Fitness Programs for All at the Libraries of Suffolk County

Suffolk County public libraries provide a wide variety of programs for people of all ages that promote fitness, both physical and spiritual. These programs, taught by expert instructors, are tailored to people with different levels of exercise experience. Throughout the county on any given day, library patrons from 3 years of age to senior citizens attend numerous types of yoga, tai chi, and fitness classes. Yoga, yoga for kids, soul yoga, yogalates, chair yoga, senior fitness, total body fitness workshop, and dance fitness are but a few that are currently running.

Yoga consists of the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that aim to transform body and mind. Soul yoga for adults involves meditation and becoming in tune with the body. Healing and becoming more accepting of one’s self by relieving stress is the goal of this program. Practicing relaxation techniques and exercising the body’s core are the keys. With practice, a person’s heart and mind are connected and inner peace is achieved. In an atmosphere where the lights are low and soft music plays in the background, positive energy is constantly stressed by the instructor. Soul yoga has helped people break addiction to drugs, alcohol, certain foods and dangerous lifestyles.

General yoga for adults starts with stretching, moving the head and neck, arching the back, hip movements, toe touching, and relaxation exercises while thinking peaceful thoughts. Virtually all parts of the body are worked and stretched, and breathing techniques are practiced. While this class focuses on limbering the body, slowing the mind down and obtaining inner peace is a goal. The instructor tells her class “My mind used to be a machine gun of thoughts. I have to do this, and I have to do that. Yoga has freed my mind of that burden.” One participant mentioned that her back problems and arthritis did not keep her from starting yoga. “It is has helped alleviate some of my pain and I see it as a better option than surgery.” Said another participant, “I didn’t want to come to yoga because I thought it was silly. I had a double knee replacement after being a surfer since 1965. I am now ready to go surfing again!”

Chair yoga is geared toward senior citizens and those with physical limitations. As with other types of yoga instruction, strengthening the core is paramount. As peaceful music plays, class begins with meditation to clear the mind via deep breathing techniques. The instructor asks class members to imagine a black blackboard. Once mentally relaxed, neck and arm stretches, shoulder rolls, leg lifts, wrist bending, finger wiggling and knee raises are performed. One woman in the class announced that she just recently celebrated the first anniversary of one replaced knee, and the second anniversary of the other. Another mentioned that chair yoga has lessened the symptoms of her fibromyalgia.

To pique the interest of the youngest generation, yoga instruction for toddlers and grades K-6 are offered. In Mattituck , child oriented programs include Mommy, Daddy and Me Yoga (ages2-3), Yoga for You (K-1st grade), Yoga Time (grades 2-3) and Yoga for Tweens (grades 4-6). Parents attend programs for the youngest children. Older children are encouraged to attend classes on their own.

These classes start with the “Name Song” so that kids can introduce themselves to one another. Animal references are made to each exercise to make them easier to remember and more fun to practice. Some participants are growing up with the program and continue to progress through each level.

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art practiced for relaxation, balance and flexibility. Like yoga, tai chi is often used to practice deep breathing techniques and meditation. However, it focuses on movement rather than attaining one position, and is not as physically strenuous as yoga. Medical research has found that tai chi is associated with general health benefits in older people, such as alleviating the effects of stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. A participant at the Mattituck Public Library recently said that tai chi classes in New York City are prohibitively expensive and she loves the convenience of taking a class so close to home.

Senior Fitness, recently offered at the East Islip Library, is similar to chair yoga. Each participant works with a rubber ball, roughly the size of a soccer ball, hand weights, and a stretch band. With the sounds of 70’s disco music playing in the background, senior citizens use these three pieces of equipment to strengthen their arms and core, increase their flexibility, dexterity and balance, as well as their endurance. Each member of the class enjoys the group’s camaraderie, and though the goal is to improve one’s physical condition, this class is simply a lot of fun.

So remember, your public library has much to offer in addition to reading materials. Want to improve your fitness level? Look toward your library for good company and good health.

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