By Kate Zarate
If you’re looking for a fun way to help make your golden years shine a little brighter, look no further than your local library! Our classes are completely free and offer a variety of activities, including yoga, seated exercises, hiking and more for a range of fitness levels.
Check out Yoga For All Levels at Salem Church Branch on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 4:00, or Tai Chi and Qi Gong at Towne Center Branch on Wednesdays at 9:00. Not sure you want to jump right in but are looking for a way to be healthier? Join us for one of our seated Senior Exercise programs at Porter Branch every Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 for a great way to get into shape at your own pace.
Find a complete listing of all of our classes online, or visit your local branch to pick up the latest edition of @ Your Library magazine. You can also read the library's magazine online if you prefer.
Free classes are just one of the ways your local library can help you along your fitness journey. We also offer books, audiobooks, DVDs, eBooks, magazines, databases, online classes, and so much more.
On January 11, 2020, come to our Health & Fitness Day event at Howell Branch. There will be demonstrations, classes, and information to keep you healthy, including:
-Developing a Personal Growth Plan, presented by author and life coach Barbara Gustavson
-Taking Charge of Your Own Health Care, presented by Dr. Patrick Neustatter, Director of the Moss Free Clinic and author of Managing Your Doctor
-Vision and Hearing Screening from the Lion’s Club
-Brain Health Information from the AARP
-Yoga for Prenatal and Breastfeeding Women
-Healthy, Sustainable, Local Food with the Fredericksburg Food Co-op and Downtown Greens
-Mary Washington Healthcare, and more.
Check it out at the library
Here are a few of our current favorite titles for check-out, but visit your local branch or search our online catalog to look for additional resources:
Books
eBooks
- Stay Fit for Life
- The Natural Menopause Solution
- Healing Arthritis
- The Anti-inflammation Cookbook
- Ultralongevity
Audiobooks
DVDs
Learn at home
Watch videos
View fitness films on your computer or device through Kanopy, a streaming video database. They offer titles on a range of subjects - including pilates, yoga, how to exercise better, how to choose the best activities for your optimal fitness, and more.
Kanopy also gives you access to The Great Courses, a series of instructional videos on multiple topics, including:
- How to Stay Fit as You Age
- Stress and Your Body
- Yoga
- Mastering Taichi
- Body Composition: Diet and Exercise
- How to Boost Your Physical and Mental Energy
- Practicing Mindfulness
Take wellness classes online at no charge
Feel most comfortable learning in your own home? The library offers Universal Class, a resource that provides free continuing education courses. Your library card will give you access. Some of the topics include:
- Anti-Aging Techniques
- Lifetime Wellness 101
- Memory Improvement
- Yoga 101
- Stress Management
- Aging and Long-Term Care 101
- Nutrition 101
- Weight Loss Management
Read articles
Be sure to explore these health and wellness online resources for a wide selection of articles from fitness magazines, professional journals, medical dictionaries, and award-winning reference publications. Health and Wellness Resource Center gives you access to health assessment tools, as well as vetted information on forms of alternative treatment, medicines, and herbal remedies.
Need a little help navigating these online sources?
We invite you to schedule a one-on-one session with a librarian to learn how to navigate our resources in depth. Schedule a session of Training on Demand by calling or visiting the Research Desk of your local branch.
Discover more opportunities in your community
The parks and recreation departments of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland offer additional fitness and wellness classes.
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have on health and fitness resources and hope to see you at the library soon.
