Get healthy at the library!
Yuma County Libraries offer a variety of health and fitness resources for you and your family. Discover your favorite exercise routine from our vast collection of DVDs – including yoga, kickboxing, cardio, walking, pregnant women, and more.
Check the children's area for DVDs on kids' yoga and exercise programs that have more appealing music and graphics for the younger people in your lives. Yoga DVDs are quite popular amongst tweens (8-12) and are great for limbering up and strengthening the muscles — not to mention a fantastic stress relief from the pangs of homework! Putting in a workout video designed with children and families in mind is a fantastic way to get your family “moving and shaking” together. In addition, we provide an abundance of video games designed for various age groups that are fitness-oriented (Jillian Michaels) and family-friendly (Wii Sports, Dance Party games). Literally, there is something for everyone at your local library!
In addition to AV resources, all the branches have a wealth of diet, cooking and self-improvement books — both in English and in Spanish. By educating yourself on the many ways you can incorporate wholesome habits into your life, the healthier and happier you will be. As Thomas Jefferson quipped, “Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading.” As fad diets, health and wellness tips, and various chefs go and in and out of style rather quickly, libraries provide a free alternative to buying books that may soon be replaced with new and more popular information. When you go to your local branch library, inquire on new materials that have been acquired and what handouts and programs are available on health and wellness. Each branch has a host of programs and pamphlets available for you to check-out on a rolling basis, and better yet, all of this information and programming come to you free of charge.
In addition to check-out materials, each district library has its own health, nutrition, and wellness programs designed for adults, teens, and children as well. The Main library hosts Wii Wednesday from 2-3 each Wednesday after school, where children can shake, groove and wiggle to popular music. Several of our story times throughout the district incorporate movement and dancing as part of the regular curriculum to help with the components of coordination, movement and early literacy. Children love music and it's a great tool to not only get them moving but also learning sounds, rhymes, and repetition. These tools help formulate the components that will later help a child become an excellent reader. Story and Baby Times are great resources for parents to socialize, energize their child, and also introduce them to several early literacy components that will help shape their learning style forever.
As part of Summer Reading Program this past year, many of the libraries hosted Zumba sessions for children as well as health-related story times (with the help from the Yuma County Health Department). And as many of you may have noticed, the San Luis and Main library branches offer healthy lunches during the summer months in co-ordination with Yuma Union High School District's school lunch program. Teens have benefited from such programs as hip hop workshops and Tae Kwan Do demonstrations. For adults, we've had tango and ballroom dance lessons, healthy cooking classes, as well as nutrition advice from experts. Make sure to check our online calendar for a schedule of events and look for programs that suit your needs at www.yumalibrary.org. Also, “like” us on Facebook to keep current on upcoming programs, articles, or books that may spark your interest.
Yuma County Libraries pride themselves on working with other community groups to ensure our youth have knowledge of health initiatives within the Yuma community and help to provide easy access to that information both directly through materials and programs and indirectly through referrals to website, databases and pamphlets. Never be afraid to ask a librarian about information you might need — they are trained to find answers to whatever questions you might have.
Yuma County Libraries are a committed supporter of Healthy Yuma initiatives both past and present. Let us help you embrace a healthy lifestyle!
Emily Scherrer is the youth services manager for the Yuma County Library District.
