“What do games, singing and yoga have in common?” I asked Ruthy one day and the answer came quickly: “Fun!”
I had to laugh, but of course, she was right.
However, there is more to these activities than just fun.
Words like effort, achievement, relaxation and happiness come to my mind.
Playing games, for instance, requires us to pay attention and be “sharp” which is good for the brain, singing is a terrific exercise for our breathing system and yoga, even chair yoga, is doing wonders to our mind and body.
There are many places which provide any of these activities but the one I want to write about today is the Harrison Hot Springs Social Club.
They meet every Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Harrison Memorial Hall for whatever game you would like to play, a cup of coffee and a chat.
The club is sponsored by the Village and organized by Jacquie and John Neville who never tire of doing it.
On Feb. 18 the club celebrated their 10th anniversary with a visit from Mayor Leo Facio, a special luncheon and, of course, official photos to remember the occasion by.
People like Jacquie and John Neville are backbones of our community and cannot be appreciated enough.
There is no membership fee except a donation towards the coffee and so, should you feel like giving it a try, visit them on any Thursday of the month between 9 a.m. and noon—it is as easy as that!
Table games, of course, are easy to set up anywhere should you like to play at home.
I, for instance, still like to cook once in awhile and often invite some friends to “come over” for lunch and Skip-Bo in the afternoon.
Be it in the winter inside or on the balcony outside in the summer, it is always fun. And, if I do not feel like cooking, call for a pizza.
Singing is another very healthy activity, as I mentioned before.
At one time, some of my friends and I gathered on our balcony to sing just for fun.
We gave ourselves the nick-name the “Balcony Singers” and sang anything and everything that came to our mind, thinking that nobody would hear us anyway.
To our surprise we were complimented the next morning by neighbours who lived quite a few blocks away and we quickly remembered that we were situated in the “Echo Area” of our Village.
Encouraged, we kept singing all through the summer and had a great time.
I wanted to write about yoga, too, because there are so many benefits we gain by doing it.
But Ruthy just called. She wants me to come outside and enjoy the sun.
Some flowers are already out, she says.
And I’d better follow her advice!
'Til the next time,
Ruth Altendorf