Connect & Learn
Learning together - something for everyone
Welcome to the Exmouth & District u3a Connect & Learn website. To see what's on offer please go to the "Topics" tab or click or tap here. And just scroll on down below here to see our latest topic - "Live Well Longer".
The Exmouth and District u3a Connect & Learn Group is exciting and radically different in that there's no limit on the number of members. Everyone who belongs to Exmouth & District u3a is now automatically a member and has full access to all of the resources on this website! The direction it will go in will be driven by the wishes and needs of our members. It's a dynamic group which can take full advantage of 21st century technology.
Our aim is to offer all members opportunities to benefit from a very wide variety of online learning, to suit all interests and tastes. We will share and recommend a range of online learning resources which are high quality, free and easily accessible. All you need is to be able to access the internet via a computer, tablet or smartphone. And this will be very flexible as you can do this from the convenience and comfort of your own home (or from anywhere else in the world) at any time to suit yourself. There are also opportunities to share learning together and to have virtual meetings online.
So the Connect & Learn Group will evolve and grow in whatever way you, its members, wish to see. Flexible learning, with others, at its best - and it's all free! And this website will work on all devices and all operating systems (although it may be preferable to view this on as large a screen as possible, as using this on a smartphone involves a lot of scrolling!)
For further details, see the About us page.
Our latest topic on 'Live Well Longer' is below - just scroll on down. To look at our other topics (introductory videos, u3a resources, library resources, the arts in Exmouth, resources from the BBC and the OU, MOOCs, using computers, reliable health information, happiness, music online, videos on YouTube, TED Talks and learning foreign languages), click or tap on the "Topics" tab, or click or tap here: Topics
Some extras
Our basic guide to using computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones - to help you with technology
Our basic guides to videoconferencing and teleconferencing - to keep us all connected
Our online Astronomy for Beginners Group - open to all members, and
Our online Mindfulness & Meditation Group - also open to everyone!
Live Well Longer
This is our very latest topic (which is still in development). It offers a range of resources on physical and mental wellbeing tailored to meet your own needs and requirements.
Here is a selection of interesting and relevant resources. I have only just started creating this, and so please re-visit this soon to see more. And if you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.
From this Connect and Learn website:
From the Topics section: Reliable health information on the internet
From the Topics section: Happiness
From the main section tabs: Mindfulness & Meditation
See especially this excellent video from Sir Muir Gray on 'Learning is the Elixir of Healthy Life' - what we know about living longer and the interaction between ageing, loss of fitness, disease and ageism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sabN2Hbf4DI&ab_channel=u3a
The Live Longer Better website set up by Sir Muir Gray: https://www.livelongerbetter.uk/
Video: The Secrets of Ageing Better: Professor Janet Lord, University of Birmingham - what happens when we age, and ways in which we can all "age better" and stay healthier for longer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LymsUn5QzmM&ab_channel=u3a
Video: The Future of Ageing - David Sinclair, International Longevity Centre - how the ageing of the world's population will have a major social and economic impact - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwWRFnblq4Y&ab_channel=u3a
Video: Our Homes for Our Future - Janet Sutherland, Chair of Future Lives - key findings from our housing questionnaire and experiences of members who have made changes to their homes or moved home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7-fmEX-GXk&ab_channel=u3a
More resources:
Learning is the real elixir of life - An article by Sir Muir Gray published in Third Age Matters Spring 2023.
Re-imagining the Future in Older Age - u3a members in Scotland worked with the University of Stirling to create a 40-minute film that unpicks the way we look at older adults and their relationship with their own future.
Centre for Ageing Better - provides a range of information and publications, events and a free image library.
Artificial Intelligence for everyone - a resource library developed by Barry Claydon, u3a AI Subject Advisor.
Coming up soon: online presentation: Housing options in later life: The role of retirement housing on Tuesday 6 February, 2-3pm: Kathleen Dunmore, Housing Advisor to Retirement Housing Group: What factors should you take in to account when considering a move into retirement housing? What types of retirement housing are available and how much do they cost?
From Active Devon:
Bringing Together Devon Networks Supporting People to Live, Longer, Better: https://activedevon.org/bringing-together-devon-networks-supporting-people-to-live-longer-better/
NHS Better Health website
This NHS website has a great range of exercises and suggestions for better heatlh - https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/ . It includes a 'How to be more active' section and a 'Home workout videos' section. There's also a separate section called 'Every mind matters' - https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
From 'Just One Thing'
Dr Michael Mosely has over 80 excellent health-related short radio programmes/podcasts which are highly recommended. They are all on BBC Sounds - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09by3yy/episodes/player
Pilates
Pilates is a great form of exercise. Rachel Lawrence is a particularly good teacher, and you can see an introduction from her here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ITszzx3E0&ab_channel=TheGirlWithThePilatesMat.
Her YouTube channel has hundreds of videos - see https://www.youtube.com/@TheGirlWithThePilatesMat/videos There is a section especially for seniors - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiAecv7YEF5j1Hy1Rf_pbVkeoFM8GLHro .
And one video I particularly like is all about standing pilates - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3PYS_jsA1c&list=PLiAecv7YEF5j1Hy1Rf_pbVkeoFM8GLHro&index=59&t=2s&ab_channel=TheGirlWithThePilatesMat
Qigong
Have your tried Qigong exercises for increased energy and fitness? They are suitable for all and involve 'work with our life force energy'. Take a look at this short introductory video from Lee Holden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzwet-C7sRE&ab_channel=HoldenQiGong
Then if you like the sound of this, try out some of his exercises from his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HoldenQiGong