Family encourages more Brains and Balance Training for 84 yo Grandmom

Family Encourages Continued Participation in Brains and Balance Training from The Brains and Balance Lady on Vimeo.

Woodland Brains and Balance Training class participant shares how repeating the four-week brain-based balance and mobility training program increased her self-confidence so much that her family wants her to repeat the class again in February.

84 years young and lives independently at home.  Her family adores her and loves seeing her continued engagement at the local senior and community center.  After repeating the class before the holidays, her family wants her to continue with the brain-based balance training program with Coach Kelly.

"Changes in the brain that affect movement and balance, known as neuroplasticity, requires constant practice", stated Brains and Balance Coach Kelly.  "In fact, a person needs to practice specific drills at least 20 hours per week for changes to stick".

20 hours?  That's not much when you break that practice into 5 minute segments.  It's suggested that you do recommended drills 4-5 times per day, 4-5 days per week, for positive changes to occur at the brain level.

Don't worry, you don't have to be a neuroscientist to succeed.  Coach Kelly specializes in teaching drills to activate the brain for desired changes.

Do you want:

1. Increased Balance Confidence
2. Better Balance
3. Quicker Reaction Speeds to Life's Imbalances
4. Improved Posture 
5. Better Vision
6. Steadier Walking Gait
7. YOUR INDEPENDENCE
8. Family's Peace of Mind

These are the things you get from my 4-week 'Brains and Balance Training' program.

Meet twice a week for four weeks.  Eight ninety-minute sessions that will transform your balance, your confidence, your walking gait and the way you move through life.

What are you waiting for????  

Fair Oaks:  

1.  Educational Workshop.  January 8th.  1-2:30p.  Fair Oaks United Methodist Church.  $5.

2.  Brains and Balance Training Classes.  Jan. 15-Feb. 7. 10-11:30a.   Fair Oaks United Methodist Church.  $125.

Woodland:

1.  Educational Workshop:  February 5th.  10-11:30am.  Woodland Community Center.  $5

2.  Brains and Balance Training Classes.  Feb. 12-March 7th. 1-2:30p.   Woodland Community Center.  $125

Registered Nurse Living with PTSD Overcomes Fears with Brain Training

Overcame broken back with brain-based training from The Brains and Balance Lady on Vimeo.

Everyone has different reasons why they choose to enroll in my brain-based balance training programs. Falling and fear of falling is a huge motivator for a lot of people because my four-week program gets RESULTS.

Neuroscience research proves that the brain will make structural changes to survive and what's awesome is that you don't have to be over 80 to get results from my class!  Your brain wants to survive and will change with proper training.

Here, a sixty-something retired US Air Force nurse shares her personal testimonial about how brain-based training has helped her overcome her fears of movement after breaking her back.   The greatest benefit for her has been learning how to conquer fears so she can do the things she most enjoys; exercise, jumping, and spending time with her grandkids.

You are not alone in your fears.  Join others just like you in one of my Brains and Balance Training sessions or I can come to you for private training sessions.  I'll meet you where you are now to get you where you want to be.

Brain-based training is the future of fitness.  Let me show you how to activate parts of your brain for better balance, better movement and better vision.    Or, if you're living in pain, I offer holistic training methods to help you manage pain.

Whatever your goals, I want to help you reach them

Your coach,
Kelly

Comradery, socialization, better stability. the list goes on

Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly class participant shares how four weeks of brain-based training has improved her life.    This woman radiates confidence and joy as she reflects on the training process.

Benefits of Brains and Balance Training are everything you want:
1.  Socialization
2.  Noticeable Improvements
3.  Get Up Quicker
4.  Increased Stability
5.  Defensive Walking skills

This Brains and Balance Training class participant radiates confidence and joy as she explains the benefits of the 4-week class at the Woodland Community Center.

I love teaching small group classes and she nailed the reasons!  Comradery, socialization, sharing of struggles and seeing the improvements.  Knowing you're not alone in your fears is wonderful for emotional health.  Sharing struggles restores your sanity and seeing the improvements is beautiful.
Get Results.

Next class:
Woodland Community Center.
Feb.12-March 7
1:00-2:30pm

Invest in Yourself

Caregiver no longer worried about leaving 92 year old client alone

In-home care is becoming more and more popular not only because older adults want to stay in their homes for as long as possible but also for cost savings purposes.  This is a great option for busy adult children who have jobs but want their parent safe during work hours.

Independent older adults may need assistance with meal preparation, household chores and companionship and there are times when the caregiver has to leave to run errands.  This 'errand' time can be stressful for the caregiver because client safety is their responsibility.   No one likes stress.

I provide in-home balance training services and this caregiver shares her personal testimonial about the improvements she's noticed in her 92yo client since he started brain-based training.   She explains that he can get up without help, is more productive around the house and helps with daily chores.

Think about that; a widower over 90 is contributing to his own care.  This demonstrates that he is confident in his mobility and no longer afraid to do daily tasks.  He's aging with dignity.

Perhaps the best benefit for this caregiver,  and the family,  is that she is no longer worried to leave him alone while she does necessary shopping errands.  Less stress spills over to better care and better care is the ultimate goal.

Let me help your parents.  Let me help your family.  Let me help your caregiver.
It's what I do.  Brain-based training for optimized movement and greater productivity.

info@thefallpreventionlady.com
Mention this blogpost and receive a 20% discount on in-home package of 10 sessions or greater.

Kelly

Avoid Bumps and Dips in the Country and Prevent Falls

Holiday session "Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly" class participant shares her personal testimonial of benefits of the the brain-based training at the Woodland Senior and Community Center.

After four-weeks of brain-based balance and mobility training, she understands balance and knows what she needs to train.  In eight sessions, she learned how to train her balance.

This multi-sensory training stimulates the most neglected part of the brain.  As such,  the drills we do in class are new and unknown to the class.  Students learn how to train the vision and vestibular systems.

This student lives in the country and explains how the class has helped her avoid the "bumps and dips" when living on a farm.  The vision drills increased her awareness of surroundings and now she reacts quicker and knows how to react.

Increase balance confidence and DROP the cane at age 84!

I just completed a holiday session of "Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly" at the Woodland Community Center.  Everyone in the class improved in senior fitness tests but the greatest improvements can't be measured.  

Increased confidence and awareness, improvements in posture, quicker reaction times were some of the benefits mentioned in several personal testimonials.

I love it all and am grateful to be their coach, especially when they comeback!  The oldest member of the class repeated the training and the results were amazing!

84-year old explains how attending the 4-week "Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly" class at the Woodland Senior and Community Center taught her skills that have increased her balance confidence and awareness so much that she doesn't need to use her cane any more!

Her Pre- and Post-Senior Fitness scores demonstrated:
1.  Stronger legs
2.  Increased lower body flexibility
3.  Quicker reaction and agility speeds

Heck yeah!  Brain-based balance training works!

Next Class:
Woodland Senior and Community Center
February 12- March 7, 2019
1:00-2:30pm
Invest in yourself.

4 Balance Training Myths for people over 60; Make sure you're not doing #3!

Balance is an essential skill that we learn as children and take for granted as adults.  Suddenly you're 73 and realize, "wow, I can't walk a straight line anymore (and I'm sober)!"

Many people don't realize how complex balance is or the amount of body systems communication that is required to stay upright.

I'm going to bust 4 common myths about balance in hopes of increasing awareness of what you can do to improve your balance and prevent a fall.

Here we go:

1.  I have to stand on one leg to improve my balance... unfortunately, the "old" litmus test for one's balance was the ability to stand on one leg.  My client Bob said to me,' my balance is failing'.  I asked, 'How do you know?'.  He answered, 'I can't stand on one leg'.  I've been teaching balance and mobility training classes for over fifteen years and I've only seen about 20 people who could stand on one leg.  Your feet are your base of support and the wider the base, the more stable you are.  The ability to stand on one leg is the most challenging position and there are so many progressions to work through to get there.  Although that may be a goal, standing on one leg does not measure balance.
2.  I  need to train on uneven surfaces like a wobble board, foam pad or  BOSU.  It cracks me up when I see trainers put their older adult clients on wobble boards or the half dome BOSU to train balance.  That's insanity!!!  The SAID principle states that your body gets good at whatever you practice.  If you practice standing on a wobble board, guess what you're going to get good at?  Standing on a wobble board.  How does that help you in real life???  While it's true that standing on an uneven surface will strengthen your ankles, there's no long-term benefit to standing on a wobble board.  Don't waste your money or time trying to stand or squat on a BOSU ball or wobble board.
3.  I walk and that's all I need to do to improve my balance.  BIG FALSE.  There are four components of fitness associated with good balance; flexibility, strength, endurance and posture.  Steady balance requires a combination of these four training techniques. Walking is an excellent exercise but it's primarily an endurance activity.  You want to follow a balance program that includes strengthening exercises, flexibility movements, and posture training for the best balance possible.  Research studies demonstrate that walking alone does not improve balance and prevent falls. 
4.  It doesn't matter where I look when walking, standing or doing exercise.  It's painful for me to watch some group fitness classes for older adults because the instructor doesn't give one cue about where to look. Nor do personal trainers in the gym.  So many of the older adults I meet tell me they have to look at the floor so they don't fall down.  WRONG!!!  This downward stare not only affects your posture and but also limits your ability to react to obstacles in your pathway.

I've created an online course,
"Balance Training 101: Brain-based Program to Do at Home so You Can Stay at Home", where I share some of my best balance training tips and techniques so you can stay at home.

One of the best features is the exercise video library for you to watch so you forget what to do.   This course makes it easy for you to train your balance at home so you can stay at home.  No special equipment needed; just a desire to improve balance.

Yours in Fitness and Balance~
The Fall Prevention Lady

Lucky 13 students in Holiday Brains and Balance Session

I am thrilled to have 13 eager students enrolled in my holiday session of Brains and Balance Training at the Woodland Community and Senior Center in Woodland California.  A diverse group of men and women between 49 and 86 years old decided it was time to do something about their failing balance skills.

As I completed pre-assessment senior fitness testing, the small group got to know each other as they played balloon volleyball and called out things associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The first day is a healthy balance of movement and learning and everyone is assigned homework.

The second class focused on proprioception and walking gaits.  Students laughed as they tried simple movements in both directions and tried to remember which walking gait was #3.  Reaction speeds got better as threat was reduced.  Nervous smiles were wiped away with laughter.  Movement is life and relearning how to move should be fun!

Everyone brings their unique challenges to balance and movement because we all have lived different lives and made different choices in that lifetime.  Some of us were dealt a rotten hand.  We're all trying to get by the best we can and for some, that's harder to do.  

I'm so excited about working with this awesome group who has taken time out of their busy holiday schedule to invest in themselves.  These people are giving themselves the gift of independence.  Gain control of their body and learn to move again with sensory input activation.

Brains and Balance Training.  These people are learning how to activate parts of their brain that contribute to good movement, stable balance, better vision and less pain.  All through sensory activation drills and muscle activation exercises.  

You've got to give the brain what it needs for healthy function.  Let me show you how!  Join a brains and balance training class or enroll in my online balance training program!
Gift yourself.  

Power of the tongue and stability!

We know the power of the tongue.   Neuro-anatomically, the tongue is loaded with with both motor and sensory components.  The fantastical-ness of the tongue is that sensory and motor activation stimulate both the pons and medulla of the brainstem.   Wowww-za!!!!

What this means in everyday terms is that tongue drills can increase stability.  The best way to improve midline stability is to put your tongue in the SPOT.    Studies indicate that a person is 30% stronger when the tongue is in it's anatomical spot.

As you know by know, I don't share any of my training techniques in this blog. My training techniques are not free.  However this one's on me.  The "SPOT" is the follow: 

1.  Place tip of tongue behind front teeth  

2.  Press tongue up into the roof of your mouth

That's it.  

Keep tongue laying pressed up on roof of the mouth.  Tip of tongue is not touching teeth but almost.     

In simple English, the tongue is a powerful brain activation tool.  Because the brain needs activation to be healthy,  tongue drills are a fantastic way to stimulate important parts of the brain for better movement through life.

The Two Types of Fuel a Brain Needs to be Healthy

In this day and age, we all want a healthy functioning brain.  With the risk Alzheimers and other dementias increasing with age,  people who are willing to go to great lengths to keep their brain healthy.

Scientifically, a healthy brain needs two things for survival.  Two simple things that don't cost tons of money.  A healthy brain needs activation and fuel.    Your brain and the entire nervous system function on a "Use It or Lose It" principle so activating the entire brain is necessary for optimal performance.

  Brain SuperFood:  OJ & Salt

In my small group classes, I teach mature adults how to activate the different areas of the brain, including the sensory systems.  For those who cannot attend a live session,  I've created an online balance training course, Balance Training 101, to teach you how to activate both the sensory and motor components of the brain.l

When it comes to fueling your brain, the two type of 'food' your brain needs for healthy function are:

1. Glucose
2. Oxygen

You need to eat and you need to breathe.

If only it were that simple!  Nutritionally, we are a mess.  We've been fed untruths about what's good and what's bad for us from the leading agency in our country, the USDA and as a result, we don't know what to eat.  The foods your brain needs are exactly what government agencies are telling us NOT to eat.

Your brain needs SUGAR!  Your brain needs glucose to function.  The brain superfood is Orange Juice.  Orange juice with sea salt in it.  OJ is quick digesting and provides instant burning fuel.   Give it a try: 4-6 ounce OJ/sal shots throughout the day, especially before class or sensory training!

For more brain-smart eating, check out Kate Deering's book, "How To Heal Your Metabolism".  Quick read with lots of easy to understand scientific facts.  Highly recommended. 

Your brain needs OXYGEN!  If breathing wasn't an automatic function, half of us would be dead!  We are a bunch of shallow breathers.  We take in shallow breaths and don't exhale enough!  The result is a build up of oxygen in the blood.  We need to exhale.

I'm going to teach some breathing exercises in the next few weeks but in the meantime, practice the diaphragm stretch!  

Here is a demonstration of me doing the diaphragm stretch for you:

Diaphragm Stretch from The Brains and Balance Lady on Vimeo.

#1 Benefit of Brains and Balance Training: Improved Walking Gait

Participants from my four-week brain-based balance and mobility training classes shared the best personal benefit of the program and every single person noted better walking gait!  Wow!

Imagine walking with confidence, increased awareness and feeling more stable.

Steadier walking gait.  Walking is a dynamic integrated movement process that requires strength, flexibility, coordination and balance.  These students over the age of 65 strengthened muscles of hip and leg needed for stability.   They stretched their flexibility and they trained their reflexive stability skills.

Increased awareness of self and surroundings.  Peripheral field vision training increases ability to see what you're not looking at.  This results in better awareness of floor and objects in your pathway and quicker reaction times to imbalances and threats.

Increased confidence.  You feel more in control of your body within your surroundings.  This confidence exudes through better posture as a result of increased spatial awareness.

You envisioned yourself walking steady, strong and upright.  Make that vision a reality.  Get results!

Isn't that the number one purpose of balance training?
To feel more steady on your feet?  
To be aware of your body in space?
To know when and how to react in the case of imbalance???   

Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly

Benefits of Brains an Balance Training per Personal Testimonies

As the Brains and Balance Coach, I have been interviewing private clients and class participants about their experience with the brain-based training that I teach.  I'm known as The Fall Prevention Lady and now, The Brains and Balance Lady.  Either or, same person.

It was awesome to listen to the different reasons for joining the class.  The "why" of brains and balance training.  The personal motivators.  I loved listening and I am thankful for the survivor in each of you.  The warrior. The believer.

Benefits of Brains and Balance Training

When I asked what the greatest benefit, the best personal improvement from participating in the four-week brains and balance training class that I teach, there were common themes.

Benefits of Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly

1. Walk steady.  Improved walking.  Feel better walking.
2. No more fear.  Reduced fear.  Better confidence.
3. Gain control of body.   Increased awareness.
4. Understanding of what balance is and how to train it.
5. The amazing benefits of neuro-vision and neuro-vestibular training.

Aren't these the goals of a balance and mobility training program?  

Aren't these the things you want out of your balance and mobility training efforts?

Yes!  These are the things I want from my training.

Yes!  You can get these things in four-weeks!  Four weeks of brain-based training. Live.  In-Person. 

You can also get these benefits from my online course, Balance Training 101.  

4-modules.  4-weeks of balance drills. Easy.  Learn at your own pace.  Just do the exercises!

Oldest Balance Training Class Member Was Most Improved!

I finished teaching a 4-week Brains and Balance Training session at the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church shortly before Thanksgiving and I'm still bragging about the personal improvements!  In fact, there were some record-breaking achievements in the sense that I've never seen this much improvement in the fifteen years I've been teaching this class.

I"m proud to say that the oldest in the class was also the most improved!  At age 86, a sweet lady went from needing her hands to stand up (7) seven times in 30 seconds to being able to stand up and down (11) eleven times without using her hands at all!

WOW.....think about that....not having to use your hands to stand up anymore!  This woman no longer needs help standing up from the chair!  Independence.  Dignity.   All from four-weeks of brain-based balance training.  Not only can she stand up without help, she's able to do four more chair stands.  Huge improvement and since our legs are our "fall prevention muscles:, she's less likely to fall down!

Lower body strength increased and so did her lower body flexibility.  On the first day of class, this remarkable lady was 4.5 inches away from touching her toes.  On the last day of class, she was able to touch her toes!  This  gain of 4.5 inches in lower body flexibility means she's not as stiff and less likely to trip or shuffle.

86 years old and making this type of physical improvement proves that our body was made to be in motion.  Movement is life and when you learn how to train the body systems involved in balance, the payoffs are instant and life changing.  

Give the gift of independence, allow your loved ones to age with dignity.  Sign them up for my ABCs of Balance workshop.  Enroll them in four weeks, or eight sessions, of brain-based balance training with me, the The Fall Prevention Lady!

If you're not in the Sacramento region, I have an online brain-based balance training course, Balance Training 101, that offers the same training techniques used in my live classes.

Movement is Life.  Gain strength and flexibility so you can move

Number 1 rule of brain-based fitness: Sensory Before Motor

 Brains and Balance Nugget #1:  Sensory Before Motor

I was at the Western Peripheral Neuropathy Association's 20th Anniversary and told the group to rub their feet.  Paint their affected areas with light touch, stroking the skin, paying attention to the feeling.  It's time to touch your feet.  
Rub the toes. 

For people who can't feel a body part, like feet, or only feel pain or tingling;  touch your skin.  Gently rub the body part. Wrap it and rub it.  Feel the touch.  Pay attention to the body part so your brain remembers it's there and how to move it.   

Sensory before motor.  Focus on feeling your body before you try to move it.  Re-introduce your brain to your body.  One joint at a time.   It's a brain thing! 

The fascinating thing about the brain is that the half of the brain is dedicated to sensory processing.  Half of your brain.  If you're not stimulating the senses that the brain relies on in order to move safely through life, then half of your brain is dying.  

The two things a healthy brain needs is 1.  Activation 2.  Fuel.  Use it or lose it, especially sensory neurons of the brain.  One of the golden rules that Dr. Cobb of  Z-Health Performance consistently talks about is sensory before motor.  Skin stimulation. 

Simple.  Subtle.  Strategic.  

Holistic life care through specific brain activation techniques.  Simple.  Try them.  Rub your feet.  Rub your skin.  Then move.  

Sensory before motor.  It's how your nervous system functions.  Trust me.

Brains and Balance Lady,
also known as the Fall Prevention Lady

Stroke Survivor shows huge improvements in Brains and Balance Training class

The lone wolf.  The only guy in a class of three sisters and another female and the only reason this 79-year old stroke survivor was even in the class was because his wife signed him up!   Marv represented well and tied the oldest sister for most improved in the class.

Ninety minutes, twice a week for four-weeks.  Eight sessions of brain-based balance and mobility training.  Marv missed the first week so in essence, he improved the most the quickest!   He walked in with a severe limp and a cane and walked out tall and steady with his cane. 

His lower body strength improved 4.  In other words, he could stand up and sit down four more times in 30 seconds.  He reached nearly 3 inches further and was able to touch his toes!  This is tremendous!  His legs and low back aren't as stiff.  The greatest functional gain is that he was 2-seconds faster getting up from the chair and walking around a cone!  And steady, too!

The science of neuroplasticity is behind the significant improvements this man made in three weeks.  Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change structure to become more efficient.  The brain is hard-wired for survival and with precise training, you get precise results.

If you're tired of NOT GETTING RESULTS, I can help!  The training strategies I use are based on functional neurology and the science of neuroplasticity proves that change is possible at any age and any ability.

You know there's more to life than what you've been told to accept.  You know there's got to be another way.  If you've tried everything and nothing has worked, it's time to try something else!

I offer holistic, science-based training principles that will transform your balance, movement and vision when done as suggested.

Brains and Balance Lady

2019 Classes and Workshops
Private In-Home Training
Online Balance Training Course

Feel Confident Walking Your Dog

I recently finished my first ever 4-week Brains and Balance Training in the beautiful gated-community of Whitney Oaks Springfield in the hills of Rocklin.   This independent living community is paradise.  Residents are active and many walk their dogs up and down steep hills and enjoy gorgeous views.

A small group between the ages of 76 and 86 invested their time and a minimal fee to participate in the 90-minute brain-based classes that met twice a week for four-weeks.  I applaud these individuals for their interest in brain-based training for optimized movement in daily activity.  Thanks for believing in the message I am sending:  your brain can change and you can learn how to move better, balance better, and see better.

One of the most improved in the class was a 76-year old lady who not only excelled in the three Senior Fitness Tests but also gained balance confidence that has impacted her life in wonderful ways.

Physically, she stood up and sat down 3 more times in 30 seconds, putting her in the 95th percentile for ladies her age.  Emotionally, she feels more secure and has increased confidence walking her dogs up and down the paths in her beautiful community.

She continues to be fascinated by the brain-based training and sensory activation techniques that caused her to balance, move and see better in four short weeks.

Neighbors in the Whitney Oaks community....don't miss out on the next Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly session!  Introductory Brains and Balance seminar in late-January and classes begin in February.    Check out my website for local schedule.

Listen to her personal testimony!  Thank you Diane!

Guess which sister over the age of 74 was most improved in brains and balance class!

I recently finished a four-week Brains and Balance Training session at Fair Oaks United Methodist Church.  This class was something special because there were three sisters, ages 74, 83, and 86 taking this balance journey together.

The youngest sister just finished the class and because it helped her so much, she wanted her older sisters, both of whom had suffered a bad fall, to reap the benefits of my four-week brains and balance training program.

As usual, I collect pre and post-senior fitness test scores to measure the efficacy of the intervention; in this case, 8 sessions of small group, brain-based balance and fitness training with assigned homework drills.

Each sister presented with unique challenges to their balance and stability but they all did very well in the class.  There were some immediate improvements but the noticeable, "wow, you're moving so much better" changes started in the third week.  Taller, level postures.  Lengthened spines.  Quicker reaction times.  Big smiles.

Their nervous systems were integrating both sensory stimulation and motor activation better and the results were evident.

The post-assessment scores proved it!  There were some amazing results and the  sister with the most improved scores was the oldest!

Lower Body Flexibility:  
The 86-year old sister improved her lower body flexibility by 8.5 inches!  In FOUR-WEEKS!  Day one, she was six and one-half inches away from her toes and the last day, she reached two and one-half inches past those same toes!!!
Not far behind, the 83-year old sister gained an 5.5 inches.  The youngest has gained 8 inches but it has taken her a little longer (8-weeks) and there's nothing wrong with that!!!

Lower Body Strength: 
Sit down and stand up as many times as you can in 30 seconds.  The 86-year old sister did 3 more chair stands, the middle sister did 2 more and the youngest did more 4 more chair stands!  She also made it the full 30 seconds without stopping.  This was huge because she has COPD.  The fact that she can exert high effort and not lose her breath is beyond FANTASTIC!  Yay.

Dynamic Balance and Agility:
This tests how quickly they can get up from chair, walk around a cone that is eight-feet away, and return to seated position.  This is huge due to the integration of sensory and motor systems for mobility.  In the post-test, everyone walked with more stability, awareness, and confidence. The 86-year old was nearly 2.5 seconds faster!  WOW!

Amazing results in a short period of time.   And this wonderful sisterhood proves that you're never too old to improve strength, flexibility and balance.

Show your sister, or brother how much you care!  If you're in the Sacramento region, attend one of my live brain-based balance and mobility classes or attend one of my ABCs of Balance workshops.

If you're not in the area, make sure you sign up for my online balance training course, Balance Training 101.  Enrollment begins next week.

Brains and Balance Lady
Formerly known as The Fall Prevention Lady!

Do you want to feel more steady on your feet???

I  recently completed two Brains and Balance Training sessions in local communities.  As you know, I'm always commenting on how well the class does but this time, I decided to get personal testimonials from class participants so you can see directly how mature adults felt about the Brains and Balance Training.

After ten testimonials, I'm noticing some recurring benefits that class participants are sharing.   After participating in my four-week balance training program that combines brain activation and balance skill, older adults walk more steady.  Their walking gait is more confident and they are more aware of their surroundings and when they need to react.

Isn't that the number one purpose of balance training?

• To feel more steady on your feet?  
• To be aware of your body in space?
• To know when and how to react in the case of imbalance???    

My Brains and Balance Training class teaches mature adults of all ages and ability levels how to walk steady and know when and how to react.

Walking is one of the first skills we learn as infants and one of the first skills we take for granted as adults.  Opposite arm, opposite leg is now replaced with a cane or using a walker.

Walking is a window to brain function because it is a reflexive activity; an automatic process that we don't have to think about.   Unfortunately, years of prolonged sitting, untreated injuries and movement compensation result in unstable, unsteady walking gaits.

The fear of falling worsens the walking gait because your brain triggers protective behaviors such as short steps, hunched forward posture and shuffling feet.

It doesn't have to be this way!!!!  You can learn how to walk strong and confident again.  You're too young to sit back and let life happen to you;  make life happen for you.  One step at a time.

Register now for my 2019 Brains and Balance Training classes:  Local Schedule

Enroll in my online Balance Training 101 course:  Balance Training 101

68 yo Felt Unsteady and Knew She Would Fall if She Didn't Do Something

In a recent four-week Brains and Balance Training session at the Fair Oaks United Methodist church, the youngest person in the class was 68 years old.  Sally came to class because she knew her legs were weak, she tripped over her own toes all the time and she felt unsteady on her feet.

This tall burst of energy was scared of falling and knew that if she didn't do something now to fix the problem that she would end up falling and who knows how that would turn out.  

That's when her friend told her about my Brains and Balance Training classes.  After attending my introductory seminar, she immediately signed up for the 4-week training session.

Sally was fascinated with the brain-based drills and she saw huge improvements during class.  Her eyes would open wide and she would laugh as she reached further toward her toes than she had ever had in her lifetime.

She missed two classes but that didn't matter; this lady did her homework drills as recommended and her results were amazing!  In three short weeks, she:

• Strengthened her legs 
• Increased he lower body flexibility

These improvements are huge in the fall prevention world because your legs are your 'fall prevention' muscles and they need to be strong to react and supple enough to be precise.  How you move is important and can greatly affect fall risk.

This nearly 70-year old student learned how to get up and in doing so she no longer needs her hands to get up from the chair!  Woo-hoo!!!!  This is a personal success for many women because no one likes needing help to stand up.  Trying and failing to stand up over and over again gets old and the unpredictability of lower body weakness takes a toll on your confidence.

So after three weeks of brain-based balance training, this lady was able to stand up and sit down without using her hands and on top of that,  she could do three more chair stands!  

Not only did her legs get stronger but she also increased her lower body flexibility.  On the first day, she was one inch away from touching her toes.  Three weeks later, she reached one and one-half inches past her toes!  Woo-hoo!

Greater lower body flexibility means less likely to drag your toes when you walk, causing unnecessary trips and slips.  This was one of her main concerns on the first day of class.

Congratulations for your hard work, Sally, it paid off.  When you train the senses of balance, your brain smiles.  Learn how to activate half of your brain through brain-based balance training with me, The Brains and Balance Lady!  

ParkinsonWISE Training by PANC & Kasier Neurologists

Thanks to PANC (Parkinson's Association of Northern California), I had the amazing opportunity to learn from the best of the best; Kaiser Permanente movement disorder neurologists who specialize in Parkinsons Disease.

Neurophysical therapists and vestibular specialist Erin from Kaiser put on an amazingly functional neurology based-training program for health and fitness professionals who work with people living with Parkinsons.

Fabulous presentation by Drs and PT from Kaiser. As a brain practitioner, I loved learning functional exercises that target both how to reduce the risk of "freezes" but also how to work through a freezing epsiode.

I learned that there are two major areas of focus when working with people living with Parkinson's.  The first and foremost area of concern of their state of mind.

The second area of concern of people living with Parkinson's is motivation.  The PTs and Doctors shared motivational strategies like the reminder that "if you don't do it, the disease wins.  Get up, Do it.  Be accountable.  Be responsible.  You're empowered.

Specialists Neuro-PT, Erin showed amazing agility ladder drills stacked with my favorite stroop effect drill!  The tools they showed; amazing!  All my clients will benefit from speed and agility training.

Stroop is amazing for pre-frontal lobe activation.  Basal Ganglia,  Substantia Niagra.  Add metronome.  Bam.  It was so rewarding to see that the programs I wrote for my PD clients were right on time with neuro-specialist's suggested elements.

Amazing learning opportunity with awesome neuro-based exercises.  Pay attention to the Specifics.  Precise training gets precise results.  There is hope.  Train the input for better output.

Western Peripheral Neuropathy Celebrates 20 years

A disease diagnosis a personal journey.  Your choices are personal and entirely up to you.  Having the support of people living the same diaganosis is extremely beneficial.  Knowing you're not alone as you journey through the unknown is comforting.

Brains and Balance Lady

Support groups start by the vision of one person.  The visionary for Peripheral Neuropathy is Bev Anderson.  It all started b/c of an un-mowed lawn..  Bev is an amazing leader who made possible the emotional support and sharing of scientific research and best practices among people who are living with Peripheral Neuropathy.

Last Saturday, the Sacramento Chapter of the Western Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group met at Cattleman's for the 20th Anniversary Luncheon.

Old friends reunited and new friends chatted. Delicious food and stimulating conversation were celebrated by people who share the struggles of peripheral nerve damage.

During the meal we shared stories and talked research.  I  shared some holistic bran-based strategies to help with peripheral neuropathy.  

I reminded everyone that nerves need two things to be healthy: blood supply and movement.   Then I told them to rub their feet and breathe into a bag.  

When you've tried everything and nothing works, it's time to try something else.  I offered holistic, brain-based fitness techniques that will optimize the function of the nervous system; peripheral nerves included.  

Foot Flow for Peripheral Neuropathy Coming Soon!

If you're interested in learning how to take care of your nerves, contact me for a private session that could transform the way you feel and move.

Brains and Balance Lady,
Formerly known as The Fall Prevention Lady

92 year old loses 20 pounds and 6 inches with Brain-Based Training

I've been working with a 92-year old client for roughly six months.   He trains three times a week for one-hour.  As his trainer, I've seen progressive changes in his performance and every once in awhile, I'll look at him and notice the big changes like his posture.

When I met him, he was bent over with kyphosis and scoliosis, shuffling and easily winded.  Over the past few month, I've seen him stand taller, stand straight, pick up his feet and lengthen his walking gait, practice getting up and down from the floor, crawl on the floor and control his breathing.   He's an entirely different person now; stronger, more confident and his slight dementia is even less.

His family is thrilled with his progress.  His son wanted his father to lose weight.  I told him that as his father gained control over his body through brain training and built muscle with resistance training, weight loss would be a natural by-product.

Well, his son sent me his personal measurements that he'd been keeping of his father and I was so proud of his progress, I had to share this:

				Left Side  (inches)		Right Side (inches)
Date	Time	Weight	BP	Foot - Ball	Ankle	Foot - Ball	Ankle	Waist (inches)
3/17/2018	8:15 PM	232.4	145/84					51 1/2
3/18/2018	7:10 PM	230.6	138/80	11 1/4	11	11 3/4	11
5/5/2018	5:30 PM	223.8		10 3/4	11	10 3/4	11	49
10/13/2018	1:00 PM	210.8		10.25	9.5	10.5	10.5	45.5

The man is 92 years old and he's lost 6 inches in his waist and 22 pounds of fat!  The swelling in his feet is down and his blood pressure measurements are now between 111/69 and 128/74.

This man is NOT on any medications and I've convinced his family to feed him whole foods that feed his metabolism; orange juice with hydrolyzed collagen protein, ice cream with salt, steak, potatoes, fruits, eggs, dairy, chocolate milk.

And this man has lost 22 pounds.  Praise God.  Brain-based training is the future of fitness and it's never too late to start.  At 92 years of age, you can lose 22 pounds, 6 inches from your waist and get stronger every day!

Glory to God!
Brains and Balance Lady,
formerly known as The Fall Prevention Lady

3 sisters in Brains and Balance Training class.

I just started my October session of Brains and Balance Training in Fair Oaks at the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church.  First of all, I want to publicly acknowledge my blessings and thank the Lord for this opportunity to teach my classes at such a beautiful location.  Glory to God.

This month, I have a small, close knit group that is eager to learn how to improve their balance.  I have to say that this is one of the neatest groups I have ever trained because I am blessed to have three sisters, all over the age of 74, in this one training class!

3 Sisters.  One Love.  Movement is Life!  

Coming from a small family that is spread all over the country, it warms my heart to see these sisters support each other in this life saving training.  Each sister brings a different set of skills and different set of stability challenges but all of them are open to the benefits of  brain-based training to improve balance.


Their open-mindedness to 'brains and balance training' is because they all have seen how their younger sister Sue has flourished from this brain-based training.  Their younger sister has turned her life around with brain-based training and the older sisters are ready to give it a try.  Praise God.

Younger sister Sue is a happily married, retired school teacher who is ready to travel the world with her husband.   The only problem is she keeps falling.  She's afraid to move.  She's overweight and her knees are killing her.  She's in chronic pain and scared to walk down steps, especially the ones in her RV.  Her husband is a loving man but she can't keep relying on him to get in and out of the RV.

After attending my Brains and Balance classes, Sue could stand up without using her hands and learned techniques to reduce her knee pain.  She's living her life confidently now and she wants to spread the love to her sisters.  As a result, I have all three sisters and a family friend in this month's session.  Long-time Fair Oaks native Marvin joined us on Monday so we have quite a bunch.

We're all coming from different circumstances but we all have one thing in common:  balance that isn't what it used to be, a body that isn't doing what we want and a body that is showing years of abuse and neglect.

Each one of us is trying the best we can to make it in this life.  We all face different challenges and have different strengths.  Come together on the journey to better balance with others who want the same thing as you:  ability to live the life you have worked hard to enjoy!

Lower blood pressure naturally with brain-based training

I have been working with a 92-year old client for the past five months.  While he is one of the healthiest seniors I've met, his blood pressure on the right side has been notably high this past week.   First of all, if your doctor isn't taking your blood pressure on both sides, FIRE HIM/HER IMMEDIATELY.  Second of all, if your personal trainer doesn't know holistic ways to lower blood pressure, fire him/her immediately.

As a Z-Health Brain Practitioner, I've studied the brainstem which controls autonomic processes such as blood pressure.  As a certified and practicing Z-Health Practitioner, I implement drills that activate the brainstem, resulting in lowered blood pressure, without medication.   In this client's case, I active right cortex to lower right blood pressure. 

Today's measurements are a perfect example.   

Starting blood pressure measurements:

Right:  138/89.  Considered high by medical professionals.

Left:   128/78. Considered borderline high by medical professionals. 

Ending:  After one hour of brain-based training, blood pressure measurements: his numbers were perfect!

Right:  111/74.  Within normal limits, perfect without medication

Left:    114/70.   Within normal limits, perfect without medication.  

As you can see, there is quite a difference between the right and left side at the beginning of the session.  If my client went to his doctor, and they took his blood pressure on the right side, he would be diagnosed as hypertensive and been prescribed high blood pressure medication.

IF they measured his left side, he would be borderline and perhaps given blood pressure medication.  Either way, this man does NOT need to be on blood pressure medication; he needs to be active!

Without any medication, this older guy, over age 90, lowered his blood pressure through brain-based exercises.  I activated his right cortex to lower right side autonomics.  But since he leans right, I also focus on left frontal lobe activation drills.  

Today was a perfect combination of vision, vestibular and proprioceptive drills to activate both the right and left cortex which results in lower autonomic measurements like blood pressure.  The take-home message is ditch your medications and start moving with a trainer who activates the muscles and senses of the brain for better output.  

Brain-based training is the future of fitness.   I am educated and trained to active the muscles and senses involved in balance and optimized performance.  Move better.  See better. Balance better.  

It's real. 

Small Summer Class in Woodland has BIG BALANCE improvements

I can't believe it's already the last weekend of Summer 2018.  While it may have been a lazy summer for some, there was a small, intimate-sized group of adults in Woodland who put in some hard work to make some remarkable improvements in their balance skills.  

As you know by now, I teach Brains and Balance Training sessions.  Each training "session" consists of two 90-minute classes that meet for four weeks.  Eight (8) sessions in all.  Short and sweet.  This is brain-based balance training at the next level.  

I just finished an August session at the Woodland Community and Senior Center.  My third Brains and Balance class of this year and although the class was small, the pay-offs were enormous!  

I have to report the two most improved students because these were some of the best overall improvements I've seen in fifteen years.

Brains and Balance with Coach Kelly

Female most improved was a 75 year old lady.  In four short weeks, she;

•  increased lower body strength by 6 chair stands (able to do 6 more stands in 30 second timed period.  This is major!!!!)
•  Increased lower body flexibility by 4 inches
•  Dynamic balance and agility was one second faster.  

73 year old Male most improved was equally as noteworthy.  He:

• Increased lower body by 3 chair stands in 30 seconds
• Gained an amazing 6.5 inches in lower body flexibility.  This is tremendous improvement in walking gait, hip mobility, low back pain and overall posture.
• Dynamic balance and agility was 1.8 seconds faster.  

First... CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH FOR TREMENDOUS IMRPOVEMENTS and to everyone else in the class for their hard work.

These are your everyday, average early 70-somethings who increased lower body strength and flexibility to levels well above average.  Their dedication and hard work paid off tremendously not only in the numbers on the pre-and post tests but also in balance confidence, dynamic postural control and vision skills.

These physical fitness measures contribute to better balance and greater confidence in living an independent active lifestyle.

Please join my final Woodland Brains and Balance Training session of 2018 in October.

Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:30-3:00pm.  Oct. 2-Oct. 25.  $125 for all 8 sessions.

Change your life in four weeks.  Invest in yourself.  You're worth it. 

Train the Brain to Reduce Pain

Are you in so much pain that you feel like you can't go on?  Are you in so much pain that you want to crawl up into a ball and not move?  Is your comfort zone lying on your back with feet elevated?  Does the thought of going on like this another day bring you to tears?  Do you know that there's more to life than the pain you're going through?  Do you know you're too young to feel this way???

My new client answered yes to all of the above questions.  A botched back surgery left her with shooting pain beneath her shoulder blades; it hurt to raise her arms, it hurt to bend forward, it hurt to sit in a chair, it hurt to walk.  Everything hurt.

To top it off, she has emphysema so breathing even hurt.   When I got there her pain level was a 10 out of 10; actually a 15 out of 10 but you get my point.

I could see the pain on her face when I got to her home.  We sat at the kitchen table and I started with the 90-minute assessment.  During this time, I ask a lot of questions and test a lot of different things.  This is a great time to get to know each other and for me to learn what happened before what happened happened.  How did she get in so much pain.

Pain is an output from the brain.  Don't get me wrong; pain is pain and it hurts.  It's valid.  It's real.  But pain is a protective output from the brain to get you to stop doing what you're doing.   Your brain is overwhelmed and something needs to stop.  Pain is the quickest way to get you to stop doing something.

Pain is an output from the brain.  Train the brain to reduce pain.

However it's up to you to change and/or address what's causing the pain.  In my new client's case, her brain wasn't getting enough fuel and her eye muscles needed to be activated.  She also needed to start moving her nerves.  Her nervous system needed a major tune-up!!!  WHAT?

Once we did some breathing drills and vision training drills, there was a smile of relief.  When we did some nerve glides and got the nerves moving, there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes.  She told me that I was her last option; it was either work with me or get back surgery!  I embrace that challenge and left her with some drills to do for homework.

Before I left, I asked her to rate her pain on a scale from 1-10 again.  She smiled and said "5/10".  Yay!!!  My job was complete.

When I returned THE NEXT DAY to review the homework drills with her, a different woman answered the door!  The same client, but she wasn't in nearly as much pain.  She was smiling, she walked lighter and her entire demeanor was different.

When we sat down to go through the homework drills, she told me she was so excited last night that she couldn't sleep!  She felt different and knew this was going to work.  Now I was excited.  I love using brain-based fitness training to help people get out of pain, improve balance, see better and move better.

Once your brain gets the activation it needs, your entire mood will change.  Not in a voodoo/weird way but in the best way possible.  You realize there is hope at the end of tunnel.  There is more to life than living in pain.  You learn how to move your body so it doesn't hurt.  You learn how to breathe so your brain gets the oxygen it needs to function.

I am so excited about working with her and seeing her transform before my very eyes.  I'll take pictures so you can see the improvements along the way.

And hey, if you're like my client and want to get out of pain so you can start living the life you were meant to live, contact me.  Set up a consult.  
Click here to make an appointment:  
I want to get out of pain and live my life!

Blood pressure control through brain exercise

You probably didn't know that your blood pressure is controlled by your brainstem and through precise brain training drills, you can manage your blood pressure without medication.

As a Z-health Practitioner, I am trained to activate areas of the brain for optimized function.  I think we all agree that blood pressure is required for optimal life function.

Brain Training is Holistic blood pressure control

Last week, I was working with a 90-year old client and her blood pressure measurements at the beginning of the session were:  122/84 on the left and 149/109 on the right.

First I want to educate everyone that if your doctor isn't taking your blood pressure on both sides, you need to fire him/her immediately.  As you can see by my clients numbers, there's a huge difference from the right and left side.  This is because there is a left and right side of the brainstem and control of blood pressure begins in the brainstem, specifically in the pons.

My client's numbers on her right side of her body were pretty alarming but having worked with her for over four weeks, I already know that her right cortex needs more activation.  Her blood pressure readings support my findings.

Because her numbers were so high, we spent the majority of the session activating her right cortex; specifically right vestibular activation, right-cortex activating vision drills, and left side voluntary movement drills.  We also practiced a lot of respiration training drills and cerebellum activation.

Her blood pressure readings at the end of sixty-minute training session were:  112/72 on the left and 102/66 on the right.

Let me repeat this in a way you can clearly see the effect of precise brain activation training on a 90-year old's blood pressure:
Before:  149/109
After:  102/66

Get off the drugs.  Begin a holistic exercise program that starts with organ that is responsible for all movement and thought; the brain.  Brain activation is not voodoo; it's scientifically proven.  It's functional neurology and it's the future of fitness.

If you've tried everything and nothing has worked, try brain training.  Try training the organ that determines the way you move through life.  My name is Kelly Ward and I am a certified Z-Health Practitioner and I re-educate the nervous system to transform the way people move.  It's never too late, you're never too old and you're never too broken.

Never TOO old to IMPROVE Balance, Posture and Movement: 92-year old with Scoliosis, Kyphosis, and slight Dementia

Several weeks ago, a 65 year-old man contacted me about working with his 92 year-old father.  He told me he wanted his father to get strong and stay out of the nursing home for as long as possible.  One of his main concerns was his father being able to get up from the floor.  He also stated that he wanted his father to continue with the training schedule of three times a week that he was currently doing with the physical therapist.

He was switching from a well-known Physical Therapist to my services because insurance no longer covered his father's treatment since there wasn't anything physically wrong with him.  This was fantastic news to me because the work I do is equally as good yet much more affordable for out of pocket training.  As I began to explain the neural input training I do, he stopped me; he had heard of me and knew his father was going to be in good hands.

Brain-based Training Results In Better Movement and Posture

When "Frank" came to his first session, he was stooped over and relied heavily on his walker for mobility.  I started with senior fitness tests and then did a thorough neuro-assessment; testing his vision, vestibular and peripheral nerve function. As a Z-Health Neuro-Performance Coach, I am constantly assessing and reassessing to discover what type of input training works for him.

All this sensory input stuff was new but Frank went along with everything and would smile when there was a big difference in his reassessment; nothing compared to his smile after he reached down to touch his toes after sharp/dull sensory input testing! When we started, he was 6 inches from touching his toes. After several sensory input tests, he was touching his toes and smiling ear to ear.

Frank is Latino, 92-years old and he has slight dementia so there's obviously some communication challenges but he's a go-getter and does what I ask after some explanation.  Not surprisingly, he struggled with the cerebellum drills but the pay-off was outstanding; he stood up without using his walker and this time, he was beaming smiled ear to ear and said, "Yes!".   That was session #1.

Nine sessions later, Frank is standing taller, getting up powerfully, moving easier and walking more balanced.  We've practiced getting up from the floor; the first time Frank cussed me but the second time was much better.  Now he's practicing kneeling exercises so being on the ground isn't as threatening to his brain or his body.  

Before session #5 at his home, Frank's caregiver told me he fell last night. Before I could say "uh-oh", she told me his son said that by the time he could get to the room, Frank was up and sitting on the bed as if nothing happened!  She said "I don't know what you're doing but it's working!".  

I am so proud of Frank and the huge strides he's making in our training sessions. Through ongoing sensorimotor testing, I've identified what areas of Frank's brain need more activation than others and I  consistently training the neural inputs (vision, vestibular and peripheral nerves) for improved motor output.   

The results are phenomenal; his stooped posture is standing more upright, his right-side scoliosis is becoming less evident and he's stronger and more stable.  This man is 92-years young and he's thriving with neural activation.  It's never too late and you're never too old to improve your balance, strength, posture and coordination.