Include senior center in your New Year’s resolutions

Happy New Year!

If focusing on improving health is a 2025 resolution, the Charlotte Senior Center has a wide range of activities to support this goal. There are opportunities to participate in exercise, yoga and meditation classes. Strengthening social connections is also important for well-being, and the center offers a variety of board and card games, language conversation groups, art programs and lively discussion groups. Start the year with a renewed focus on both physical and mental wellbeing.

Exercise

Chair yoga
Tuesdays, Jan. 14-Feb. 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Join Lynn Alpeter, former co-owner of Yoga Roots and a yoga teacher, for a gentle and accessible chair yoga class designed to help you connect with your breath, move your body and lift your mood. Whether you’re new to yoga or looking for a more supportive practice, this class is perfect for anyone seeking to increase flexibility, balance and relaxation. Using a chair for support, we’ll explore mindful movement and simple stretches that can be easily adapted for all levels. Leave feeling uplifted, energized and centered. Cost: $60 for the 6-week series. Registration and payment required by January 10. To register, call 802-425-6345.

Meditation
Thursdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 6, & Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5-6 p.m.
The New Year provides an opportunity to focus our attention on those habits that will help us thrive. Meditation is one of those practices that can help reduce pain, anxiety and stress, while making our life more joyful and peaceful. Come join Charlie Nardozzi for this six-week series on meditation exploring how to meditate and use meditation in our daily living. You can join the class live, via Zoom or just get the recording afterward. The final class will be held on Wednesday due to the Blood Drive scheduled for Thursday. Contact Charlie for more information. Cost: $60 for the six-week session. Register at 802-425-6345.

Let your yoga dance
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2:45-3:45 p.m. & Friday, Jan. 24, 1-2 p.m.
Join Heather Preis for this fun free introductory class. If there is interest, this class will be offered starting in February. Let Your Yoga Dance incorporates basic dance-like movements to music, guided by the body’s energy system (chakras). It is a safe, compassionate, gentle movement practice, allowing for individual expression and nonjudgemental acceptance. This class is appropriate for all levels of fitness and abilities. Everyone can “let their yoga dance.” Free introductory sessions. Registration is suggested at 802-425-6345.

Tai chi
Thursdays, 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
The Yang international short form is the most popular form of tai chi practice. It consists of slow, continuous, soft circular movements which are coordinated with breathing. Regular practice helps to improve balance, mind-body connection, mental awareness, flexibility, stability, coordination and overall health. When practiced in the company of others, it is both uplifting and energizing. Taught by a certified instructor who has studied with the founder of the Tai Chi for Arthritis Association. Email questions. $10 a class. No registration required. $10 a class. No registration required.

Bone Builders
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. & Fridays, 11 a.m.-noon
RSVP Bone Builders, a program of United Way of Northwest Vermont, is a no-impact, weight-training program designed to prevent and even reverse the negative effects of osteoporosis in older adults. Bone Builders consists of a warm-up, balance exercises, arm and leg exercises and a cool down with stretching. Free. No registration required, but there is paperwork to complete for the RSVP Bone Builders program.

Pilates fitness
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Join Phyllis Bartling in this pilates class, geared to folks 55+. This class is challenging and includes upper-body strength work with hand weights and mat exercises while working on core muscles to improve balance, strength and posture. $10 a class. No registration required.

Yoga strength-building practice
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon
Heidi Kvasnak leads an integrative practice that builds strength and stability while maintaining a sense of ease and spaciousness in both body and mind. The group will practice longer-held postures that strengthen muscles, bones and core, as well as breath-led flowing movement, including sun salutations. Prerequisite: Must be able to easily get down to and up from the floor with or without props. $10 a class. No registration required.

Community

January exhibit
The Magical World of Birds exhibit with photography by Barbara Motyka will be showing at the senior center during January.

Photography discussion group
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Join us for the inaugural session of a monthly photo discussion group, where photographers of all skill levels are welcome to share their work, ideas and experiences. Bring a photo and a story to share with the group. This is a great chance to engage in creative dialogue, get feedback and explore the impact of your images in a supportive and collaborative environment. For questions or more information, please contact Emily Cross.

Friendship Gatherings
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 12:30 p.m.
Friendship Gatherings, formerly the Gen-Hub group, is a new group of social gatherings for seniors interested in building friendships and making new connections. Join us for light refreshments and lots of conversations and mingling. If there is interest, we will plan for gatherings monthly. Registration required at 802-425-6345. Free.

Charlotte Death Cafe
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2-3:30 p.m.
Come together in human fellowship to celebrate life by voicing concerns, share questions, ideas and stories around death and dying at the monthly Death Cafe. These are not always easy conversations. But when we share, heart to heart, we build community and experience a special joy that enhances our lives. Questions? Email. Free. Registration required at 802-425-6345.

Programs

Brain games
Fridays, 2-4 p.m.
There are many ways adults can stimulate their brains to increase mental health, improve memory skills and contribute to overall well-being. Research finds that positive interaction with others and engagement in stimulating group activities sharpens cognition and increases memory ability. Come play various games, share laughter and enjoy one another’s company. Some games are available, but also feel free to bring your own games. Free. No registration required.

Snowy winter landscape
Thursday, Jan. 30, 12:30-2 p.m.
Bring a friend and enjoy a relaxing afternoon sipping coffee and painting with acrylic paints on canvas. Unlike traditional paint & sips, this “coffee & canvas” will allow you to explore and create your own unique painting. But don’t worry, there will be plenty of inspiration from paintings of landscapes with lots of instruction. No prior painting experience needed. All materials included. Cost: $30. Registration at 802-425-6345 and payment required by Jan. 23.

Shanghai mahjong
Tuesdays, 12:45-3:45 p.m.
New or experienced in the Shanghai style of mahjong, you are welcome to join this informal get-together. For questions email Nan Mason. Free. No registration required.

Meals
Menus are posted on the website.

Monday lunches
Served weekly. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., or until the food runs out. Suggested lunch donation $5. No registration required.

Senior center info:
The senior center offers programs for adults 50 and older from Charlotte and surrounding communities. Priority is given to seniors, but programs are open to adults of all ages. Interested in receiving a weekly reminder about what is happening? Sign up for the email newsletters at charlotteseniorcentervt.org. The “Week Ahead” email is sent out on Friday mornings with activities, lunch menus and special programs for the upcoming week.
Lori York, director,
212 Ferry Road, Charlotte
802-425-6345
Website

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