Healthy Living
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Fit for
life! |
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The need to encourage adults - and children - to get involved in physical activities is becoming much more important as many of us start to pay the price for "labour saving" lifestyles.
Our library has many books on health, diet, exercise and a range of related topics. We also have other sources including free access to the Internet and consumer magazines like Which?
Which? regulalry includes many lifestyle matters and the December 2005 issues includes detailed comparisons of the salt and fat content of fast-food meals.
Children
Books like "Fitness Fun" can help you if you have to deal with groups. Published in the USA, and in their style, it divides 85 exercises into different headings - activity type (warm-up, quick or main) along with primary and secondary fitness benefits.
Sample 66 "Go for Dough". Requires cones, play money and toys. Children have to run around the cones and are given play money every time they pass a particular cone. The more "money" they get the better activity toy they get to play with (for a set time).
Adults
Our adult fitness stock really does have something for everyone. The following titles are just brief selection.
"Staying Fit at work" by Penny Chorlton is one of a number of books that help you to assess your fitness levels. You should never suddenly start vigorous exercise if your body is not used to it. This sort of book is useful because it allows you to look at other options (like using the stairs instead of a lift) and offers practical advice about what you can do to improve your fitness levels.
Normally at the Central Library at class mark 613.71CHO in the main numerical sequence. Book number 01509306.
Getting started
"Effortless Exercise" by Caroline M. Shreeve is aimed at anyone who would rather sit in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea!. It guides the reader into a gradual exercise programme based on stretching and some new routines. It gives a large number of case studies of all ages and needs - from 79 year olds recovering from hip operations to a 29 year old using relaxation exercises to fight high blood pressure.
Normally in the Central Library at class mark 613.71SHR in the main numerical sequence. Book number 0187523X.
"Stretching for Fitness, Health & Performance" by Dr. Christopher Oswald and Dr. Stanley Basco (two chiropractors) continues that theme.
This is one of the simplest books and uses a lot of illustrations to show the various positions needed to improve fitness without strain.
Normally at the Central Library at class mark 613.71OSW in the main numerical sequence. Book number 01447076.
(Nothing too painful so far!)
"Tai Chi for Fitness over Forty" by Grandmaster Gary Khor, concentrates on this increasingly popular "healing art". This book gives a clear outline of what you need to do to improve your physical and mental well-being through a series of gentle exercise and mediation.
Normally at the Central Library at class mark 613.71KHO in the main numerical sequence. Book number 01875248.
If you are "too busy" to exercise (even while sitting down) there may be little hope for you, but just in case, Pamela Carsaniga's book "The Busy Body Fitness Manual" offers a simple "fifteen minutes a day" programme of rotations, stretches, swings, rolls, circles and contractions, etc.
Normally at the Central Library at class mark 613.71CAR in the main numerical sequence. Book number 01509349.
If your mind wanders you could try The YMCA "Complete Guide to Exercise to Music by Debbie Lawrence". This is a much more challenging programme based on "Spotty Dogs", "Tricep dips" and choreography. Phew.
Normally at the Central Library at class mark 613.71LAW in the main numerical sequence. Book number 01509497.
When you have finished these gentler introductions and are ready to move on, we have plenty of the "hard-core" fitness books by the SAS, Royal Marines and others.
The County Borough Council offers a rangeof sports facilities. Click here for contact details.
We have more titles
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