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St. Johns County Council on Aging



River House

Mah Jongg for Beginners on Tuesdays in January at River House

$50

with Marcia Farrell

Calendar Jan 6, 2026 at 1 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Mah Jongg is an ancient Chinese game played by four people using tiles bearing various symbols. If you are familiar with the card game Gin Rummy, you have a head start in understanding Mah Jongg. Mah Jongg is an exciting and mind challenging game that helps stimulate your thought process.

Marcia has been playing Mah Jongg for over 20 years. She taught Mah Jongg at the Riverview Club and to the people in her development, as well as other developments. She also taught Mah Jongg at the COA in 2009. She loves the game and plays several times a week. 

Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays, January 6, 13, 20, 27 from 1:00 - 3:00 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084) 

For ages 18 and up.

 

Full Course

Sound Vibrational Frequency (Sound Bath) on Tuesdays in January at River House

$25

with Sharon Infante

Calendar Jan 6, 2026 at 2:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Since everything has a vibrational frequency, including ourselves, it makes sense that sound frequencies impact how we feel. That’s why particular songs and types of music often bring about specific types of emotions. Vibrational sound healing therapy (sound bath) can retune your body, mind and spirit, while encouraging relaxation, healing and wellness. These sessions use therapeutic crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, "wind gong", and  tuning forks and other sound vibration tools. The combination of tones and vibrations that produce a state of tranquility and act as a massage for the nervous system create a state of vibrational balance and harmony.

Participants are encouraged to be in a resting position. Best if on the floor with a yoga mat or a portable reclining chair but sitting up also works. Many enjoy having a light sheet or blanket to place over them.

Simply rest with eyes closed and listen as the practitioner plays a variety of instruments and you “bathe” in the soothing sounds and vibrations. Sound frequencies slow down the brain waves to a deeply restorative state which activates the body’s system of self-healing. Crystal bowls are tuned to chakras as well as the tuning forks. The gong, bowls and tuning forks helps release tension in the body and stimulates the glandular and nervous system. Vocal chanting sometimes is added which further releases stagnant energy of the organs and as in singing lifts our spirit. As in humming and sound frequency, nitric oxide is release and enhances our cellular state within.

Sharon has been on her journey since 2000, trained in Woodstock, NY with Master trainers of Sound and Frequency. She is a Qigong Practitioner, Senior Trainer of IIQTC Tai Chi Easy Leader, certified in various Tai Chi Health forms, Master Reiki and energy healer, and completed studies in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)

Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays, January 6, 13, 20, 27 from 2:30 to 3:30 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

iPhone: 20 Perhaps Surprising Things You Can Do With It on Wednesdays in January at River House

$25

with Jim Cargilo

Calendar Jan 7, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 4 weeks

Your iPhone is an amazingly powerful tool—great for your daily enjoyment and perfect for keeping track of your health and well-being. As we get older, a little extra help and a few reminders can make life run a lot more smoothly. That’s where your iPhone truly shines!

Think of it as your personal helper, ready to remind you of important tasks, guide you through what you need to do, and help you stay on track for a healthy, active life.

Join us to discover 20 fun and useful things your iPhone can do to make your life simpler—and get ready to be surprised by just how much this tiny powerhouse can really do!

Smartphones are just a miniaturized computer, so learning them is just an extension to learning a Computer – they both use your mind and fingers…

Jim has been working with, and building computers, since 1981. He has worked for some major computer Companies such as Plessey Peripheral Systems (DEC), Fujitsu America (Disk Drives), MSI Data (Hand Held Scanners), and Aston-Tate (Software). He also started some of his own companies which he eventually sold to larger Companies: Simply Computers (PCs), Tobar (Disk Drives), Megastor (Disk Drives), and Dynamic Products (Australia).

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 from 9 to 10 at the River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Gentle Yoga on Wednesdays in January at River House

$25

with Scott Farber

Calendar Jan 7, 2026 at 9:15 am, runs for 4 weeks

This dynamic yet gentle class is for all ages, accommodating beginners as well as those who want to deepen their practice. Using teaching demonstrations and detailed guidance, each class proceeds in a safe and slow way to instruct the basics of (Kripalu) yoga postures, breathwork and meditation. Plenty of modifications and variations will be given for different body types. 

Class is 60 minutes and include an opening centering, gentle warmups, postures (asanas), breathwork (pranayama), and a long closing relaxation (yoga nidra). 

Please bring your own yoga mat, water bottle, and blanket or cushion to sit on.

Scott Farber, Ph.D., E-RYT 500/YACEP. Scott has been practicing yoga, meditation, and t'ai chi since the 1970s. A former college professor, with a doctorate in philosophy of education, he has traveled and taught all over the world. He now serves as a lead trainer in the Discovery Yoga School, offering a variety of yoga classes, workshops and teacher trainings.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 from 9:15 to 10:15 at River House (179 Marine St.  St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Art of Meditation on Wednesdays in January at River House

$25

with Scott Farber

Calendar Jan 7, 2026 at 10:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

Meditation relaxes the body, heals the heart, and calms the mind. This class will introduce a variety of meditation techniques from different traditions. Each class will begin with some brief stretching and breathing followed by an opening meditation; then there will be a short sharing and discussion followed by a different closing meditation. We will be using chairs for all the seated meditations; you do not need to bring a mat or cushion. We may also do some special walking and sound bath meditations.

Scott Farber, Ph.D. has been practicing meditation since 1975, starting with TM (Transcendental Meditation). In addition to teaching yoga meditations, including yoga nidra, and the moving meditation of t'ai chi, he also has studied Zen, Buddhist, Tantric, Sufi, Kabbalah, and Arica methods of meditation. 

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084) 

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Chair Yoga on Wednesdays in January at River House

$25

with Rebecca Dawson

Calendar Jan 7, 2026 at 10:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

Discover a yoga practice that has therapeutic benefits for seniors who may not be able to stand for long periods of time or may be uncomfortable seated on the floor.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Full Course

Trust Your Intuition on Wednesdays in January at River House

$25

with Kate Werner

Calendar Jan 7, 2026 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks

When was the last time you had a hunch about something that turned out to be right? When did you just "know" something was off? How many "gut feelings have you ignored? These are your intuition speaking to you. Now it is time to recognize the sound of your intuition communicating with you.

Come to this class to learn the secrets of how.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084)

For ages 18 and up.

Will run

Tap Dancing Level 3 on Wednesdays in January at River House

$3750

with Judy Woodruff

Calendar Jan 7, 2026 at 1:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks

For the experienced tap dancer with a good command of tap technique and vocabulary this intermediate level class emphasizes choreography. Practice includes a variety of time steps, more syncopated rhythms, developing speed with clarity, and performance quality. Choreography includes new work and some dances from the Matanzas Tap performance repertory.

Class sessions will be held on Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at River House (179 Marine Street, St. Augustine 32084).

For ages 18 and up.

Will run





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