Let's Have a Ball!- Fun Social

My SilverSneakers' class had an attendance challenge over the summer.  We had a party yesterday to celebrate the winners. They received a brand new SilverSneakers ball and a handout with 30 Ball Exercises to use when they can't make it to class.

Fifteen people finished the challenge but we all had a great time!!

We played some ball games and even had "Ball" snacks!

Keeping class fun helps to motivate participants to keep moving!

Remember, "Done is better than perfect."

Phrases to Motivate!

Years ago I wrote a blog post called  Wise Words for Instructors.  I included some of my favorite sayings to motivate my participants.  AfAA recently sent out a video by Angie Miller.  She shared 50 Phrases to Motivate People to Move.

I wrote them down, almost word for word.  Here they are:
     
     1.  You can do this!
     2.  You're almost there!
     3.  Give it your all!
     4.  I know you can!
     5.  Make it happen!
     6.  If not now, when?
     7.  You were born for this!
     8.  We're in this together.
     9.  Don't stop - Won't stop.
    10.  Mind set matters.
    11.  Progress  not Perfection.
    12.  Born to lift
    13.  Built to withstand.
    14.  Stay committed!
    15.  Sheer grit.
    16.  Above and beyond!
    17.  Strength in numbers.
    18.  Start together - Finish together!
    19.  See it through!
    20.  One last push.
    21.  Finish what you start.
    22.  Love your body.
    23.  Make it happen!
    24.  Leave it on the floor.
    25.  We're a tribe.

The next sayings include "We sayings" which is Inclusive Language.

    26.  Lifting our center
    27.  Lengthening our torso
    28.  Training like athletes 
    29.  Focusing on form
    30.  Moving like dancers
    31.  Recruiting every muscle
    32.  Digging deep.
    33.  Controlling our movements
    34.  Feeling the difference
    35.  Sharing energy
    36.  Making time matter
    37.  Respecting our mind
    38.  Trusting our body
    39.  Challenging our limits
    40.  Finishing what we start
    41.  Building confidence
    42.  Embracing the experience
    43.  Maximizing our potential
    44.  Testing our limits
    45.  Building a tribe
    46.  We can do this!
  
Opps!  Looks like I missed a few!  Hope they help!

Fitness Class- Learning Names (Cont.)

Here's another fun way to learn names in class.  Either standing or sitting have class dribble the ball (using both hands alternate between bouncing the ball with the R hand and then L).  Bounce until you say "Hold".  Go around the room calling out the name of the next person to say "Hold".

I usually tell them which direction I will go.  I say:  "Jean you're first, then Toni, and Margie, and Ronnie..."  I go all around the room.  So I have already said everyone's name once.  Then I say their name again when it's their turn.  Of course you have to know their names, too!

Participants let me know it helps, especially when they are too embarrassed to ask someone what their name is!

Fitness Class - Learning Names

It's that time of year - Lots of new people coming to our classes!  I'm still struggling to remember some of the names.  Here's a fun activity that allows  us to learn while exercising:

     After our warm up and ROM stretches we got our weights.  Seated, I had everyone place the weights on their thighs and march in place while I explained this activity.  We were going to go around the room and when it was their turn, they would stand and say, "My name is ______" and then sit down.  Everyone else would then stand and say "Good morning ______" and then sit down and on to the next person.  

This may be too many squats.  If your class is large-you decide.  We had sixteen and it was fine and fun!

Our New Annual Senior Mental Acuity Test

This was just sent to me via e-mail.  I really don't know who wrote it, but I thank them!!  I have been using another test and it's always nice to have something new!

Your Annual Senior Mental Acuity Test 

1. Judy's mother had three children. The first child was named April.

The second child was named May.  What was the third child's name?

2. There is a counter clerk at the butcher shop, he is only five feet six inches tall, but he wears size 13 shoes.  What does he weigh?

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly?

6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet his birthday is always in the summer.  How is this possible?

7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg.  Why not?

8. What was the President’s name in 1975?

9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?

10. Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the egg are white" or “The yolk of the egg is white"?

OK, the answers are below, don’t look until you have answered ALL QUESTIONS above…..

Here are the Answers: (No peeking!)

1. Answer: Judy, of course. Her mother only had 3 children.

2. Answer: Meat.

3. Answer: Mt. Everest; it just wasn't discovered yet. 

4. Answer: There is no dirt in a hole, if there was it wouldn’t be a hole.

5. Answer: Incorrectly

6. Answer: Billy lives below the equator, in the Southern Hemisphere.

7. Answer: You can't take pictures with a wooden leg.  You need a camera to take pictures.

8. Answer: Same as is it now - Donald Trump 

9. Answer: You would be in 2nd.  Well, you passed the person in second place, not the one in first place.

10. Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow 

Rut Blockers     

Dribble ball, alternating hands.  If you're seated, have legs wide and dribble the ball between legs.  Let them practice and then instruct them to listen and follow you.  Count the dribbles and randomly say, "Hold".  Like this:  "One, two, HOLD!  One, two, three, four, five, HOLD!"  It's fun and good practice reacting fast. Then call out one of their names and have them count and tell class when to HOLD!  I do this a few times.  We're working on learning names and having fun!