Sweaty Hugs at Bookends Festival
Prepare for ‘Sweaty Hugs’ at Benderloch’s Bookends Festival – a new book exploring how free fitness is changing lives.
Written by first time author Kathleen Anderson, this book explores everything from mental health to community building, homesickness to belonging. ‘It will make you laugh, cry and inspire you to get your trainers on and find some free fitness,’ writes Kathleen.
The author – a Scot and fitness-phobe – first came across free fitness movements in Boston, Massachusetts. With humour and insight she examines three core benefits of engaging in free fitness – community, culture and mindset – while retelling her story of finding fitness and the difference it made to her through funny and honest blog exerts.
Kathleen Anderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She has an MSc in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Northeastern University, Boston where she spent 18 months studying. It was during that time that fitness became a significant aspect of her life, something she never thought would happen being fitness-phobic. Kath has now taken the leap to quit her job and write her first book in the hope of inspiring others.
Sweaty Hugs uses the November Project movement as a case study. November Project is grassroots fitness movement that is taking the US by storm and doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. In an interview that features in the book, November Project Boston, co-leader Chris Capozzi, says: ‘Every person you talk to that comes here as a core member says it has changed their lives and made their lives better.’
‘This book is for anyone interested in fitness: from first-timers to athletes, PE teachers to sports scientists, coaches to personal fitness instructors,’ Kathleen said. ‘Whoever you are, after reading Sweaty Hugs you will feel inspired and motivated.’
Meanwhile, the festival’s book bins are spreading round the country, organiser Joy Cameron said. The boxes are a ‘place to swap, donate or choose books to take away as well as pick up a print version of the programme for Bookends 2017,’ she added.
‘The book bin proved so popular with Barcaldine residents it became a permanent feature and has sustained readers over last winter into spring and through this summer.
‘Book bins can now be found in Connel, Kilmore, Taynuilt – another one which has been well used all year – and more are springing up in Benderloch and beyond. Argyll College and Hope Kitchen also run Bookends book bins for swapping and sharing.
‘If you have books you wish to donate to this year’s bookends leave a message on our website www.bookends.scot or phone Joy Cameron on 01631 720247.’