Cardiac Rehabilitation Week is from February 11-17, 2024. Your heart is an important part of your overall health. It’s important to stay healthy and take care of your heart in order to prevent and reduce the effects of heart disease.
According to the CDC, heart disease is the number one cause of death among men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In fact, someone has a heart attack about every 40 seconds, resulting in about 805,000 heart attacks a year.
It is important to talk with your doctor to understand your heart health and to take action to reduce your risk for developing heart disease. The traditional risk factors for heart disease include obesity, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Stress levels, sleeping patterns, diet and alcohol consumption can also impact your risk for heart disease, as well as your genetic family history.
If you’re looking to exercise more as a way to improve your heart health, Yonkers Public Library hosts several health and wellness programs on a weekly basis, such as:
- Qi Gong for Beginners, Mondays at 10:00 AM on Zoom
- Sahaja Yoga Meditation, Mondays at 6:00 PM at the Will Library
- Tai Chi for Seniors, Tuesdays at 9:00 AM at the Will Library
- Workout with Coach Elaine, Tuesdays at 9:00 AM on Zoom
- Zumba Class, Tuesdays at 6:00 PM on Zoom
- Body/Mind Fitness with Helena, Wednesdays at 9:00 AM on Zoom
- Yoga for Yogis with Mandy Engelke, Thursdays at 9:00 AM on Zoom
- Meditation and Chair Yoga with Nancy Guzman, Fridays at 9:00 AM on Zoom
Please be aware, holiday closures may affect these programs.
Here are a few other health and wellness programs going on at YPL this month:
- Workout with Coach Karina - Fitness Fun, Saturday February 17 at 9:00 AM on Zoom
- Indoor Recess, Saturday February 24 at 2:00 PM at Riverfront Library
- Nourishing Our Soul & Heart, Thursday February 29 at 11:00 AM at Will Library
- Yonkers NNORC Consultation Appointments
- Wednesday, February 14 at 1:00 PM at Crestwood Library
- Wednesday, February 21 at 10:45 AM at Will Library
- Wednesday, February 28 at 1:00 PM at Crestwood Library
You can also check out a blood pressure monitor kit at your local branch from the Library of Things. One kit is allowed per library card and kits must be returned to the circulation desk. The checkout period is three weeks.
You can check out some of these curated recommendations on healthy aging here, but be sure to ask a librarian for more specific recommendations if you’re looking for ways to improve your overall health.
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she graduated from Iona University in 2020 with a dual-degree in Marketing and Public Relations. She is pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.