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The recent Bethel Senior Citizen Club meeting held in the dining room of the Methodist Church was complete with delicious food and holiday songs. After a brief meeting we had a holiday sing-along led by Merry York Childs and Janet Coverdale. Students from Region 9 joined the Seniors in singing voices for an intergenerational activity.
The meal was prepared and served by the Regional 9 Technical School Culinary Arts students. We were served a fresh green salad with roasted vegetables and a homemade vinaigrette dressing. The main dish was a Chicken Moroccan stew with homemade naan bread. The dessert was a spiced pear cake with homemade whipped cream. It was truly fine dining.
These young students are getting a first class education at our local Regional Technical School and they received a standing ovation from the Bethel Seniors for their effort and skill in providing our lunchtime meal. These students will be coming back to Bethel in April 2026 as we continue to have a relationship between Bethel Seniors and Culinary Arts Students.
The next meeting for the Bethel Senior Citizen Club will be on Wednesday, January 14th at 11 a.m. We will meet in the dining room of the Methodist Church and the lunchtime meal will be provided by a local farmer. This local Senior Citizen Club was first formed in 1963 and we meet on the second Wednesday of every month. New folks are always welcome to join and club dues are ten dollars for the year.
As we enter into the New Year folks will make resolutions for self-care. There are three instructors in the Community Annex at the Methodist Church that I like to take classes from to stay fit and active. Lauren Wallin teaches Pilates on Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. She is very good at keeping the class moving along with plenty of encouragement and clear instructions. Pilates really focuses on the core which keeps us strong. Lauren also offers Chair Pilates on Monday and Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. that many folks like because all the movements are done from a chair. She is certified and highly trained and does an excellent job motivating her students.
The second instructor I enjoy taking classes from is Kristin Otten who teaches a Slow Tone class on Tuesday mornings from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Slow Tone is a combination of 3 disciplines—yoga, barre, and Pilates. Kristin is very creative coming up with movements that are beneficial to the human body. Her music is uplifting and her instructions are precise, clear and motivating. Kristin also offers a Slow Flow Yoga class on Wednesday mornings from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. which is great for folks new to yoga. Her instructions are easy to follow with lots of modifications and the pace of the class is slow. Excellent class for folks wanting to explore the health benefits of yoga which are balance, strength, and flexibility.
The third instructor that I enjoy taking classes from is Harriet Langley who offers an Early Riser Yoga class on Monday and Thursday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Harriet is in amazing shape and super flexible and strong. Harriet is a registered nurse and that knowledge comes through in her instruction as well. The flow of the class moves right along and you are stretched out from head to toe by the time the class is done. For folks who like to hit the trails at Sunday River by 9 a.m. this class would be excellent prior to getting on your skis.
I am very thankful for Lauren Wallin, Kristin Otten, and Harriet Langley because they are keeping me out of a nursing home. I am not one to exercise by myself and I do not have the knowledge of the movements. Having an instructor guide me gets the job done. There are also other instructors and classes that folks can attend at Chillosophy Yoga Studio and Peak MTN Fitness located on Parkway Road in Bethel which have a website for more information.
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