Today's Decisions Affect You Tomorrow?

I saw this bit of information in the September 2012 issue of All You magazine: 

Fat Settles in Sooner Than you Think

A person's muffin top can materialize quickly.  Researchers at the University of Oxford in England found that, on average, people can add up to 3 teaspoons of belly fat within 4 hours after eating a high-fat meal.  The fatty tissue makes a temporary home around the waist before being stored elsewhere.  Exercise to keep the fat from settling in.   Source:  Fredrik Karpe, PhD

That fact makes the following quote even more motivating!

"I'm careful about what I eat because I know my body will wear it tomorrow!"

Rut Blocker  

Adding something as simple as using "opposites" to you class is a great way to work on fall prevention and agility!  Here's some ideas:

1.  When marching, raise the opposite arm.

2.  Step R leg out, L leg out, R leg in, L leg in (cue: out, out, in, in).  Add the opposite arm so that when the R leg steps out the L arm goes out and when the L leg steps out the R arm goes out.  When the R leg steps in, the L arm comes in, etc.

3  Do heel taps with the same arm reaching out and them toe taps with the opposite arm reaching out.

Look for even more ways to add "brain exercises" to your workout!  Note:  Practice your moves with the same arm and leg.  If that is a challenge for your group, you may want to have them sit to do some of the more challenging "opposites" work like the out, out, in, in move. 



Getting to Know You

My class size has doubled this year due to some changes with our insurance partners.  It's been great but there have been some challenges!  Since we outgrew our room, we tried using the gym.  They hated it!!  It was hard to hear and not as cozy.  We went back to our room and added more classes.

Many in the group have been coming for years now and we know each other and are like family.  We have not gotten to know all the new ones, yet.  To help us get to know each other better, I made up cards with questions on them.  I had each person fill out a card with their name and asked them to cross off any questions on the card that they didn't want me to ask.  Before class, I ask someone if I can interview them.
During the relaxation segment of class, after they are sitting back in their chairs, I bring the person up and ask them the questions on the card.  It's amazing to find out about the people we have been sitting in the same room with for months!

When they come up, I have them say their name and age, if they want.  Then I ask any of these questions that they have not crossed off their card:

1.  Tell us something about your family.

2.  Is there a job that you have done that you feel proud of?

3.  Do you have any hobbies or sports that you enjoy?

4.  Have you ever played a sport?

5.  What are your goals for coming to this class?

6.  Do you have any words of wisdom for us?

Of course you can ask any questions you'd like, these are just ideas!!

I'd love to hear about how this works for your group and any other ideas to help people get to know each other!

Teaching Seniors is a Gift!

I recently received an e-mail from an instructor who was not going to be teaching her SilverSneakers class anymore.  It reminds us of why we continue to put our time into designing a fun and effective class!  Here is her e-mail:

Hi~

Hope your summer is going well, too!

In May, I graduated from the Occupational Therapy program and accepted a full-time job at Riverside in Hampton, VA!  My last SilverSneakers class was in June and was really difficult to teach.  There were new faces in the crowd, but it was the relationships from over the years that tugged at my heart.  Fortunately, I continue to keep in touch with some of my SS buddies and will always cherish their friendships.  If participants of the SS program benefited or received only a portion of what they gave to me- then we all won!

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such an outstanding program.  It was the SS program that started my pursuit of Occupational Therapy!

Debra Barry
There is no greater human gift that kindness.