Peabody library to offer health programs

PEABODY – Keeping your New Year’s Resolution to get healthy and fit doesn’t have to come at the cost of an expensive gym membership, especially if you’re a resident of Peabody.With the help of a $12,000 grant funded by the MetLife Foundation and administered by the national organization Libraries for the Future, the Peabody Institute Library and its branches will offer up a mix of mind, body and soul programs aimed to improve the overall health of the community.From adult Latin dance classes to children’s yoga and de-cluttering tips to learning how to eat local, Gerri Guyote, Assistant Director of the Library, said the year-long offerings are sure to please.”Our goal is to offer recreational and educational opportunities for folks at all age levels with an overriding goal to educate and inform people on the benefits of an active lifestyle,” she said. “We’re trying to offer something for everybody.”So far, 20 adult programs, two young adult programs and a variety of children’s activities have been scheduled through November 2009. A complete list and description of programs is available online at www.peabodylibrary.org.The Peabody library was one of 17 others across the nation to be awarded the Fit for Life grant this past July. The program was first created three years ago, at which time it was called Get Real, Get Fit, said Guyote. It was intended for the teen audience, but grew to be so successful that Libraries of the Future expanded it to the full age range and gave it a new name.”We’re just so thrilled to have the opportunity to offer this program to the community,” she said.All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, as class sizes are limited. To register, residents may do so online, over the phone, or by visiting the circulation desk.