) by Jan. 9th:
- $28/class
- $88/series (all four classes)
Regular Registration:
- $35/class
- $110/series (all four classes)
UW Stout Faculty, Staff, Student, and Alumni Registration (20% discount):
- $28/class
- $88/series (all four classes)
- Note to Faculty/Staff/Students: Use your ºÚÁÏÉçÇø email when registering to receive discount.
- Note to Alumni: Reach out to gieskingj@uwstout.edu to receive a discount code BEFORE completing the registration form.
Note: Each class is limed to 20 participants, so we encourage you to register as soon as registration opens! We will have a waiting list for each class and will notify you if a space opens up, in order of completed registration.
Money Matters Made Simple:
A Financial Reset for 2026
Mandy Stasiek
Mandy currently teaches K-12 financial education in the Spring Valley school district. Prior to teaching, she served as the program manager for the Financial Wellness and Literacy Center at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. Mandy earned her Master's in Education from UW-La Crosse in 2019. She also received certification as a Financial Education Instructor with the National Financial Educators Council. Mandy is looking forward to helping community members organize and align their finances to meet their goals!
Reflect and Reset:
A Mindfulness Journey into 2026
Lisa Traxler
Lisa is the owner of Inside Out Transformations located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. She is passionate about helping individuals navigate life's challenges and emerge stronger. After overcoming obstacles in her personal and professional life, she understands the difficulty and potential trauma associated with change. Lisa holds a degree in education and spent 12 years as a middle school teacher. Her diverse curriculum encompassed culture, health resilience, mindfulness, stress management, and daily success skills – all essential tools for navigating change. Additionally, she coached cross country and track for 11 years, instilling self-improvement not just in athletic ability, but also in self-confidence and positive self-talk. Lisa draws on her experience to help clients discover their inner truth, build self-esteem, and take decisive steps towards a fulfilling life.
Stress-Free Meal Planning:
Prep-Along to Better Habits in 2026
Miranda Roberts
Miranda is a registered dietitian and passionate educator who works at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, where she supports students, athletes, and the campus community with practical, evidence-based nutrition guidance. She has been featured in several nutrition segments for WEAU 13 News, where she shares real-life strategies for healthy eating, meal planning, and fueling performance. Miranda focuses on making food feel approachable, flexible, and enjoyable. When she ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. not working, you can find her walking her dog Joy, baking desserts from the Great British Baking Show, or at the gym prepping for her next powerlifting competition.
Mindful Movement:
Build Your Strength in 2026
Sheri Baemmert
Sheri is founder and owner of PRAJNA studio and teaching school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to bring the best combination of Pilates and Yoga to the area. She started teaching wellness classes in 1990, yoga in 1995, and Pilates since 2001. Sheri has trained with many world-renowned teachers and has become well versed in the mind, body, breath, spirit connection. She completed a training with the NeuroRehab Studio, learning about Pilates for Neurological Conditions. The training specifically focused on techniques for people with conditions like MS, CP, Parkinson's, and stroke. However, everyone has a brain, spine, and nervous system so she has incorporated the tools into all of her classes and sessions. Today, the Prajna studio is able to offer sessions and classes for everyone… young, old, athletes, weekend warriors, surgery recovery, neurological conditions, and everyone in between.
Location
- The first two classes (Jan. 10 - Financial Reset and Jan. 17 - Mindfulness) will be held in Room 140, Harvey Hall (building #1 in the Campus Map below).
- The third class (Jan. 24 - Meal Planning) will be held in Room 130, Communication Technologies (building #46 in the Campus Map below)
- The last class (Jan. 31 - Mindful Movement) will be held in Room 221, Sports and Fitness Center (building #5 in the Campus Map below).
Parking
Parking is free on Saturdays in all commuter lots (except reserved spaces).
- Lot 14 is the closest lot to park for the Harvey Hall location.
- Lots 4 and 29 are the closet lots to park for the Sports and Fitness Center location.
ºÚÁÏÉçÇø Continuing Education & Conferences welcomes individuals with disabilities and individualized needs. To request accommodations, please contact us at continuinged@uwstout.edu or 715-232-2793. While we encourage requests at least two weeks in advance, we will make every effort to accommodate those made closer to the program date. All requests are confidential.
The Universities of Wisconsin is an EEO/Affirmative Action employer and complies with Title IX and ADA requirements, offering equal opportunities in employment and programming.
PAYMENT POLICY
Payment is due by credit card at the time of registration.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If your program is 7 or more calendars days away:
If you cancel, you will receive a refund minus a $10 processing fee.
If your program is fewer than 7 days away:
You may substitute someone to take your place at no charge.
If you cancel, you will not receive a refund.
If you are registered and do not attend the program, you are responsible for the full fee.
Substitution or refund requests must be submitted via email or phone call to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø Continuing Education and Conferences: continuinged@uwstout.edu or 715-232-2793.