bookstores host lectures, signings, reading groups, game nights and more — none of which you could achieve online. Support for Local Businesses You might think of farmer’s markets or local co-ops when you hear the phrase “buy local,” but the same idea applies to independent bookstores. When customers buy local at a bookstore, they ensure that their money will go back into the local economy and support other local businesses and initiatives, instead of vanishing into the vast depths of the internet. A Unique Experience Handmade signs and art. Hot coffee and tea. A cozy reading nook to check Though Guiliano’s evidence is anecdotal, the science confirms that lifting weights can be an indispensable aid to healthy aging for both men and women. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information recommends strength training 2–3 times per week to lower your risk of health problems and preserve bone density, independence, and vitality. According to WebMD, “Muscle loss is one of the main reasons people feel less energetic as they get older. When you lift weights, work out on machines, use resistance bands, or do exercises with your own body weight (like pushups and situps), you build strength, muscle mass, and flexibility.” You don’t have to join a gym to reap the benefits, though; just pick up a set of free weights and a resistance band and research how to safely use them in your own home. Bodybuilding.com recommends
designing a workout routine that includes one or two exercises for each of the major muscle groups: legs, back, shoulders, arms, chest, and abs. Try 8–10 repetitions per set, but don’t push yourself to use heavy weights. Even options that are 10 pounds or less should be enough to keep you chasing after your grandchildren for years to come. One public figure who has taken the weightlifting creed to heart is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The documentary “RBG” shows the 86-year-old judge at the gym, pumping lightweight iron with her personal trainer, and she even walked spring chicken Stephen Colbert through her routine on “The Late Show.” Ginsburg has called her trainer “the most important person” in her life apart from her family, which is a ringing endorsement for lifting weights if ever there was one.
In her best-selling lifestyle guide “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” Mireille Guiliano advises women in their 50s to invest in a set of free weights — nothing too heavy, perhaps 3–5 pounds — in order to maintain their toned, youthful appearance and range of motion. She notes that lifting weights isn’t entirely necessary during your 20s and 30s, but it’s essential to maintain muscle tone and bone density in your later years.
The Power of Authenticity What Makes Independent Bookstores Great
Anyone who frequents their local independent bookstore knows how alluring the environment can be. It’s hard to believe that not too long ago, many people thought independent bookstores would die out at the hands of online retail giant Amazon. Despite this gloomy speculation, just the opposite has proven true. The number of independent bookstores has grown by 35% between 2009 and 2015. So how did these community mainstays defy the odds? A Sense of Community Buying books for the cheapest price possible isn’t the only reason to visit an independent bookstore. They are a place for readers of all ages and demographics to gather together under one roof. Many independent
out new releases or visit old classics. Beautiful book displays designed to draw you in. Whatever little quirks your local bookstore has, you can be sure that no bookstore anywhere else is quite like it. It’s probably run by a staff just as enthusiastic about reading as you are, who can point you in the right direction. Plus, they’ll be able to give you recommendations that no algorithm would ever pick up on. Sept. 6 is National “Read a Book Day,” and Sept. 8 is International Literacy Day. What better way to observe these holidays than by visiting your local independent bookstore, finding your next favorite book, and reading the day away?
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