Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Gym crowd gets it...

After three interviews, I was offered a job as a personal fitness trainer at the Equinox Fitness Center in Palos Verdes, CA.  The managers determined that location was the best fit for me because of my expertise in balance and mobility training and fall prevention and because the members at the PV location are mostly older adults. 

After five weeks in my new job, I have come the realization that older adults who go to the gym get it; they understand the importance of consistent movement if they want to continue doing the things they like to do.  The people who are at the gym regularly are doing what it takes to age successfully.   We all are trying to fight the aging process and the members at Equinox are doing it right!

As a result, my "fall prevention" workshops and "balance assessments" are not going over too well at the gym.  This could be in part that a lot of people work with personal trainers and the other half don't want to admit weakness.  Afterall, falls happen to "old" people and I'm not old!

This has been a learning process and it's taken me back to my personal fitness training days at Gold's Gym in Granite Bay.  I trained there before returning to grad school and it was there where I developed my passion for fall prevention education and balance training.  I recall that my area of expertise wasn't successful at Gold's either because the gym crowd gets it! 

The gym crowd is doing the stretching and strengthening exercises needed to keep them independent.  What I have learned is that everyone needs to progressively challenge their balance.  I"m not talking about standing on a BOSU ball while squatting and rowing but I am talking about challenging the sensory systems involved in balance and strengthening the stabilizing muscles critical to balance. 

EXERCISE. 
  • It doesn't have to complicated.  
  • It doesn't have to be painful.  
  • It does need to be consistent.  
  • It does need to be individually tailored to your needs.  
  • It does need to be progressively challenging. 
GET MOVING. 
The Fall Prevention Lady

 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Palos Verdes Seniors and balance training

I recently moved to southern California and am reaching out to the local community to spread the word about fall prevention and evidence-based balance training.  As the Fall Prevention Lady, I love educating older adults about the balance systems, increasing awareness of how aging affects stability and demonstrating effective exercises that will keep a person independent.

On Wednesday, I spoke to over 30 older adults at the Hesse Park Community Center in Rancho Palos Verdes.  The group LOVED my presentation and it was awesome to find a group for whom my program is designed for; independent older adults who still live independently but may be at risk of a fall or are not as stable as they once were. 

One of the main questions was "where can we take your class?"  That is where I need your help.  I am new to the area and need to find a place to hold my 4-week balance training sessions.  The PV Senior Center is moving at the end of the month and I have been invited to teach my classes at their new location so that is exciting.   I just don't know where or when that will begin.

However, in the meantime, I would love to find a church or other facility that will be willing to host these classes.   Please contact me if you know a place in the Southbay/Rancho Palos Verdes/Lomita/Torrance/Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills/Long Beach/Redondo Beach area.

Kelly Ward, aka The Fall Prevention Lady
(916) 821-5715
info@thefallpreventionlady.com