Online Programs and Resources
Free Phone Tutoring for Computers and Smart Phones!
From the Senior Center~
Exercise
From the community~
Live Qigong for Health on Zoom
Tuesdays 9:30 am
Qigong is known to be effective for improving your immune and respiratory systems and for reducing stress. These weekly 40-minute classes are open to all Senior Center members, their families, and their friends. No special equipment, clothing, or experience necessary. Please email Terry at terryleers.sfq@gmail.com if you are interested and for registration details. There is an optional $3 class fee.
Live Fitness
Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9:00 am
SCWS Fitness instructor Maria Dowell is offering online Live Fitness classes at 9 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Please email Maria ma15dowell@gmail.com if you are interested and for details about how to connect. Optional $3 class fee.
Fitness (no dance)
Tuesdays, 11:00am
Get in shape and keep yourself fit during the winter months! If you are interested or would like more information,
please contact Maria at ma15dowell@gmail.com or call (206) 574-8944
Light Dance Class
Thursdays, 4:00pm
Get ready for some good music to get your body moving and lead you through some light dancing. Please email Maria ma15dowell@gmail.com or call (206) 574-8944 if you are interested and for details about how to connect.
Yoga and Movement with GenPRIDE Instructor Elizabeth Kovar 
Healthy Living Room from the YMCA
Find on-demand online workouts and resources for keeping your brain and body healthy on the YMCA’s Healthy Living Room page.
Art
From the community~
King County Library System
Daily Arts Activities by Silver Kite
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Silver Kite Community Arts is offering daily online intergenerational workshops, talks, social hours, and performances FREE for KCLS patrons. We hope that by offering these opportunities, we are providing stimulating creative engagement opportunities and social connection during this challenging time. New classes weekly.
Gage Academy of Art “Art to Go” Free Online Classes
Art to Go – Unlock your inner artist from the comfort of your home. Art to Go is a free community art series presented by Gage 360. As a public service to the community, Gage has developed twice-weekly classes that are FREE to anyone interested in learning about art. This new program will provide free art tutorials, demos and lectures from Gage artist instructors.
Attending the class via Zoom is on a first-come-first serve-basis as seats are limited, so click here to register online.
Online Art Resources from MoMA
MoMA (Metropolitan Museum of Art) has a number of free online art classes and resources in both English and Spanish.
Seattle Writes
Are you working on a novel? Or perhaps you write nonfiction, memoir, poetry or books for children? Seattle Public Library’s Seattle Writes program offers you time and space to experiment and improve your creative writing. The program offers writing resources, podcasts available anytime and virtual events.
Volunteer Student Chaplain
From the community~
In these challenging times, it can help to have spiritual or emotional support, or even just a conversation with someone who can provide a compassionate presence.
Jill Boone is a Buddhist lay minister and interfaith chaplain in training, and is offering her services as a volunteer chaplain to listen and help navigate the challenges of our isolation, aging, loss, political angst, or other issues. Sometimes, it can be reassuring to share our questions about how to make sense of our world, our lives and how we are living them. Just being heard and supported in life’s journey can make these times a bit lighter and less worrisome.
No matter your faith, spiritual leanings or lack thereof, a chaplain can serve as an empathetic ear to anyone who would like spiritual or emotional support or just a conversation.
Jill’s personal spiritual practice includes a variety of meditation teachers and retreats over the course of several decades. Additionally, she has participated in Courage & Renewal practice, which is inspired by Quaker teachings and Parker Palmer.
If you have questions about this or would like to schedule a time to talk via phone, Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, etc, please email Jill at santutthi@gmail.com.
Meditation
From Senior Center Instructors ~
Mindfulness Classes from instructor Kate Jarvis
Exploring the four noble mindstates of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.
Join this four-week course
4 classes: Thursdays, 10:00-11:00am
October 29, November 5, 12, 19
4 optional 30-minute extensions:
Mondays, 10am-10:30am
November 2, 9, 6, 23
Join this four-week course to explore the four noble qualities of kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. We all encounter challenges, anxiety and fear in daily life. These mindstates can be powerful responses in daily life and can offer a supportive structure to cultivate positive behaviors and minimize harmful ones. Additionally, we will explore relevant topics during this current time of great change. Contact Kate Jarvis, founder of Practice Seattle, at kate@practiceseattle.com for more information or to join. Fee: Donation only
Social
From the community~
Let’s be Pen Pals Progam
Even though we need to keep our distance from each other for now, it doesn’t mean we can’t make new friends. In fact, it’s a great time to make new friends and to bring back the lost art of letter writing!
The Let’s be Pen Pals Program has an awesome group of people of all ages from around the country and the world who would love to be pen pals with you.
Once you’ve signed up to participate, Let’s Be Pen Pals will match you with a pen pal. They’ll send the first letter (or poem or piece of artwork) via USPS mail to you and include their return address so you can write back to them. Or you can email if you prefer. You can also write to more than one pen pal.
If you’re interested in being matched with a pen pal, please contact Karen Pfeiffer Bush at Karen@Housewarmingseattle.com or by mail at PO Box 80132 Seattle, WA 98108.
Great Resources
From the community~
Seattle Public Library:
50+ Page
SPL has a new page designed especially for people 50 and older. You can find online book clubs, art classes, skill-building workshops, special collections and more. Whether you are learning a new technology, planning for retirement, exploring a creative hobby or delving into genealogy, you will find something of interest.
Mobile Library Services
The SPL Mobile Library Services can bring the library to you! Once a month, materials will be delivered either through Books by Mail or Home Service Delivery to your doorstep. This service is provided to Seattle residents who are unable to travel to the library. This may include individuals who have an illness or are living with a disability. For persons under 70, certification of eligibility by a healthcare professional may be required. For more information, call (206) 386-4636 or click here: Books by Mail
17 Ways to Enjoy Your Time at Home While Social Distancing
Lots of great ideas, activities and links to resources from Synergy Homecare.