City programs support healthy, happy parents

By: Kristina Ray, City of Carlsbad communications manager

As seen in School News

 

I recently remembered some very good advice I got when I first became a parent – secure your own oxygen mask first.  In other words, parents are most effective when they are healthy, happy and fulfilled.  With kids settled back into the school routine, now is a perfect time to get some “me time.”  Since my last few columns have focused on programs and events the City of Carlsbad provides for kids in our community, I thought I’d devote this edition to the grown ups.

 

The city’s Parks & Recreation Department offers many convenient and affordable ways to help you stay fit, active and social.  Swimming is great exercise and a wonderful stress reliever, too.  Did you know the city’s Monroe Street Pool is open seven days a week?  The Masters Swim program provides a supervised, coached workout for adults that is appropriate for all fitness levels. 

 

Or, try a new fitness class, like Health Barre, tai chi, Pilates or Zumba.  Even if you’ve never picked up a racquet or swung a club, you can learn to play tennis or golf with the city’s professional instructors for as little as $12 a class.  Not sure whether to sign up for a full session?  The city is offering several “Try it for Free” sample classes; check the Community Services Guide—which is delivered three times a year to households signed up to receive it and is available at community centers—or visit any community center for a class schedule.

 

One of my favorite ways to stay in shape is walking, and the city has more than 45 miles of public trails to explore.  You can download trail maps on our website to find out locations, level of difficulty and trail features. 

 

Adults age 50 and older can stay current with new technology through classes like Buying & Selling on EBay and Craig’s List; Skype; Internet Literacy and Security; and Emailing Photos.  Sign up online at www.carlsbadconnect.org

 

Can’t commit to a class?  Take some time to relax in the city’s sculpture garden, a little known gem located behind the city’s Cultural Arts Office at 2955 Elmwood St., just north of the Cole Library. The current exhibit features metal works of art by Elon Ebanks. In this delightful exhibition, Ebanks has seemingly turned metal into music.

 

Speaking of art, the city’s Cannon Art Gallery is featuring more than 120 puppets from all over the world. This exhibition is on loan from the International Puppet Museum of Pasadena and features a portion of the Alan Cook Collection, founder and director of the museum.  See the world through wooden eyes with puppets from Bucharest, Palermo, Bali, Africa, Asia, North America and many more points around the globe. The World on a String: Puppets from the Alan Cook Collection exhibit is on display now Dec. 30. 

 

We always are encouraging our kids to read, but when is the last time you enjoyed relaxing for an hour of uninterrupted reading?  Carlsbad city libraries are open seven days a week and always open online.  The library has a large collection of downloadable audiobooks and audiobooks on CD. E-books are new to the library and can be downloaded from the library’s website to iPhones and iPads as well as a variety of e-readers. Titles include everything from best sellers to mysteries to romance. Like to talk about what you’re reading and meet new friends? The library’s book clubs provide an opportunity to meet new people and read and discuss a wide range of books.

 

For more information about all these ideas, and more, visit the city’s website at www.carlsbadca.gov.