A series of free health-minded events is scheduled in various locations around West Philadelphia from Oct. 1 through mid-November as part of “Health Awareness Season” sponsored by State Sen. Anthony H. Williams.

“A healthy lifestyle is something we can all strive toward, whether we resolve to make better food choices, exercise more or maintain regular check-ups with our physician. We don’t have to make huge changes, but even little lifestyle improvements make a major difference,” Williams said. “These events will help folks learn new forms of exercise while having fun, all for free.”

Registration is not required and there will be free giveaways at the events while supplies last. Here are the details:

– Learn what it takes to keep a body fit with a personal trainer, who will be available from 7 to 8 p.m. every Monday from Oct. 1 to Nov. 5 at Sayre Morris Recreation Center, 5835 Spruce St.

– Have fun and get the blood moving with great music and line dancing from 6 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday from Oct. 3 to Nov. 7 at SOCCA, Turner School, 5900 Baltimore Ave.

– Discover the Latin dance-inspired, calorie-burning workout Zumba from 6 to 7 p.m. every Thursday from Oct. 4 to Nov. 1 at Kingsessing Recreational Center, 4901 Kingsessing Ave.

For more information on these events, call Desaree Jones at 215-492-2980 or e-mail djones@pasenate.com.

Clark Park Youth Soccer, a non-competitive and family-friendly program, is looking for volunteer coaches to work with children between ages 5 and 11.

The Fall season begins on Saturday, September 22 and continues until November 17. Kids ages 5-7 practice and play at 10:30-Noon; kids ages 7-11 practice and play from Noon to 1:30. Each team has two to three coaches assigned (with a roster of subs).

If you want fresh air and exercise on Saturday mornings or afternoons and enjoy working with kids, please email to: clarkparksoccer@yahoo.com. Parents, students, or neighborhood soccer enthusiasts are welcome to apply. More information about the program is available here.

Bikram Yoga instructors Jill Holden, Schuyler Ferguson and Ammie Ferguson.

A Bikram Yoga studio is opening this Wednesday (Aug. 29) at 42nd and Chestnut and offering free classes through Tuesday, September 4. The brand new 5,000-square-foot studio space was built this year as a second level of the one-story building housing West Philadelphia Locksmith Co. The studio includes a 1,500-square-foot yoga room and space for a planned juice bar and organic foods store.

Bikram Yoga is the original form of “hot” yoga practiced in a heated room, so the studio has a custom built heating system, allowing it to maintain a 105-degree temperature and 40 percent humidity for every class. Although conditions like that may seem daunting, we hear that Bikram is the world’s fastest growing form of yoga. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome in the studio, local residents and students alike. A staff of eight Bikram certified instructors with extensive training and in-class experience will guide you through classes.

For more information on classes at Bikram Yoga University City, visit their homepage bikramyogaucp.com or Facebook page.

Choreographer and educator Anne-Marie Mulgrew presents The Keepers Project, a series of free movement workshops for people of 65 years of age and older. Workshops begin on Thursday, July 19 at the University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St) and registration is open now.

Workshops will include a series of guided movement and theater exercises exploring the group’s stories about family, roots or life-changing moments. People of all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to participate. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to share, connect and be involved in the process taking place monthly through March 2013. Participants will keep a journal and leave with a workshop portfolio. It is recommended to attend all 10 sessions. Additional sessions will meet August 16, September 19, October 24, November 28, December 19, January 23, February 20, March 20, and the final culminating workshop TBD. Sessions run 10-11:30 a.m.

To register and for more information, please call 215.462.7720, email ammdco2000@att.net, or visit www.annemariemulgrewdancersco.org or www.ucartsleague.org.

Dear Department of Parks and Recreation,

So it has been seriously hot over the last couple of weeks. You already know this. We hear it is going to be just as hot for another week. Here’s the problem: We have a great drinking fountain in Clark Park that is right next to the basketball courts and playground. We would love to use it because, as you probably know, playing basketball when it is 95 degrees out makes you very thirsty. But the fountain doesn’t work. Could you please, please fix it?

Sincerely,

The Kids of Clark Park

(This letter represents views we heard expressed in Clark Park by kids young and old who want their fountain fixed.)

Salena Alberti, a meditation teacher with over 10 years experience in practicing and studying Buddhism, is teaching “Healing the Mind Through Meditation,” a series of new Buddhist meditation classes at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave). This series runs from July 2 to July 23 and classes are taught every Monday from 7 – 8 p.m. in the studio’s conference room. The cost is $8 per class.

Here are the topics of each class:

July 2 – The Nature of the Mind
July 9 – The Mind/Body Connection
July 16 – The Medicine of Forgiveness: Learning to Let Go
July 23 – Taking and Giving Meditation: The Power of a Superior Intention

These classes are great for beginners. Each class begins with a relaxation meditation, a brief teaching on Buddhist topics, and ends with another energizing meditation. It is not necessary to attend all 4 classes to benefit from this practice.

This 4-week series is being offered by Amitayus Kadampa Buddhist Center. For more information, visit www.meditationinphiladelphia.org or call 267-702-4083.