Quarantine at Home Lower Body Resistance Band Workout

As we are quarantined to our home for another 14 days, I decided to put together some strengthening routines for you to do at home to keep you strong.   

Why?  Lower body weakness is the #1 cause of falls among older adults.  The Academy of Sports Medicine recommends that adults over the age of 65 engage in resistance training at least two times per week in order to maintain muscle mass needed for independent lifestyle.  

Why?  You want to keep your immune system healthy.  Regular exercise develops an efficient nervous system.  Activation and support of a healthy lymphatic system improves immune system function. 

Body weight and resistance bands are two examples of resistance training.  

Grab your resistance band and follow along with me in this simple seated lower body resistance band routine.  If you have energy leftover, do some chair stands and side steps afterward.  

Follow along for three easy exercise:  

1.  Clams:  10-15 reps.  1-3 sets.

2.  Leg Press:  10-15 reps each leg.  1-3 sets.

3.  Toe Points:  5-10 reps in 3 different positions (Foot in neutral (straight), foot turned in, foot turned out).  1-3 sets.

Start slow.  Exhale on exertion.  Stay in tall, lengthened spine.

Lower body resistance band.

Breathing is Your First Line of Defense Against Covid19

Because the coronavirus is an upper respiratory disease that attacks the lungs, breathing is your first line of defense against the virus.   Thankfully, God created us with a powerful immune system to fight against evil viruses and bacteria so it's time to harness the power of breathing in order to stay healthy.

This weekend, I listened to a super informative webinar by breathing expert, Patrick McKeown of the Buteyko Clinic.  I learned about the power of nasal breathing and how our body produces nitrous oxide, a powerful defense against the coronavirus.

Patrick explained that nitrous oxide (NO) is a powerful gas that is naturally produced in the paranasal sinuses (aka, nose) through nasal breathing.  Our nose hairs trap NO and distribute it throughout the body.  

The benefits of nitrous oxide:

1.  Sterilizes air going into the lungs.  Nitrous oxide is proven antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobe
2.  Bronchodilator.  NO opens UP the lungs to fight the breathlessness of the COVID19 virus

3.  Increases lung surfactant.  Surfactant in lungs is responsible for elasticity and movement of lungs.  Covid19 decreases lung surfactant, nasal nitrous oxide increases lung surfactant. 

Healthy lungs create surfactant which allows for movement and elasticity of the lungs.  

Bad news:  Coronavirus, aka COVID9 and/or SARS2, decreases surfactant.   

Good news: Nasal breathing creates nitrous oxide which improves surfactant.  

Here's an awesome breathing drill to increase nasal nitrous oxide production and get the NO into the blood for use:  Nasal breathing IN and Hum OUT.

As a health educator, I appreciate the power of prevention and know that the choices made today will affect health and vitality of tomorrow.  Just do it.  What do you have got  to lose?

Brain-based Balance Exercises Are Simple, NOT EASY

"These exercises aren't easy", "This stuff is totally different than anything I've done", "I can't believe how tired I get just by moving my eyes".....these are just a few of the comments I've heard from clients about their brain-based balance exercises.

"These exercises aren't easy".  While nodding your head may seem simple, it's not always easy if you have a balance problem.  If you have a nerve dysfunction or part of your brain needs more or less activation, doing these specific brain-activation drills can be hard!

"This stuff is totally different than anything my doctors or physical therapist have me do".   Neuroscience is the thriving, evolving science changing due to constant discoveries about the organ that runs the entire body.  New discoveries not yet published in textbooks are changing people's lives.

Your doctors and physical therapists have not read these recent studies or learned the skills because they do not specialize in functional neurology.  Mostly, our current healthcare system is an insurance-fraud scheme.  Doctors are death prevention specialists; they prevent death.  They are not in the business of curing patients because a patient cured is a patient lost.

"I can't believe how tired I get just by moving my eyes".  I hear this time and time again.  If I don't hear it, I see it.  The eyes are the #1 input to the brain and the eye muscles burn through fuel.  Following a pencil with both eyes requires specific eye muscle activation which stimulates specific areas of the brain.  When decreased areas get activated,  the results are instant.

THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL.  DO THE WORK.

Results may be instant but in order for those changes to stick, you HAVE TO PRACTICE THE DRILLS.   The science of neuroplasticity proves that the brain can and will change structure, at any age, in order to survive.  But like all things, you have to work for it.  Research studies show that you must practice 20-40 hours for neuronal change to become permanent.

I do not offer any magic pill, no paid medical treatment using a big fancy machine.  I teach holistic, brain-based drills that stimulate areas of the brain.  It's nervous system activation.



When doing brain-based training, prepare to do some different things; things that may seem silly but drills that activate specific muscles, which activate specific nerves which stimulate specific areas of the brain.

For the brain to thrive, you have to learn new skills.  You have to engage the brain.  Make these changes last.  Improve your brain, improve your balance.

INFO@THEFALLPREVENTIONLADY.COM

Don't just get your vision checked, train your vision!!!!

Every Tuesday I get a highlight of articles published nationwide about fall prevention, senior balance and mobility and senior exercises.  Week after week, I read the same messages; "fall-proof" your home environment, watch your medications, exercise, and get your vision and hearing checked.

I totally agree with these suggestions however, things need to change.  As science unveils more about the brain and balance, professionals need to update the message to older adults about falls and prevention of falls.

The number one fall prevention message to older adults should be train your vision.  Don't just get your vision checked and be told by some doctor who hasn't read a neuroscience article in the past ten years that 'you're getting old",  "your vision is going to get worse and there's nothing you can do about it", or "you cannot improve your vision".  FALSE.  This is FALSE information!

Vision is a skill and like all skills, it can improve with practice.  Yes, there are diseases of the eyes (macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts) that will cause loss of sight but get those eyes moving; especially if you have one of those diseases.

I'm not a doctor, I'm not an optmologist but I am a nervous system specialist, a brain exercise therapist.  Each eye has six muscles.  Those muscles are innervated by three cranial nerves that go directly into the brainstem.

If you want to activate your brain and have an immediate and profound effect on your life, move those eyes.  Learn how to train the four components of vision and your vision will get better.  Your thinking will get sharper.  Your balance will improve tenfold.

Vision is the #1 input to the brain.  Training your eyes is the quickest way to improve your brain health.  So in those same messages to older adults, I want to add, Don't just get your vision checked, TRAIN YOUR VISION and watch your life change.

In honor of the new year and the new decade, 

I'm offering a "Starter Pack" special;

90-minute consultation + (4) sixty-minute sessions for $525

Book today:  info@thefallpreventionlady.com

Change the way you see, change the way you move, change the way you feel.  Get those eyes moving.

Folsom Seniors Show Remarkable Improvements in Strength and Flexibility

Does your low back hurt?  Do you often trip over your own toes?  Do you sit a lot during the day?
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT FALLING?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you want to enroll in my brain-based balance and mobility fall prevention training classes.

I just finished a 4-week session of "Brains and Balance Fall Prevention Training with Coach Kelly" through the City of Folsom's Parks and Recreation Department.   I had a full class with 14 people, 2 withdrew, leaving the perfect small group training size of 12 mature adults.

This group was a combination of old and young, athletic and sedentary, but all had the goal of improving their balance through functional neurology brain activation drills and physical therapy-based balance and mobility training techniques.

Senior Fitness Test results were outstanding; six out of the eight people tested on the last day improved their lower body flexibility score three (3) or more inches!  This is remarkable improvement for everyday life.

Improved lower body flexibility translates to safer walking gait, less back pain, improved posture and better balance because you can react quicker to life's imbalances if you're not in pain and your legs are more agile.

In addition to improved lower body flexibility, this group of women improved lower body strength by an average of 3.5 chair stands.  The chair stand is a universal test to measure lower body strength among older adults.     Three more stand ups in 30 seconds translates to quicker reaction to imbalance and can save your life.

Lower body weakness is the #1 cause of falls among older adults.  This group of ladies significantly reduced their risk of a fall in only four-weeks.  They worked hard, did their homework and the test results prove the results.

Unfortunately, four people were not in attendance for the final testing.  I am certain these numbers would have been even better if they were tested.

If you want to get stronger legs, reduce back pain and learn how to active the senses involved in balance, enroll in one of my brain-based balance and mobility training classes.
Visit my website for upcoming classes:  THE FALL PREVENTION LADY

Exercise Etc Older Adult Workshop vs. Brain-Based Training

I have been a fan of Exercise Etc workshops for years.  Guy Andrews and his team do an amazing job educating trainers how to work with the older adult population.  I have learned valuable functional exercises for baby boomers and their parents.  They do a great job teaching simple exercises for the aging spine, hip, and shoulders.

If you don't know me, I've been studying the brain and how the brain works at the doctorate level for the past two years.  When you study the brain, your perspective of everything changes.  Things that present as problems in the body, begin in the brain.

I went to a local Exercise Etc workshop this weekend hoping to learn something new and to see how the standard senior fitness programming fits into the brain scheme of things.  

The instructor, Mike Diebler, is a great guy and extremely knowledgeable about movement.  He did acknowledge several things about the nervous system (aka, the brain) that I thought were interesting.  

• We agreed about the importance of identifying the cause of the movement problem.  In Z-Health, we are taught to take an extensively thorough health history.   The cause of every movement problem lies somewhere in the nervous system.  In Z-Health, we have an 8-Levels model of assessment to systematically identify the source of the problem.
• We agreed that no matter how much you try to 'workout' a problem or weakness on one-side, it will always exist.  In Z-Health, we are taught about the brain and that there are two sides.  After years of lifestyle habits, one side of the brain usually needs more activation.  In Z-Health, we systematically identify the dysfunctional side and activate it.  A person has to earn the right to train bilaterally
• We agreed about the importance of deep inhales and long, strong exhales.  The diaphragm is your breathing muscle and like any other muscle in the body, it needs to be worked in it's full range of motion.  We humans are shallow breathers and do not fully exercise our diaphragm.  The reprecussions are bent forward postures.  We need to stretch the diaphragm.

I left after the morning sessions.  It was good to go there but I didn't learn anything new.  Please do not get me wrong; I by no means, think I know it all. I do not.  I mean that the fitness industry as a whole isn't teaching anything new.  

There are only so many ways you can move your body.  The only way to change the way you move is to activate the brain.  You can stretch and strengthen your "posture" muscles all day everyday but if your brainstem isn't getting the balance of extension and flexion activation, your posture will never improve.

If however, you activate the brainstem, your posture will improve immediately.   It's brain-based. It's science.  It's neurology. 

Thank you Exercise Etc for coaching me to be a great proprioceptive trainer.  Now I'm a  brain-based practitioner who activates vision, vestibular and proprioceptive systems for optimal performance and reduced pain.  

Brains and Balance Training El Dorado Hills

El Dorado Hills is a beautiful, affluent suburb in the foothills of Sacramento and the older adults that live there are educated and know a good program when they see one.  This summer I offered several workshops to introduce brain-based balance training to this community and I just completed my first four-week Brains and Balance Training session at the Gilmore Senior Center.

Eight participants joined with high hopes of improving their balance.  After eight 90-minute sessions, each person left feeling more balanced, stronger and steadier on their feet.   One of the most consistent remarks I heard was how much steadier people feel while walking.

Pre- and Post-Senior Fitness Test scores showed huge improvements in four short weeks.  The most improved was a 71-year old woman with a chronic shoulder injury that affects her balance, stability and mobility.  She increased lower body strength by 7 chair stand ups, increased lower body flexibility by three and a half inches and was nearly two seconds faster getting up and walking eight feet.

The most improved male was a 76-year old gentleman who increased his lower body flexibility by FIVE and a half FULL INCHES and increased lower body strength by 5 chair stands in 30 seconds.   He worked hard doing his homework and applying the neuro-suggestions I give students for better performance.

Do you want to walk better?  Do you want to feel more steady on your feet?  Do you want to walk your dog with confidence?  Are you retired and ready to enjoy the next chapter of your life?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, get into a Brains and Balance Training program!

Summer's Sizzling Improvements in Woodland Brains and Balance Class

2019 has busy summer for the Fall Prevention Lady!  I've been presenting neuro-balance workshops and teaching brain-based fall prevention classes in local Sacramento communities.   I just completed a four-week Brains and Balance Training session at the Woodland Community Center and senior fitness test improvements were sizzling fantastic!

As you know, I use the only standardized fitness tests for seniors; Rikli and Jones' Senior Fitness Tests, to assess fitness components associated with falls.  Thanks to testing over one hundred seniors for my research study, I ALWAYS measure pre- and post-scores to test the efficacy of the class.  Tests provide OBJECTIVE DATA; numbers don't lie.   Students not only feel better, they SEE the numbers.

Each participant is tested in lower body flexibility, lower body strength, and dynamic balance and agility skills on the first and last day of class.  In my summer Woodland class, there was a tie for most improved.   The tie was between two women; 74 and 73 years old.  

Look at these life-changing numbers:
                                                                   73                                              74
                                                             
Lower body Strength:                 10/16     +6  stand ups               11/15             +4 stand ups
Lower body Flexibility:              0/+5       +5 inches                     -4.25/+1        +5.25 inches
Dynamic Balance & Agility:      8.4/7.3   +1.1 sec faster               6.6/5.4         +1.2 sec faster

AWESOME STUFF!!!!

Translated into normal language, both ladies significantly increased lower body strength.  They built leg muscles standing up and sitting down.  Legs are your fall prevention muscles so this is a big deal.

Both ladies increased lower body flexibility by over five (5) inches!!!  One, can reach her toes for the first time in 30 years and the other can reach five inches past her toes.  This improves their walking gait and eliminates low back pain.

Finally, both ladies can get up and walk quickly and safely around a cone that is eight feet away.  Stronger legs and flexibility in the hamstrings result in quicker movement.  This life saving skill can get a person quickly across the street when the light starts flashing.  Quicker reaction skills and ability to navigate around an object can prevent a fall.  LIFE SAVING.

The senior of the class, my dear 85 year old Audrey, increased in all three components.  She continues to increase her lower body strength, gain flexibility and quicken her reaction speed with each repeat performance.  This session she did increased lower body strength by a sizzling four (4) more stand ups and sit downs.  In FOUR WEEKS!!!

Folsom Senior Center offers Brains and Balance Training Sampler

I started teaching workshops at the Folsom Senior Center this summer.  I instantly liked vibe of the center and the awesome staff led by director Recreation Coordinator Ryan Erwin when I visited and the residents make the center even more welcoming.  They are independent older adults enjoying socialization, exercise, art, music and meals and now, my brain-based balance and mobility training classes and workshops.

Folsom Seniors GET IT!;
the importance of training the brain
for better performance!

Over twenty Folsom seniors attended my "ABCs of Balance" workshop and  several brave students practiced lifesaving skills in my "3-Step Get-UP from the floor" workshop.  Fifteen seniors signed up for three (3) sessions of brain-based balance and mobility training.  

The three-session training taught students how to activate the sensory systems of balance.  Our brain determines every movement and training the sensory inputs to the brain directly improves cognitive ability and physical performance.  

Applied neuro-anatomy and neuro-physiology instantly changes the way you move through life, your balance and stability, your vision and your pain level.   As a certified Z-health Neuro-Practitioner, this is the brain-based training I am certified to teach.  

Students moved their feet and walked barefoot.  They moved their eyes and stared at nine locations.  They moved their heads and bounced on their toes.   Their balance and posture improved instantly.  Strength and flexibility increased significantly.  Movement got better. 

Three sessions.  Life looks and feels better.  Movement is more efficient.  

Schedule your introductory workshop and 3-session training package today.  

September session!

4-week Brains and Balance Fall Prevention Training Classes

Folsom Sports Complex.  Clarksville Road Folsom.

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.  

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

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!

Trigeminal Nerve Glide for the SAVE!

Today I was out in the field and my last in-home session was with Bob.   When I got there, Bob was on the phone and Bob was bothered about something.  His lovely wife walked me to the porch where we chatted while I setup for our session.

Five minutes later Bob came out swinging.  His jaw hurt, his head hurt, he had these pains and he didn't know if he could do anything.  He didn't do his homework, he didn't do anything.  He said he'd give this one more try.  He believed in what we were doing and was going to give this one more try.  He was upset.

Trigeminal Nerve for the SAVE!!!!

His right jaw was on fire and the pain spread down his neck.  He couldn't stand it.  The pain was constant.  Not shooting, constant.  The area he pointed to is innervated by Cranial Nerve five; the trigeminal nerve; his chewing muscles, behind the ear, upper neck and throat area.  All right side.

As he left the room to get his red glasses and Z-vibe, I prayed for an answer; a clear path based on the neuropractitioner skills of Z-Health Performance Systems Education.  Upon return, in addition to the noxious jaw pain, he complained about swelling in the lymph node area.  I decided to start with right lymphatic duct drainage after some eye drills.

Bob did some fantastic respiration drills to mobilize the lymphatic drainage process.  After a minute or so, I palpated the neck area and started cranial soft tissue mobilization drills.  Pressure checking revealed tight right side temporal, saggital and lambdoid suture areas.   After Bob did the tilting, nodding and gliding drills, his pain level dropped significantly.  He immediately noted greater mobility and ease of movement in the pained areas.

I sat down and asked about the pain level.  It was still there but only when he turned his head a certain way. He had to search for it but he could find it.  Barely.  That's when it hit me...THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE!!!    He needs to do the trigeminal nerve glide!

After following step by step instructions, a smile came over Bob's face.  The pain was gone. "So all I need to do when I start having jaw pain is this nerve glide?" he asked bewilderedly.

Yep.  I video taped him doing the drill and sent it to him at his new email address on his new iPad.
Despite his skeptical attitude,  Bob gets it!  This neuro-stuff is working.   And he's happy!

Myth: I have vertigo so my balance won't ever get better

Vertigo is an inner ear disorder that is characterized by bouts of paralyzing dizziness, nausea, fatigue and of course, the anxiety and depression due to these unpredictability of life altering episodes.   Some vertigo is situational and disappears while other types of vertigo can last a lifetime.  Needless to say falls are a major concern for people who suffer from vertigo due to inner ear dysfunction.

Train Vestibular Input for Better Output with Coach Kelly

There are other types of inner ear disorders that have the same impact; dizziness, the loss of daily functional ability and falls.  My aunt Betty was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease had to quit line dancing; her favorite activity for forty years.

Although she was able to manage some of the symptoms with medication, her inner ear disorder affected all other areas of her life which negatively impacted her quality of life.

While inner ear disorders can be life altering, there are ways to train the vestibular system for better balance and reduction of the  many symptoms that accompany inner ear dysfunction.

Unfortunately when someone experiences dizziness or loss of balance due to head movement, they subconsciously begin to change body position and behavior to restrict head movement.  Smart brain, huh?  Two classic representations of a person living with inner ear disorder are: 1) Bobblehead or 2) Stiff walking.

Bobble head means the head moves all over the place when walking.   This is done subconsciously because one of the brain's reflexive pathways isn't working.  The other extreme is the stiff walker.  This is also done subconscious to prevent any natural movement of the head that occurs when walking because another reflexive pathway isn't working correctly.  

Here's the best news:  you can retrain your vestibular system and begin to regain control of your life.  I train the vision, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems for better sensory input and less sensory mismatch.  The result is your brain feels "safe" and can better predict what's going on now and what to expect.

Your frontal lobe or human self can tell yourself exactly what's going on but the part of the brain responsible for movement and vestibular integration doesn't communicate like that; it needs consistent, strong inputs for better movement or as I like to say, "all cylinders firing".

Now that I'm a Z-Health neuro-performance coach and balance expert who specializes in vision, vestibular and proprioceptive inputs to the brain, I wish I could have helped my Aunt Betty manage her meniere's disease for better daily function and maybe even get back on the dance floor.  I couldn't help but I'm here to help you.  

Can I cure you?  No.  That's up to you.  I give you the tools and you do the work.
 
I make NO PROMISES OR GUARANTEES but I can offer new brain-based training methods that have been shown to work.  If you've tried everything and nothing has worked, it's time to try something else.  I offer neuro-scientifically proven, holistic neural training to optimize daily performance.

Training Packages available   Skype/Facebook Live sessions.
Please contact me for more information:  info@thefallpreventionlady.com

Goals #1 and #2 as certified Brain Exercise Therapist

As a health and fitness professional who studies the neuroplasticity of the brain and the enormous physical and mental benefits of brain activation, I have goals.  I want to make sure people understand the power of brain training and why they need to get started.

Kelly Ward, Brain Exercise Therapist 

I am an avid follower and studying practitioner of Dr. Eric Cobb's Z-Health Performance brain-based Solutions training and my number one goal is to "Re-educate those neural systems rendered dysfunctional from injury and disuse".   Dr. Cobb

Re-education of neural systems occurs via regular drills. Through comprehensive motor and sensory testing, I gather a picture of the brain's function and identify what needs more (or less) activation for optimal performance.

Once identified, I have my client do high pay-off drills frequently enough to make permanent changes.  It takes time to 're-educate the nervous system.  This requires behavior rehabilitation because a client has to do the exercises frequently and consistently to reap benefits on a permanent basis.

My second goal is to help you understand that big things come from little things.  I can guarantee that the drills you will do with me are new and unlike anything you have done with other trainers or health care professionals.  I do lots of 'sensory testing' and while these may not be huge "ah-ah"moments for you, I am gathering valuable data.

You don't have to have a background in neuroscience or know anything about the brain to work with me.  You'll probably hear me mumble things like 'right PMRF' or 'left saccule' or 'right side cranial nerve 7' but never mind me; I'm just gathering data.   The more sensory input, the greater the brain activation.  These little activations can have a huge impact on how you move.

As a certified Brain Exercise Therapist, I provide optimal sensory input to activate areas of the brain with decreased function.  These little drills add up.  When the brain feels 'safe' the pay-off is remarkable.  And pain-free.

Brain training. It's the future of fitness.  What have you got to lose?  Pain?  Poor posture?  Horrible balance?  Fading vision?  Yep, you can lose those things.

Let's re-educate your neural systems that have been injured or not used.  Subtle, small things can make a huge difference to your brain.  Let's get started!

Brains and Balance Vision Skill Training with Coach Kelly

Vision is a skill and like all skills, it will improve with practice.  Balance is a skill and like all skills, it will improve with practice.  Mental clarity is a skill and like all skills, it will improve with practice.

Are you seeing a pattern?  All skills will improve with consistent practice.  This is based on the exercise science "SAID" principle; the body undergoes Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands (SAID) when practicing or training to improve efficiency. 

In other words, practice makes perfect.  

Your body will get good at whatever you practice however you practice it.  

If you practice bicep curls, your body will adapt to imposed demands (what it's being asked to do) and get stronger to lift the amount of weight with the least amount of effort.  Yay, bigger arm muscles.
If you practice walking with a limp, your body is going to get really good at walking with a limp.  If you sit scrunched over in your chair or on the couch watching TV or playing on your phone, your body will get really good at sitting in a scrunched over position.

Think about what you're asking your body to do each day.  You're unknowingly building skills through habit.  The tricky part of skill training is doing it correctly.  You have to know HOW to train a skill in order to get better at the skill.

That's where I come in; I am trained in the skills of vision, balance and movement for optimized physical performance.  Your performance can be as simple as getting up from a chair, functioning in your daily life or improving your walk through this life journey or as complex as increased precision in your golf game, increased cardiovascular endurance for biking or running or regaining control of your body after a stroke.

Whatever your challange or goal, 

increased brain function 

will catapult your game!

Vision is the number one input to the brain and your trainer MUST KNOW the goal of each vision drill, what warning signs to look for and most importantly, how to train your eyes for optimized performance.

Every brain is different and general training classes are a great place to start before the need for individualized attention becomes apparent.  The basics will get you started but in order to thrive and make substantial changes, it's important to individualize your program.  

Stroke Survivor Support Group Guest Speaker

As a public speaker and health educator,  I've been active in Sacramento and Yolo county communities presenting my dynamic ABCs of Balance workshop and promoting two upcoming Brains and Balance classes; one at the Woodland Community and Senior Center and the other at the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church.

Stroke Survivor Support Group Presentation with Coach Kelly

I love educating people about the power of neuroplasticity and empowering individuals to take action if they want to change their circumstances.  As a Z-Health Neuro-Performance Coach and Brain Exercise Therapist, I am trained to activate areas of the brain that directly impact balance, movement, posture and pain levels.

Last week I finally met Tom Hoag; registered nurse and Stroke Survivor Support Group facilitator for Dignity Health's Neurological Institute.  I say finally because a student of recent Brains and Balance class also attends the Stroke Survivor Support Group in Woodland.  This student is one of the most improved and brain exercise has changed his life so much that he wanted me to speak at an upcoming support group meeting.

The stars aligned and I met Tom at the Woodland Senior Resource Fair.  After laughter and discussion, it's confirmed; I will be the guest speaker at Tom's two stroke survivor support group meetings in June:

1. Mercy San Juan Carmichael:  Wednesday June 13th. 11-Noon.  6501 Coyle Avenue  Carmichael.
2. Woodland Community & Senior Center:  Monday, June 18th.  1-2pm.  2001 East Street  Woodland.

These support groups are open to the public and free of charge.  If you have had a stroke and want to learn how to improve your current functionality, please join us.

I have been working with four stroke survivors on a private training basis and the results are amazing!  They have regained sight, movement, balance and feeling where they thought was impossible.  Precise training gets precise results.

I am so excited about meeting and educating these stroke survivor support groups about the regenerative power of the brain and that with precise training, they can get precise results.

I hope to see you in June.

Brain science is real; change is possible

.

Here are some critical definitions I want you to know about your brain, body and balance:

Neuroscience is a form of neurology based on the science of nervous system focusing on brain function and body movement
Neuroplasticity is the scientifically proven fact that the brain can and will change for more efficient function.
Applied neuro-anatomy is the systematic assessment of precise neural inputs on brain function and observed motor output.
Applied neurophysiology considers the results of thorough input assessments and designs an individualized program that provides the highest payoff in movement and skill proficiency and pain control for an individuals.

Neuro-Performance are professional  athletic trainers invest time, money and energy into each level of applied neuroanatomy and applied neurophysiology education.  Professional development that includes four-day certification weekends, hours of pre- and post-weekend study and years of application to learn this highly specialized neural testing and training program.

A program based on emergent research.  Research findings that take ten years to reach the general public.  Get in on it now.  What are you waiting for?  What have you got to lose?

Chronic Pain. Poor eyesight. Dizzy.  Lethargic. Weak.  Slouched posture.  Neck pain.  Poor sleep.  No energy.  Aching pains.  Stiff joints.  Thats' what you've got to lose.

Work with me and learn to gain control of your body.  Feel in control of what's going on.  Connect to your body.  Through comprehensive assessment process, we practice drills that make your brain fire efficiently.  An efficient brain produces efficient movement.  Pain-free, optimized movement is how the brain was made to function.

Work with me to develop your neural highways.  Upgrade your neural software.  Rewire for efficiency.  90-minute consultation: $150.  Special for the rest of May, $125.
I will come to you and work with you in your environment.
Facebook consultations: The Fall Prevention Lady on Facebook

Respiration Training and Balance

Breathing is an automatic process that is controlled by the mid-brain; specifically the mesencephalon, pons, and medulla.  I tell my classes, 'if breathing weren't automatic, 90% of us would be dead'.  This is because we are a bunch of shallow breathers and do not use a large portion of our breathing capacity.

We all want to move better with less pain.   Everything we do, all movement and thought, is initiated by the brain.  In order to function at optimal levels, the brain needs fuel and activation.  The most essential fuel source is oxygen.  Oxygen gets into the cells via the transport molecule carbon dioxide.  Exercise produces carbon dioxide which helps the oxygen get into the cells for healthy function.  Movement is life. 

Again, if breathing weren't automatic, over 90% of us would be dead because we don't know how to do it.  The first thing I want you to know about breathing is to breathe IN through the nose and out through the mouth. When you inhale, your belly should expand.  This is the exact opposite of what feels normal; I  know because I struggled with proper breathing technique before learning proper breathing mechanics.

I worked with a young 70-year old who was having breathing problems and her doctor told her she would be on an oxygen tank if she didn't do something about it.  She called me and we worked together for two sessions before she went back to her doctor.  Her entire demeanor changed as she practiced the respiration drills and used the Relaxator when we weren't together.

She called me after her doctor's appointment and said he was thrilled with whatever she was doing. She also went on to tell me that she didn't need to use her oxygen and her energy levels were the best they'd been in years.  The oxygen tank sits unused in her living room now!

If you want to learn how to breathe or improve your breathing patterns for better movement, more mental clarity, better vision and less pain, please contact me!!!  COPD, asthma and other breathing disorders are a challenge but it's never too late to learn how to feed your brain the oxygen it needs for optimal daily function.

Everything you do begins in the brain; let's find out what your brain needs for the best performance possible.

Movement is Life; it's time to start LIVING!
Coach Kelly