Senior Wellness Center at Bridgewater - September Schedule

SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER AT BRIDGEWATER
876 East Main Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 203-6101

Qigong Practices With Michael – Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Learn the traditional practice of Qigong (similar to Tai Chi), which combines techniques of meditation, controlled breathing, and movement. This practice helps connect the mind, body, and spirit for healing.

**There will be no class on September 1.**

Project Healthy Bones (PHB) – Mondays, 10:30 a.m., and Fridays, 12:45 p.m. Improve balance, strength, flexibility, and posture in this peer-led, 24-week exercise and education program for individuals who are at risk for osteoporosis or have the diagnosis. ** There will be no class on September 1. The current sessions are full. Sessions take place on Mondays, May 5 to November 3, and Fridays, May 2 to October 24. For other opportunities, call Karen Kowalski at (908)704-6327.**

Chair Yoga With Jane Puckett – Mondays, 1 p.m. (September 22 – November 17). Increase bone density and improve strength, flexibility, and balance while immersed in a relaxing class. Expect lots of gentle stretching to bring movement to joints and muscles. This class will help participants relieve stress and gain an overall sense of well-being. **There will be no class on October 13. The Cost is $40 for the eight-week program. The current session is full. Contact Karen Kowalski for other opportunities at (908) 704-6327.**

Table Games Club – Mondays, 1 – 2 p.m. Play fun table games for numerous health benefits, such as enhancing coordination and mobility and sharpening cognitive skills. **New players can learn a game at 1 p.m. and then continue playing into the afternoon.**

Hatha Yoga With Bharti – Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Improve your body posture through breath control and meditation by practicing Hatha Yoga, which can provide health benefits such as aligning the body and improving balance, flexibility, and circulation. **Preregistration is required. To register for more information, call (908) 203-6101.**

Card Games – Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Play your favorite card games with other senior center members and have fun.

Line Dancing –Tuesdays, 1 – 2:30 p.m. Improve your cardiovascular and muscular strength, coordination, balance, and memory while line dancing, which is so much fun it doesn’t even seem like exercise! Line dancing doesn’t require a partner, and it’s a great way to maintain your mental and physical health.

Gentle Aerobics – Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Learn how to exercise and move without putting undue pressure or strain on your body. Practicing these movements will increase blood circulation, lubricate joints for flexibility, and strengthen individual muscles while helping to decrease falls and make it easier to accomplish day-to-day activities. **This program can be practiced while either standing or sitting and is open to all abilities. There will be no class on September 12.**

Mahjong Club – Wednesdays (9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 1 – 4 p.m.) and Fridays (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) Learn how to play mahjong, a thought-provoking game that helps keep the brain sharp and supercharged! This club is for anyone who loves games, wants to meet new people, and have fun. **This is not a competitive club. The club size is limited. Preregistration is required for a specific time frame. For more information, call (908) 203-6101.**

(Video) Take Control With Exercise – Wednesdays, 1 p.m. Strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility and balance while boosting stamina during this gentle exercise program. **Exercises can be practiced while standing or sitting.**

Pinochle Club – Wednesdays and Fridays, 1– 4 p.m. Stimulate cognition, enhance motor skills, short- and long-term memory, and have fun interacting with others.

Beginner Ukulele/Somerset Seniors Hootenanny – Thursdays 9:30 – 10 a.m. (Beginners) and 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Beginners and Advanced). Learn how to play music by artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Buddy Holly, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Monkees, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Buffett, Hank Williams, and more. Musicians from previous bootcamp sessions are welcome back, as well as new ukulele players and other instrumentalists and singers. **No previous musical training or experience is necessary. The class size is limited. Registration is required. A limited number of ukuleles are available to borrow, with first-time players receiving preference for loans. To register and reserve a ukulele, call (908) 203-6101. A new session begins on September 18.**

Aerobic Chair Exercise With Sabina – Thursdays 10 a.m. Gain health benefits, such as improving heart health, reducing stress, lowering the risk of depression, reducing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis, increasing body stamina, and improving metabolism and flexibility. **This program is for all levels of skill. Exercises can be practiced while standing or sitting.**

(Video) Stronger Seniors: Core Strength – Thursdays, 1- 2 p.m. Get a safe and easy workout for core muscles using resistance bands in this exercise program. **Bring an exercise band, if possible.**

Time for Chess – Thursdays, 1 – 3 p.m. Exercise both sides of your brain and improve focus, creativity, and confidence while playing this fun game. **This program is for experienced players.**

(Video) Stronger Seniors: Stretch – Fridays, 1 p.m. Join this simple, 45-minute exercise program to feel more flexible. Use a chair for a safe and thorough stretching routine.

Crafts Club – Fridays, 12:30 – 2 p.m. Craft and chat, knit, crochet, embroider, or bring any crafting project to work on while having fun socializing. **Supplies will be provided.**

September 1 – The senior center is closed for Labor Day.

September 2, 16, and 30, 11 a.m. – Bereavement Support Group. Share common feelings about grief and the renewal process in this safe and supportive group that incorporates interfaith bereavement principles and universal spiritual concepts. Doctor of Ministry, Grief Counselor, and Pastoral Psychotherapist Ronald W. Kaplan will facilitate discussions. **Your presence and participation are welcome. To register, call (908) 203-6101.**

September 2, 11 a.m. – Bingo. Playing Bingo is more than an exciting activity; researchers have found that playing this game has multiple health benefits, such as promoting socialization, strengthening hand-eye coordination, and improving concentration, listening, and short-term memory.

September 3, 11 a.m. – “Heads Up Seniors: A Fall Prevention Presentation,” With Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. Learn fall prevention strategies and pedestrian safety for older adults. **Participants will receive a Home and Community Safety Checklist.**

September 4, 11 a.m. – “Safety in Somerset County” With Sheriff Darrin Russo. Learn safety tips and ways to protect yourself. Find out about the K9 Unit and Project Lifesaver. **There will be a medication pick-up when participants can bring expired and unused medication for collection and safe disposal.**

September 4, 1 p.m. – Somerset County Library System Mobile Library Visit. Find out what the library has to offer when the library visits the senior center. Browse a collection of books and check one out, return a book from any branch, register or renew a library card, or find out how to set up your phone or tablet. **The library will visit twice a month.**

September 5, 11 a.m. – Harp Performance With Patricia Turse. Enjoy the dulcet tones and complicated tones of the harp with Patricia Turse, a seasoned musician and music therapist who has performed for 25 years.

September 8, 11 a.m. – Casino Day! With Caitlyn from Foothill Acres Rehabilitation. Join fellow senior center members for an afternoon of fun and excitement with slots and card games at this pop-up casino at the senior center. **There is no cost for participants, and no experience is necessary.**

September 9, 11 a.m. – Poetry Share Extraordinaire With Yolanda. Engage the senses and revive memories while you share a poem that you love or even one you wrote.

September 10, 11 a.m. – “Procure Proton Therapy” With Clinical Educator Jerry Rymar, ProCure. Learn about proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation cancer treatment. Participants will learn the science behind protons, the clinical benefits of proton therapy, as well as the tumor types that can be treated with this advanced radiation therapy, including prostate, breast, and lung cancers.

September 11, 11 a.m. – “Van Horne House” Presented By Cynthia Blumenkrantz, Heritage Trail. Learn the history of the Van Horne House, also known as Phil’s Hill. Built in 1754 by Phillip Van Horne, a Bridgewater merchant, who was known to entertain both American and British guests, earning his estate the nickname Convivial Hall.

September 12, 11 a.m. – Thrill’n & Grill’n Picnic at Colonial Park. Join the fun at the Picnic in the Park Celebration at Knob Hill Pavilion - Colonial Park in Somerset, where senior center clients will gather for a joyful event that will be filled with a sense of community and connection. Lorri Woodward will provide familiar musical entertainment, which will uplift you and prompt you to dance, tap your feet, or sing along. **Registration is requested. To preregister and make lunch reservations, call (908) 203-6101. The address for Colonial Park – Knob Hill Pavilion is 156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, NJ 08873.**

September 15, 11 a.m. – Fun and Games. Have a relaxing day playing classic games

such as Dominoes, Left-Right-Center, and Pass the Pigs.

September 16, 11 a.m. – Millets and Nutrition With Jennifer Korneski, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Learn about millets, which are little grains filled with fiber, protein, and minerals, and are very beneficial for your health.

September 17, 11 a.m. – Somerset County Traveling Library With Noah Anderson, Somerset County Library System. Find out what the library has to offer when the Somerset County Library System visits the senior center. Browse a collection of books and check one out, return a book from any branch, register or renew a library card, or find out how to set up your phone or tablet.

September 18, 11 a.m. – Bingo Sponsored By Platinum Home Care. Partake in a friendly game of Bingo, which is more than an exciting activity; researchers have found that playing Bingo provides multiple health benefits, such as promoting socialization, strengthening hand-eye coordination, and improving concentration, listening, and short-term memory skills.

September 18, 1 p.m. – “Lunch & Learn: Electrical Home Safety” With Electrician Joe Souto. Learn how to stay safe when using electric devices or making minor repairs, including the hazards of various electrical devices, and safe versus unsafe conditions. **There is limited space. Preregistration is required.**

September 19, 11 a.m. – Hispanic Heritage Month: Ojo De Dios Craft. Learn how to make Ojo De Dios (Eyes of God) using yarn and wooden sticks in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. These crafts, which are ancient symbolistic objects created by the Huichol people of Mexico, are thought to offer protection for a long life and a connection to indigenous heritage and spiritual beliefs. **Supplies are limited. Registration is encouraged.**

September 22, 11 a.m. – “One Stop Career Training Services” With Monica Mulligan. Learn about the services available to residents of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties including career and vocational counseling, aptitude, interest and skill assessments, job seeker workshops and webinars, training grants to increase marketability, on-the-job training grants, literacy services including high school equivalency and English as a second language, access to recruitment events, weekly job postings and labor market information.

September 23, 11 a.m. – “Arthritis Management” With Sheryl Bunca for FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers. Discover practical tips and tricks for managing arthritis during this informative presentation. Arthritis is a condition that affects millions of older adults and frequently leads to joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. **There will be time for Q&As.**

September 24, 11 a.m. – “Birds of the World” With Ben Barkley, Somerset County Park Commission. Learn about the wackiest, funniest, and most bizarre species of birds from around the globe, such as poisonous birds, birds that can fly while asleep, and birds that migrate 50,000 miles every year. There are over 10,000 species of interesting and unique birds.

September 25, 10 a.m. – Book Club With Noah from Somerset County Library System. Join senior center friends to discuss “Long Island Compromise” by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. **New members are always welcome.**

September 25, 11 a.m. – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Join senior center friends to discuss trivia about famous Latinos and listen to a selection of popular Hispanic music.

September 26, 11 a.m. – Sing Along With Roberta. Enjoy this musical hour of Broadway show tunes, novelty numbers, and seasonal favorites. Senior center members can sing along or just relax and enjoy the ukulele music. **Lyrics will be provided.**

September 29, 11 a.m. – “Emergency Preparedness” With Kyle Gordon, American Red Cross. Learn how to prepare for potential emergencies and disasters during this program, which will outline how to prevent, respond, and recover from incidents, and how to minimize and restore normalcy as quickly as possible.

September 30, 11 a.m. – “Using Your Wit Series Part II” Presented By Lisa Bayer, Always Best Care Senior Services. Learn about cognitive skills and detail about the anatomy of the brain. Participants will also take part in fun and interactive cognitive fitness, such as optical illusions, and find out about games to help improve memory.