Fall fitness classes begin at Grace Cottage

TOWNSHEND — Starting this month, Grace Cottage will offer wellness classes for a range of levels and preferences. Class choices are yoga, tai chi, and Strong Bones.

Class fees are subsidized by the healthcare center. They range in price from free to $5 per class.

On Tuesdays, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Grace Cottage offers yoga in the Viniyoga tradition. Participants will build strength, balance, and endurance as they move through basic postures with coordinated breath work. Gentle music and centering meditation are a part of this class. Students of all ability levels are welcome. No pre-registration is required, and mats and blocks are provided.

The instructor is Crystal Mansfield, Grace Cottage's director of rehabilitation services and wellness programs. The cost is $5 per class.

On Fridays, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., enjoy yoga in the Hatha tradition. Participants will move through standard yoga poses with coordinated breathing exercises for the benefit of mind, body, and spirit. Mats and blocks are provided. The instructor is registered yoga teacher Rebecca Griswold, a physical therapy assistant at Grace Cottage. The cost is $5 per class.

On Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m., there is a Chair Yoga class. Beginners are welcome, as is anyone with limited flexibility or an inability to practice on the floor. Students will flow through seated and standing poses, incorporating breathing techniques, opening their hips, moving their shoulders and neck, and finding length in their spines. Led by Rebecca Griswold, each class is $5.

Starting Sept. 20, there will be a new Tai Chi for Fall Prevention six-week series Fridays from 9 to 10 a.m. Classes focus on developing balance and flexibility, and will be led by certified instructor Ruth Fleming, a physical therapist at Grace Cottage. A Level 2 class is offered on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. These classes are free.

Strong Bones classes are offered at Grace Cottage throughout the year. These are popular strength and balance classes for older adults. Participants generally go twice a week. Call for class times. A $3-per-class donation is suggested.

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