Founded in 1910 by a group of visionary women, the Brooksville Woman’s Club remains an active part of the community more than a century later. The club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), an international organization focused on improving communities through volunteer work.
The Brooksville Woman’s Club holds monthly meetings that combine social time, planning for upcoming service projects, guest speakers, and meals prepared by club members. Their latest meeting, held on June 4, was no exception.
At this meeting, guest speaker Jessie Williams, a yoga instructor from House of Light Yoga in Spring Hill, led the group in a session of chair yoga. She also spoke about the mental and physical benefits of the practice. Jessie explained that yoga is a holistic form of exercise that supports the mind, body, and spirit. While yoga has its roots in ancient religious traditions in the Far East, in Western countries it is generally practiced as a non-religious form of physical activity.
Jessie introduced several types of yoga, including slow-paced styles like Hatha Yoga and faster-paced ones like hot yoga. The group practiced a gentle form of chair yoga using rubber straps for resistance. The session began with breathing exercises to help participants relax, followed by simple stretches for the arms and legs.
Yoga, she emphasized, is suitable for all ages and ability levels. Jessie mentioned that one of her regular students is in her 80s. While yoga is generally safe—even for pregnant women—Jessie advised consulting a doctor before starting any new fitness routine.
“There is no perfect body for yoga,” she said. “Yoga is perfect for everybody. It’s about connecting with your individual self.”
Benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, stronger muscles, better posture, improved immunity, and a greater sense of calm. Jessie also addressed common myths, such as the belief that yoga is a religion or that it requires extreme flexibility. In reality, many yoga poses are beginner-friendly, and flexibility can improve with regular practice.
After the yoga session, members enjoyed a shared meal, including a chicken and pasta casserole, a vegetable tray, and homemade desserts.
Though the club hosts social events like summer game nights, its main mission is service. Members work on projects such as making “Comfort Bears” for children with special needs and knitting hats for cancer patients. The club also supports local heritage preservation and beautification projects across Hernando County.
The club’s motto, “Unity in Diversity,” reflects its broad focus, which includes education, conservation, and public affairs. It supports both local and global causes through fundraising and volunteer work. Beneficiaries of the club’s efforts include People Helping People, the Pasco Hernando Healthy Families Coalition, and the Crescent Center Women’s Cancer Clinic. In May, members also took part in the Florida Emancipation Day event at Chinsegut Hill.
Most recently, the club earned first place in the 2025 Hernando Sun Readers’ Choice Awards for hosting the First Annual Booksville Festival. The event, which celebrated local authors and promoted reading, was so well-received that the club plans to make it a yearly tradition.
