Health and Wellness

starter plants
In 2019, Linda Harrison, former EP manager and current Assistant Director of Education and Literacy, commissioned plans for a community garden. However, progress halted in 2020. The next year our garden queen joined our team!
black yogi centering the self and sipping some tea
Experience the blissful union of mind, body, and soul with timeless yoga and meditation practices. Whether you're just dipping your toes or a seasoned pro, there's always room for growth and discovery. That's why we've handpicked a collection of books that will take you on a journey through these sacred arts and elevate your practice to new heights.
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Ok, "borrow" definitely isn't one of the 3 R's, but it should be an honorary member. And when you borrow from NPL instead of buy new, you're doing our Earth a huge favor. Plus, now there's so much more you can borrow from your library -- take a look!
501 Unarmed Self-Defense Skills
Self-defense is one of the most important skills I believe anyone should have. I like to say, “better to know but not need.” In 501 Unarmed Self-Defense Skills, Chris McNab gives you simple techniques you can use to ward off an attacker.
bdsm 101 by rev jen
In BDSM 101 Rev Jen speaks frankly about sex and sex work, and her sexual encounters with partners and clients. The book functions as a how-to, and a biography on Rev Jen’s time as a pro-sub, and her life as a "consummate perv."  
anti diet christy harrison
Over half of Americans have dieted at some point in their lives. Upwards of 90% of those who have intentionally lost weight have gained it back within five years. Plus, over half of those who embark on weight-loss efforts, end up gaining more weight than they lost. Why are we so obsessed with dieting when it is clearly ineffective?  The problem is diet culture (aka the wellness diet): a system of beliefs that equates thinness to health and moral virtue. It promotes weight loss as a means of attaining higher status, and demonizes certain ways of eating while elevating others. Ultimately, it's sexist, racist, and classist, yet it's so enmeshed in our moral fabric that it's hard to recognize and extricate. Today, it masquerades as health, wellness, fitness, and inspirational Instagrams, but it's still all-consuming and harmful.
Nashville Public Library has a number of resources that help provide support and reassurance to children and adults with Diabetes I.
Yoke: my yoga of self acceptance
Yoga means to yoke. Yoke means to join together. So, what are we joining together when practicing yoga? Is it simply a workout, or something else? Jessamyn Stanley explores the idea of yoking when it comes to yoga, especially among American practitioners.
Book Cover of Sharing a Smile by Nicki Kramar
Picture books can help children (and their parents) process big emotions around major life events, such as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Children's book creators have risen to the occasion and produced books that children and adults can both enjoy. 
If you're looking for some simpler, lighter recipes for the summer months, this beautifully designed cookbook will give you the inspiration you need.
Just the Good Stuff book cover
Just the Good Stuff has this magical quality where everything you make is somehow better than it ought to be.
self care kit contents
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Self-care is the act of preserving your health and well-being, especially during times of stress. NPL staff share their favorite restorative practices to help them cope.
The Memory Box: a Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland, is based upon the author's experience of creating a memory box so she might never forget a dear friend who died.  The closing pages of the book lists several ways to support a child who is experiencing grief and makes suggestions for the creation of a memory box.
illustration of corrective heart surgery using a shunt
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If February is both Heart Month and Black History Month, then it is most certainly Vivien Thomas Month! 
Together book cover
If you feel yourself withdrawing from others right now after months of limited social interaction, I highly recommend this book.  
The difficult periods of life will hurt, but beauty can still found within them. Katherine May recounts a painful season and the inevitability of sadness in her nonfiction book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.   
person in mask holding a basket of hand sanitizer
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If the commercial demands of winter holidays stress you out, December 2020 offers the chance to embrace a new way to be present with the season.
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Everyone knows what it feels like to be hungry and what to do about it but some people are not able to get enough food to eat.  Without enough food, we cannot become who we were meant to be.  We can help others who are in need of good food.
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It’s open enrollment season for the health insurance Marketplace (“Obamacare”). Learn more about the benefits of Marketplace plans, and get local, 1-on-1 enrollment help starting November 2. 
National Immunization Awareness Month
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Vaccines have worked to stop the spread of serious diseases in recent history. All eyes are on the race to develop one for the virus that causes COVID-19. 
image of hands and text that says National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
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The toxic stress that Black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) experience from racism is known to cause chronic mental and physical health problems. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month brings attention to this issue.
Nashville Kids Cook logo
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When kids learn and succeed in the kitchen it gives them confidence to try new foods and to be creative. A new series from Nashville Kids Cook provides a chance to learn these skills!
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Drawing can help us express and process our emotions. It's also a popular way to share personal stories of illness, and to learn about health.
This month's Nashville history post is letting photography do the talking, with a variety of slideshows for all to enjoy. Starting with a tribute to all medical workers for their dedicated service during these trying times, to finishing with a little more of "Some Good News - Archives Edition." 
Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I think now is a good time to revisit one of my favorite subjects: being good to yourself.
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News travels fast on social media, and sometimes it can be false and dangerous. Stop the spread of bad health information with these quick tips.
Borrowing John Krasinski's idea of reporting "Some Good News" during these troubling times, here are some historic news clippings from past pandemics or epidemics that have affected Nashville. But instead of including news articles about the actual devastation from the illnesses, these are more positive stories during the same time frame or at least examples of positives from the desolation.  
Parent and caregivers, we know it's challenging to have your children at home during this pandemic. Here is a roundup of online resources that can help kids stay engaged in learning—preventing their brains from "turning to mush" while they are not in school.
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Jessamyn Stanley speaks about how she got started on her yoga journey. She also speaks about how readers can get started on their own yoga journeys.
Periods of self-distancing and isolation can make us feel anxious and BORED. Here are some recommendations for ebooks that help you fill the time with activity or stillness.
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When we're not bench pressing books, library staff are sweating and stretching to many of these free, streaming classes.
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"I find that regularly practicing tai chi is relaxing and helps to reduce stress. It has helped to improve my focus, muscle strength, flexibility, and balance." -Ann Hargis, Tai Chi instructor
This time of year may mostly be associated with the various holidays we celebrate, but it's also well-associated with cold, awful weather (except for these past few weeks) and keeping ourselves warm with our HVAC systems. However, there was a time in Nashville's past that staying warm also meant being covered in soot as well. 
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December marks the shortest days of the year for sunlight, which can negatively affect your mood and mental health. The rest of winter doesn't offer much more sunlight than December does. Learn the signs, symptoms and treatments for depression that has a seasonal pattern, also referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.
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More than 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes, but only 10% know it. Use this quick screening tool to assess your risk.
As a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I love trying new cookbooks and learning from different chefs. I recently discovered local Nashville chef and author Laura Lea Bryant, and her cookbook has quickly become a favorite.
Warmer temperatures and longer days outside increase the risk for dehydration, especially for those in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. If plain water isn’t your thing, check out these tips and tricks to maintain good hydration throughout the day.
June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. Boost your brain health with these 5 mind-enriching nutrition tips!
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Be Well at NPL values making health information and wellness opportunities accessible to all, which is why we are thrilled to partner with the All of Us Research Program, a national effort to speed up medical breakthroughs and create a future of medicine that can tailor to our unique differences.
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Genetics is one piece of personal health and can help you understand your risk for inherited disease. Creating a simple medical family tree is considered one of the best genetic tests to share with your doctor. Best of all, it's free!
I love this cookbook because instead of offering specific recipes, it teaches you how to pair ingredients, often without a trip to the grocery store!
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Happy National Nutrition Month! Join us as we kick off new, dietician-led cooking classes in our library branches.
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States, and 1 in 3 adults will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Show your heart a little love during American Heart Month with these healthy habit ideas and resources.
Did you know a third of people who make New Year’s resolutions don’t keep them past January? Free library resources can help you beat those odds. .content-teaser--tag {display: none;} .content-teaser--body {padding: .8rem;} .content-teaser--body .summary {font-size: .75rem;}
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When it’s cold outside, the sun refuses to show, and no amount of hot tea is enough to cure your winter-time blues: it might be time to warm up from the inside out with a good book. 
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Since 1988, December 1 has been World AIDS Day. Help break down stigma by checking out some library material on HIV/AIDS health information, its history and early activism, and the personal experiences of people living with and affected by this virus. 
During our annual Thanksgiving feasts, we gather around the table with those we love, and indulge in rich and delicious tradition. Health isn’t always the priority during the holidays, so here are a few simple tips and cookbook suggestions to make your Thanksgiving Day a little healthier.
UK's most intrepid musical occultists present four extended tones intended for spiritual transportation.
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It’s usually children who get permission to color and play, but at Bordeaux Branch Library's weekly coloring night, it’s all about the adults, and they keep coming back.
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1 in 5 adults in the United States will experience a serious mental health issue in their lifetime. Though stigma and shame can prevent us from seeking help, NPL and the local mental health service community are here to provide information, validation, and hope.
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With 16 free, weekly classes to choose from, get out your mat (or borrow one of ours) and join NPL for a summer of yoga! We've also got books and DVDs you can use at home.
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Want to eat healthy, but also keep grocery bills low? Check out this coupon advice guide to get started saving money on groceries!
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Want to improve your fitness but low on time? High intensity interval training, or HIIT, can help you get just as good of a workout in half the time!
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African-American chefs, dietitians, and activists shed light on the health benefits of a plant-based diet, and its cultural ties to African and Carribean heritage.
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African-American chefs, dietitians, and activists shed light on the health benefits of a plant-based diet, and its cultural ties to African and Carribean heritage.
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I love this cookbook for so many reasons--its fun, veggie-filled recipes, its attention to fixed grocery budgets, and its PDF version with a creative commons license for online sharing.
We all want our children to learn good habits. But how do we teach them? Here are some simple, practical ideas to help you teach your toddler how to incorporate healthy, happy habits into their daily life!
Everyone is familiar with the name and what they are most known for, but do you really know about the history of the American Red Cross? Specifically, the history of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. This is part two of their story (explained as brief as possible) discussing their involvement during the second world war and the many years after. 
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Do you ever get to the bottom of a page and have no idea what you just read because your mind was wandering? While the book may be interesting, you find yourself worrying about the future or dreaming of the past? Come back to the present moment with the simple practice of mindfulness. 
The Red Cross is a storied and dedicated organization that spans decades, continents, wars, and various disasters. The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton. And though the Nashville Chapter received their official charter in 1917, their relief work for local troops and citizens began long before then. In honor of their dedicated service, next month, Metro Archives will be exhibiting artifacts and documents from our American Red Cross collection. 
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...and dancing, and meditation, and gardening, and more. With Be Well at NPL, we're stepping up as a key player in advancing community health.