La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life
By Rosanne Graef
Free Activities at Reiche Community Room
Thanks to funding support from a Maine Medical Center Caring Community Grant and space provided by Portland Recreation, the West End Neighborhood Association is offering a variety of free activities at Reiche beginning September 13th.
A monthly schedule will appear in each print edition of The West End News, so be sure to pick up a copy! More details and presenter bios will be at www.wenamaine.org or you can sign up for our weekly announcements at hello@wenamaine.org.
To give you a flavor of the free activities on offer, here are some teasers:
Introductory Bridge Lessons
Have fun with other beginners and those who would like to review the game. This class will start with the basics of how to play bridge: evaluating different hands, when to bid, how to communicate with your partner. Bridge is good mental exercise.
Card Making for Beginners
This class will focus on card stock, decorative paper, folding, and stamping. All materials needed to make three cards with envelopes will be provided along with detailed instructions so that students can go home and make more on their own with their own supplies. There will be two follow-up sessions in November and December. Limit of 10 participants.
Die Well Death Education
We are all going to die, so why don’t we talk about it? While death can be overwhelming to think and talk about, talking about it does not “make it happen.” Once you have taken the steps to prepare the best you can, you can live your best life with the confidence and comfort of knowing that you have prepared for the inevitable. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones.
Electric Cars
Is there an EV in your future? What’s the story on electric vehicles? Are they a good way to reduce emissions? Are they really more expensive? Is charging a big hassle? Are they actually more fun to drive?
Felting
Learn to make small figures out of wool: animals, houses, trees, and more. Explore needle felting pictures and as a method for repairing or embellishing textiles. All supplies will be provided. Limit of 10 participants.
Qigong/Tai Chi
Qigong/Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese mind-body exercise that is about moving more of your body parts with ease and awareness, opening up energy flow, circulation, and enhancing balance and strength. Tai chi is relatively easy to learn and, for many, it often continues as a lifetime journey.
Tai Chi Chih
’ai Chi Chih is made up of 19 moves and 1 pose. It is a form of Moving Meditation, and with regular practice, it has been clinically proven to help with sleeplessness, ADHD, blood pressure, balance, stress, and much more. It’s a “user-friendly” form, doable just about anywhere, at any age, seated or standing. Just dress comfortably, wear shoes you feel balanced in, footies, or go barefoot.
Yoga
In this gentle one-hour class discover how meditation, breathing, and asana can bring you clarity and calm. Soften and open as you move, breathe, and focus. Relieve stress as you strengthen, balance, and stretch. Dress comfortably, bring a mat, blocks, blanket if you have them — don’t worry if you don’t.
All activities are FREE unless otherwise noted. Donations to WENA are much appreciated so we can keep things going.
