April programs
April 5, 2023 Drums Alive Music Therapy for Seniors
Using rhythm as the source of inspiration to discover a new group fitness experience Drums Alive® combines the benefits of a traditional physical fitness program with the brain-affected benefits of music and rhythm. Drums Alive® is a program that fosters a healthy balance physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially!
MusicWorx’s Drums Alive® music therapists will facilitate interactive drumming fitness exercises. Rhythm, movement, and singing activities are designed for all ages and abilities. The therapists will guide participants through rhythm, stretching, and music-making exercises that they can do at home with their families.
When: 10-11 am
Where: Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
The class is available for 15 Community members. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
April 6, 2023 Fitness Forever Club
Fitness Forever Club is geared towards older adults and seniors to improve their ability to do tasks of daily living and prevent falls. This club will focus on coordination, agility, mobility, strength, and balance in a fun and safe environment. It includes a warmup, some cardio moves, senior-based agility, coordination, and power moves with weights and bands.
When: 9-9:45 am
Where: Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
The class is available for 15 Community members. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
April 12, 2023 Easy Does It Chair Yoga – Two Sessions!
Join community yoga instructors from A Gentle Way Yoga for this free chair yoga class specially designed for those who have a challenging time moving their body, or have limited mobility. This is a doable class for all with highly effective healing movements and mindfulness practices. Even those who have no mobility problems can find great mental and physical benefits in this class.
Time: 10:00-11:00 am or 2:00-3:00 pm Location: GHD’s Health & Wellness Library Meeting Room
The class is available for 10 community members. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
Open to residents & people who work, attend school, or have health-related ties to East County San Diego.
April 12, 2023 Meet & Greet the Artist – Annie Claflin
When: 6-7 pm
Where: GHD’s Health & Wellness Library, 9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
Annie Claflin is a San Diego lens-based artist. Her artwork weighs complexities of family and paradoxes of home as solace and isolation, interweaving those relationships with her own likeness.
At this Meet & Greet, Claflin will be discussing her spring exhibit displayed in the Library, Minor Imperfections. She’ll also be answering any questions about her creative practice and the intersection of her art with her wellness. In addition, in recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Wellness Wednesday program of the month will include a panel discussion on mental health featuring the artist and community mental health experts on May 24th from 10-11 am. Both events are free and open to the public. More details for the panel can be found on our website http://grossmonthealthcare.org
April 13, 2023 Mindful Movement & Sound Meditation
Where: GHD’s Health & Wellness Library, 9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
Time: 11 am – 12 pm
Guided mediation, the focus is on breath, gentle movement, and sound as a natural therapy. The soothing, sound wave vibrations from a steel tongue drum fill the room to help quiet the mind.
The class is available for 10 community members. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
Open to residents & people who work, attend school, or have health-related ties to East County San Diego.
April 14, 2023 Children’s Music Storytime with Hooray Miss Marae
Time: 10:00 – 11 am Location: GHD’s Health & Wellness Library Meeting Room
The class is available for 10 families. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
Open to residents & people who work, attend school, or have health-related ties to East County San Diego.
April 17, 2023 – Memory Screening
Check your brain health by stopping by the Health & Wellness Library for a free memory screening. You may reserve an appointment through the Library. Las proyecciones para Alzheimer’s en Espanol se pueden proporcionar con previo aviso. Sepa que estas evaluaciones están limitadas a personas mayores de 55 años.
When: Monday, April 17 | 11 AM – 2 PM
Where: Grossmont Healthcare District’s Health & Wellness Library (9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa, CA 91942)
Contact: Call 619.825.5010 or email info@herricklibrary.org to reserve an appointment. Walk-ins are also available.
April 19, 2023 new stARTs
Join art instructor Linda Bounds for a free multi-sensory, therapeutic oil painting program. No experience necessary, all supplies included.
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm Location: GHD’s Health & Wellness Library Meeting Room
The class is available for 8 community members. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
Open to residents & people who work, attend school, or have health-related ties to East County San Diego.
April 20, 2023 Fitness Forever Club
Fitness Forever Club is geared towards older adults and seniors to improve their ability to do tasks of daily living and prevent falls. This club will focus on coordination, agility, mobility, strength, and balance in a fun and safe environment. It includes a warmup, some cardio moves, senior-based agility, coordination, and power moves with weights and bands.
When: 9-9:45 am
Where: Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
The class is available for 15 Community members. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
April 21, 2023 Songbirds Music Family Class
Songbirds Music offers music and movement classes for children ages 0-6 and their loving grownups. Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and adults will enjoy this interactive, highly engaging class where we will sing, dance, play, and create a musical community together. Parents/caregivers: you are your child’s first and most important teachers so thank you for participating and spending this special time connecting and learning with your little one.
Time: 10:00-11:00 am Location: Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
The class is available for 12 families. Please call 619-825-5010, email info@herricklibrary.org, or visit the library to register for this month’s program.
Open to residents & people who work, attend school, or have health-related ties to East County San Diego.
April 26, 2023 Wellness Wednesday –Mindfulness for Health and Wellness
Where: Grossmont Healthcare District Auditorium
9001 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
Time: 10 – 11 am (doors open at 9:30)
In recognition of April as Stress Awareness Month, join us for an engaging discussion on mindfulness with an expert from the UCSD Center for Mindfulness and learn how mindfulness can support health and wellness. The word “Mindfulness” is used quite often these days, but really, what is it and
how do you use it? This engaging presentation will explore the science and history behind this ancient practice and provide attendees a taste of the practice itself. Helen Hyun-Chung Kim, MD, is a Qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy teacher with the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. In her previous life she was a board-certified psychiatrist in Korea for 15 years, working for underserved communities. During this time, she witnessed suffering in the lives of her patients and felt a strong pull towards the field of mindfulness and self-compassion as a way to heal and alleviate suffering. While learning and practicing mindfulness through the center, Helen discovered a rich, grounding foundation for her life, filled with awareness, acceptance, ease, and compassion. Helen is committed to sharing what she has learned with others who may be on their own journey of self-discovery and healing.
We will be showing the movie “Gigi and Nate” with Charles Rowe at 11:30 am in the Auditorium.
Ongoing Programs
Winter Art Exhibit
Annalise Neil lives and works in La Mesa, CA. In 2006, she received a BFA in Printmaking from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY, with a minor in Art History (summa cum laude). She participated in an Artist Residency in Motherhood from 2016-17, and has completed several independent art study courses with the NYC Crit Club. She is a member of the Art Alliance at the Oceanside Museum of Art and the San Diego Watercolor Society. Annalise has exhibited her paintings, fine prints, and cyanotypes in numerous juried shows throughout the United States over the past 20 years, obtaining several awards by notable jurors. She has been published in ArtMaze Mag, The On Being Project, Emergence Magazine, All She Makes, and New Visionary Magazine. Her work resides in public and private collections across the U.S. and in Europe.

Health Rocks! Garden
Welcome to our Health Rocks! Garden where you can share your painted rock creations with the community, or come pick one to take home. We are gathering positive and encouraging messages for those going through their health and wellness journeys, as well as thanking our local healthcare heroes who work nearby.
