Workout Thursday at Birmingham Public Library: A First-Person Experience of Chair Yoga & Chair Aerobics

BPL PR Specialist Roy Williams was BPL Patron Roy on Thursday, August 13, participating in the Slide City Chair Aerobics class at North Birmingham Regional Library at 9:30 a.m., then Jaynea "Coach Tru" Milhouse's Chair Yoga class at downtown Central Library at 1 p.m.  

Workout Thursday at Birmingham Public Library: A First-Person Experience

Two very different workouts. One very busy Thursday.

By Roy L. Williams
Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library

If you want to get in shape—or simply find a way to relax—Thursday was the day to do it at Birmingham Public Library.

I took full advantage of it.

My Thursday began at 9:30 a.m. at North Birmingham Regional Library, where I joined about 40 other participants for my second experience with the popular Slide City Chair Aerobics class.

It was intense.

Four hours later, at 1 p.m., I was sitting in a chair again—but this time, I was slowing down instead of speeding up.

I joined Week 3 of Jaynea "Coach Tru" Milhouse's five-week Chair Yoga Series at the downtown Birmingham Public Library.

After the morning workout, the Chair Yoga class came at exactly the right time.

I needed to chill.

And what a contrast it was.

Over 40 people, mostly seniors between ages and 60 and 90, participated in Slide City Chair Aerobics.

9:30 a.m.: Let's Get Moving

My day started at North Birmingham Regional Library with Slide City Chair Aerobics.

After months of photographing and recording the popular program—which regularly attracts nearly 50 participants three mornings a week—I decided in July to finally put down my camera and join the class.

I wrote about that first experience in my blog, "A First-Person Look at Slide City Chair Aerobics at North Birmingham Regional Library."

This time, however, the class was led by Karnecia Williams, North Birmingham Regional Library's branch manager.

And let me tell you: Instructor Karnecia is all business.

After a few short stretching exercises, she launched us into an intense 25-minute workout.

We kicked.

We punched.

We moved our arms.

We stood up and exercised beside and behind our chairs.

And we kept moving.

90-year-old Alice Huggins, chair aerobics participant.

The class was made up primarily of older adults, ranging from people in their 60s to 90-year-old Alice Huggins, who once again showed that age is no excuse for sitting still.

As for me?

I got tired.

Quickly.

Karnecia Williams, instructor of the August 13 Slide City Chair Aerobics class.

Discovery No. 1: Karnecia Wasn't Going to Let Me Hide Behind My Camera

Since I'm usually the person taking the photographs, I decided to sneak back into my familiar PR role when I needed a break.

I picked up my camera and started recording a few videos.

Karnecia wasn't having it.

"No cheating, Mr. Roy. You're in the class, not PR guy today," she said with a smile.

I grinned sheepishly.

Then I put the camera down and got back to work.

A few minutes later, I picked it up again.

I thought I could sneak in another video.

I couldn't.

"No break, Mr. Roy!" Karnecia called out.

Back down went the camera.

Back to exercising I went.

At one point, I leaned over toward a woman sitting beside me.

"I'm feeling every bit of my 61 years. I am out of shape," I whispered.

She laughed.

I kept moving.

Discovery No. 2: Chair Aerobics Is No Joke

Karnecia kept the class moving through a series of exercises that worked more than just our arms.

We moved from seated exercises to standing movements, working around the chairs and keeping pace with her instructions.

By the time we reached the wind-down portion, I could feel the workout in my muscles.

When the class ended, my body knew it had done some work.

But my Thursday wasn't over.

Not even close.

10:30 a.m.: Time to Wind Down

After the workout, I joined several other Chair Aerobics participants for an hour-long wind-down crafts class led by Adult Librarian Jacqueline Winston.

It was exactly what I needed.

After 25 minutes of kicking, punching, stretching and moving, I was ready to sit down, relax and let my body recover.

An hour later, I was headed downtown.

It was time for Workout No. 2.

1 p.m.: From Sweat to Serenity

At 1 p.m., I arrived at the downtown Birmingham Public Library for Week 3 of Coach Tru's Chair Yoga series.

I had participated in the class two weeks earlier, so this wasn't my first experience.

That made a difference.

The first time, I didn't know what to expect.

This time, I knew to expect something completely different from what I experienced that morning.

Coach Tru dimmed the lights.

Soft music filled the room.

She encouraged us to close our eyes, clear our minds and focus on our breathing.

Take a deep breath.

Let it out.

Forget the distractions.

Be present.

After the morning's high-energy workout, it felt almost like pressing a reset button.

Jaynea "Coach Tru" Milhouse is teaching chair yoga at Central Library downtown from 1-2  p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 27. BPL's Roy Williams is writing a first-person perspective of the class series.   

Discovery No. 3: Sometimes Your Body Needs to Slow Down

For nearly an hour, I stretched my arms and legs while listening to Coach Tru's calm instructions.

The movements were slow and deliberate.

At first, some of my muscles hurt as I stretched them.

But gradually, it became easier.

Coach Tru continually reminded us to breathe, relax and not push our bodies beyond what felt safe.

And once again, I found myself surprised by how much I enjoyed the experience.

It was exercise.

But it didn't feel like the kind of exercise that leaves you exhausted.

It felt restorative.

Two Workouts. Two Completely Different Experiences.

That's what struck me most about Thursday.

At 9:30 a.m., I was punching, kicking, standing, sitting and trying to keep up with Karnecia Williams.

At 1 p.m., I was sitting quietly, breathing deeply and stretching under Coach Tru's direction.

One class had music that kept me moving.

The other had quiet music that helped me slow down.

One left me sweating.

The other left me relaxed.

Yet both had something important in common: They got me moving.

And both reminded me that fitness doesn't have to look the same for everyone.

Discovery No. 4: BPL Wellness Comes in More Than One Form

As Birmingham Public Library's public relations specialist, I spend much of my time behind the camera documenting what happens inside our libraries.

Over the past several months, I've photographed and written about a growing number of BPL wellness programs.

But participating in them has given me a different perspective.

I've learned that wellness isn't simply about working out.

Sometimes it's about challenging yourself.

Sometimes it's about slowing down.

Sometimes it's about meeting people, laughing together and building a community.

And sometimes it's about realizing that at 61, you can still try something you've never done before.

My Thursday Takeaway

By the time I left the library Thursday afternoon, I had experienced two completely different approaches to wellness.

Slide City Chair Aerobics reminded me that I need to keep moving.

Chair Yoga reminded me that I also need to slow down.

I think I need both.

And maybe that's the real lesson.

Taking care of yourself isn't always about pushing harder.

Sometimes it's about knowing when to push—and knowing when to breathe.

For me, Thursday was a reminder that Birmingham Public Library isn't just giving people places to read, learn and connect.

We're also giving people opportunities to move, relax and take better care of themselves.

And on this particular Thursday, I got to experience both sides.

My body felt the morning workout.

My mind appreciated the afternoon one.

And I'm already looking forward to the next class.

FREE BPL WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Slide City Chair Aerobics

North Birmingham Regional Library

A free, low-impact chair-based workout featuring music, movement and exercises designed to help participants stay active.

Chair Yoga with Coach Tru

Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203

Thursdays | 1–2 p.m.

Remaining dates: Aug. 20 and Aug. 27

Led by Jaynea "Coach Tru" Milhouse, certified Hatha yoga instructor, licensed therapist, certified Vipassana meditation teacher and life coach.

Cost: Free

Who should attend: Adults of all ages and ability levels. No previous yoga experience is necessary.

Inside Birmingham Public Library's Chair Yoga Class: A First-Person Experience

- July 30, 2026

https://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2026/07/inside-birmingham-public-librarys-chair.html

Learn More

📖 Meet Coach Tru: Read our Wellness Spotlight Q&A to learn about her journey into yoga, mindfulness and mental wellness. Link https://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2026/07/chair-yoga-at-birmingham-public-library.html

📖 Earlier Story: Read Get Fit at BPL: Our Next Step Is Chair Yoga for a preview of the series. Link

 https://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2026/07/get-fit-at-bpl-our-next-step-is-chair.html

📖 Related Story: Read my first-person experience inside Birmingham Public Library's popular Slide City Chair Aerobics class at North Birmingham Regional Library

https://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2026/07/chair-yoga-at-birmingham-public-library.html

For more information about Birmingham Public Library programs and events, visit www.cobpl.org/calendar.