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.

My Neurologist and Physical Therapist Couldn't Help My Balance

Have you been to your neurologist for nerve pain and he ran every test and still couldn't help you?  Did your neurologist send you to a physical therapist who said, 'there's nothing we can do', leaving you with numb, tingling feet and a fear of falling?   If so, you're not alone.

Educate.  Demonstrate.  Facilitate. 

I just started two Brains and Balance Training classes at Sun River Church and I am blessed to work with some amazing people.  There are people from age 63-87 and every ability level you can imagine.  The two classes are small enough that I can offer (limited) individual attention to those who are struggling or have additional needs.

One lady came up to me after our fourth class (halfway through program) and told me I was an 'absolute lifesaver'.  She proceeded to tell me that she had been to several neurologists and physical therapist for the peripheral neuropathy in her feet and after running every test imaginable, they told her there was nothing they could do for her.

In four sessions, she's learned how to activate the receptors in her feet and is learning when and how to react if she's losing her balance.  She said, "I'm learning so much in this class and it's helping me so much....I can't tell you how happy I am".

That's my goal!  As an independent contractor, I strive to help people improve their balance and brain function. I teach them what's going on with their balance and then give them tools to improve instability and weakness.  It's up to each person to do the drills that work for them: no one's going to do it for you but you!

I'm not saying that my class cures peripheral neuropathy but it can help you live with the condition.  Can damaged nerves be regenerated?  With sufficient sensory stimulation, anything is possible.   Nerves need to move and nerves need stimulation.   Lots of sensory stimulation.

If you have peripheral neuropathy or can't feel your feet as well as you used to, you're a perfect candidate for my 4-week Brains and Balance Training Classes.   Learn how to control your body.  Re-introduce your brain to numb body parts because if you can't feel it, your brain can't move it!

Brains and Balance Class with Coach Kelly.  4-weeks.  8 sessions.  Greatest retirement investment for your money, your body and your brain.

Conquer Hip and Knee Pain in Fall Prevention Class

Most improved student described how the four-week brain-based balance training classes taught her exercises to manage her hip and knee pain.

As a Z-health Practitioner, I teach people how to activate areas of the brain that inhibit pain.  In other words, I teach drills that turn off pain.  Based on laws of neurology, opposing joint drills help people manage pain.  

This 66 year old frequent faller explained how many times she had fallen and how worried she was about falling again.  While her goal was to become more steady when walking, she surprisingly learned exercises to take her out of pain.

She doesn't have hip or knee pain anymore.  She learned drills to increase her awareness of surroundings, how to react to imbalances and what to do if she is falling.   Mostly, she increased her lower body flexibility by nearly one foot!

While she was seven inches from touching her toes on day one, she can now reach six inches past her toes!  Her legs are significantly stronger as evidenced by standing up five more times in 30 seconds!  She moves more stable and with greater confidence as shown by her ability to get up and walk around a cone nearly two seconds faster!

Gain control of your body.  Gain confidence.  

Lose your fear of falling.  Lose your pain.  

Enroll in my brain-based Balance Training classes. YOu're worth it!  Your future depends on it.
February:  Woodland Senior and Community Center
March:  Fair Oaks and Rancho Cordova and Rocklin
April:  Woodland Senior and Community Center

Time to try something new in fall prevention

Should we do what we've always done?  Maybe?  But, what if they way we had always done it was wrong?  Lee Cockrell, Creating Magic.

Great quote that every personal trainer, group exercise instructor and program coordinator should consider.  Things change.  Research studies unveil new methods that work and explain why old methods don't work. NOTHING IS FOREVER.

Unfortunately, government agencies only accept evidence-based programs for funding.  This is a disservice to older adults everywhere because by the time the program is approved, it's already outdated.  Newer, more efficient methods of balance training and fall prevention exist.

If you've been following the same program for years, or months and you're not getting results, it's time to try something new.  It's time to open your mind and do something different.

Change and growth occur outside of your comfort zone.  Brain-based training is the future of fitness.  Training your vision, inner ear and joint receptors are the future of training.  If your trainer isn't training your vision, ask why not.

I'm not a eye doctor but I am movement specialist.  Your eyes have muscles, six for each eye.  I train the eye muscles for better eye movement and better vision.  You will be amazed at the results you get when you learn how to move your eyes.

Time to try something new.
Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly
Balance Training 101 with Coach Kelly.

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

Feeding Pattern of the Brain for Better Balance and Performance

The brain is a remarkable organ that uses approximately 70% of your daily caloric intake to function.  The better the fuel source, the better your brain can function.  The anatomy of the brain is such that the "old" brain, where the sensory and autonomic regulators live, get fed first and the "new" brain, where you make decisions including all voluntary movement and feel emotions, gets fed last.

The feeding pattern of the brain follows blood flow; back to front, bottom to top.  Oxygenated, nutrient dense blood enters the brain from the bottom, back region and flows up and to the front lobes of the brain.  Bottom to top, back to front.

What does that mean to you?  Sensory input to the brain has a powerful effect on how you move. Your vision, vestibular, and skin/joint/muscle receptors all get fed before your 'voluntary' movement; before the decision making part of the brain gets fed.  Sensory before motor.

In order to function optimally, your brain needs fuel and activation.  Stimulating the sensory receptors activates different parts of the brain so the "use it or lose it" principle applies to neurons in the nervous system more importantly than muscles.

Fuel sources for the brain are oxygen and glucose.  Breathe and Eat.  Feed the back of the brain before you feed the 'human' part.  Make better decision and move better if you feed your brain the nutrients it needs.

If you want to improve your balance, feed your brain accordingly.  Eat sugar.  Enjoy juicy fruits.  Orange juice is your new staple.  I'm not a nutritionist but I am studying neurology.  Research demonstrates that the brain needs quick absorbing sugar; fructose is wonderful.

Eat often enough so your blood sugar can supply the ENTIRE brain with the fuel it needs to function and stay away from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).   PUFAs prevent the absorption of glucose.

In other words, PUFAs do not allow your brain to access the sugar in the blood.  The result?  HIGH BLOOD SUGAR.  Not because you're eating too much sugar but the PUFAs block the absorption of sugar.

What contains PUFAs?  Think nuts, nut butters, nut oils, grains, chickens and cows that eat grains.  Your brain needs fuel and activation.  Fuel is oxygen and glucose.  Yes, sugar is good for the brain.  Nuts are not.
Ray Peat Resources: LINK to LIST

Absorb that information, breathe and eat some fruits and chocolate.  Like all things in life, moderation.  Your brain will function better and you will ultimately think and move better.

Feeding pattern of the brain:

Back to Front, Bottom to Top

The Fall Prevention Lady™

Neurology 101: the better the input, the better the output

I vaguely remember learning about the brain in high school.  I recall lobes, dural matter, grey matter, action potentials, synapses; the basic science of it all.  Over thirty years later, I am fascinated by the nervous system and how the brain works.  In fact, the science of neuroplasticity gives old dogs like myself hope for a renewed future.
As a movement specialist and balance expert, I help people break poor movement patterns and re-learn how to move more efficiently with less pain.  I study under Dr. Eric Cobb, creator of Z-Health Performance; a brain-based approach to movement.   I love his teaching style and have learned amazing things about the brain and how the health of our brain is reflected in our postures and movement patterns.

Neuro101:
Input data from sensory systems travel to brain where the messages are interpreted and the brain sends an output.  Input.  Interpretation.  Output.  1, 2, 3.   Our nervous system works in a loop; the better the input, the better the output.   In order to prevent a fall, this process has to happen in less than one-quarter of a second.

Everything we do is an output of the brain; strength, balance, flexibility, pain.  Movement specialists train the outputs.  Experts train the inputs.   Dr. Debra Rose's FallProof™balance and mobility program introduced me to the three sensory inputs and my Master's studies focused on how to train the muscles and senses for better balance and mobility.   I"ve been teaching multi-sensory balance training for over ten years.  I've witnessed the fact "the better the input, the better the output".

My doctoral level studies in Z-Health Performance Solutions have taught me how to train the inputs in order to optimize performance, enhance balance and confidence while feeling less pain.  It's a scientific fact that once your "old" brain feels safe, you will move better, see better and feel better.  Simply said, the better the input, the better the output.

Why would a health professional train the outputs if the message going to the brain and the interpretation of the data is the source of the problem?  Because they don't know; this is cutting edge applied neuroscience.  New scientific research demonstrates the neuroplasticity of the brain and how precise training of the brain give you precise results.

Don't waste your money on outdated "Balance Manuals"; you can do the same exercises over and over but without training the inputs, the outputs will only improve as much as the brain allows.

Give your brain what it needs and get the results you want.
Kelly

Baby boom changing the face of fitness....

The face of balance and mobility training is getting younger.  As the baby boomer population explodes, so does the interest in different types of training classes; classes that:

• Focus on total body wellness
• Prepare the body for the next chapter of life
• Enhance performance so a person can live longer better
• Train the brain and utilize the scientific principle of "NEUROPLASTICITY"

I no longer hear, 'I wish I knew you fifteen years ago' but rather "I don't want to turn out like my mother.  She fell and that was the end of it", "My father fell, had all sorts of problems and had to move into assisted living; that is not the quality of life that I worked for".  "My wife and I have lots of traveling to do and we want to live our lives while we still can".

Baby boomers are more educated about the importance of fitness and truly understand that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  Most boomers are more educated about the different types of exercise needed in a well-balanced fitness routine and they understand that personal training is an investment in their life.  They realize that their health and well-being are THEIR responsibility and a person must get active if you want to stay active.

What everyone needs to understand is that exercise isn't so easy that you can't mess it!  If exercise were easy, everyone would be doing it.  Sitting, staring at a computer and driving for hours are what I call "occupational hazards" that take a tremendous toll on the body over the years.  The demand for corrective exercise practitioners has tripled and specialty areas are increasingly popular.
                 
Unfortunately, a staggering 80% of adults quit an exercise program in the first six weeks due to injury.  Enter your movement re-educator; me, the person who has studied fitness all her life and knows how to get you safely to your goals.  Enter the balance and mobility expert; me, the person who has the skills to improve balance and stability using brain-based balance techniques.  Enter the Z-health practitioner who has invested in a neurology-based education to teach you how to rewire your nervous system; upgrade your software.        

Baby boomers want brain-training.  As a Movement Integration Specialist, I offer the best brain training program available; 3 Pillars Strong; Move well.  Balance well.  See well.  I will be hosting two mixers in September to kick-off my new braining-training program with classes starting in October.

www.thefallpreventionlady.com

Now that fall prevention is mainstream.....

As a movement specialist, I am constantly researching new scientific discoveries in order to help my clients move better with less pain.  If I'm not studying assessment and exercise videos made by the best of the best, I have my nose in a book or personal notes from recent conferences.

My personal desire to learn as much as possible about efficient movement has been the driving force in my life since I moved to California over fifteen years ago.  As a Public Health educator, I was fascinated by the effect that our daily choices have on our overall wellness, especially movement patterns.   The longer a person makes poor choices, the more likely s/he is to have chronic disease and/or a chronic movement disorder.  It's called bad habits.  It's called life.

It was during my gerontology internship with the Area 4 Agency on Aging in 2006 when my focus turned from the association of daily choices and chronic health conditions to the prevention of falls through daily choices; specifically movement choices.  I instantly discovered FallProof and the importance of training the musculoskeletal and sensory systems responsible for balance, strength, flexibility and mobility.

Remember that in 2006, fall prevention was basically an unknown topic.  Sure, seniors were falling but not many people in influential positions realized how many older adults were falling, fatality and injury rates, the direct and indirect costs of these falls or the fact that a majority of falls could be prevented through a multi-factorial approach (Rose, 2003).

Fast-forward 12 years. What was once a specialty, fall prevention education and balance training for older adults, has become mainstream.  Due to the explosion of the aging population, fall prevention services are now offered by hospital systems and community agencies for free.  They are able to offer free because of government funding; only available to large agencies and non-profit companies that offer 'evidence-based' fall prevention programs (proven effective and able to be duplicated to the masses).

As an independent contractor, I can't compete with free!  As such, I've had to step back and do some personal reflection in order to figure out what's next. I understand that having volunteers who do not come from a physical fitness background not to mention have specialized adult learning training will only work for a specific segment of the population for a limited duration of time.  I also understand that the needs of the younger baby boomers will not be met by these programs.

I do know it's my spiritual gift to work with older adults. I do know my focused studies in aging, balance, and injury prevention have elevated my expertise as a balance and mobility specialist to a new level.   I'm a coach with over fifteen years of hands-on experience leading groups through the best balance training program for older adults.

What's next for this movement specialist?  Neuroscience.  Neuroplasticity.  Neurophysiology.
Think brains.  Think balance.  Think Brains and Balance on the Z-Train!

Stay tuned.

What is FallProof™.... with the Fall Prevention Lady

FallProof™ is a multi-dimensional, physical therapy-based approach to the muscular, sensory and behavioral imbalances that occur as we age.  This program progressively challenges the different senses as well as the muscles involved in balance and is proven to improve strength, flexibility, awareness and ability to respond to circumstances that can cause a person to fall.

Feedback from prior class attendees is that this class should be required for everyone over the age of 60; especially people who want to stay independent and enjoy their hard-earned retirement years.

Kelly Ward, aka, "The Fall Prevention Lady"  has been a certified FallProof™ balance and mobility specialist since 2008 and is the only certified FallProof™ specialist practicing in the Sacramento region.  To maintain certification, specialists must meet competency and contact hour requirements every two years.   CAUTION... make sure your FallProof™ specialist is currently certified.  It's for your protection.

Dr. Debra Rose, director of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, co-director of the Center for Successful Aging and world-renowned fall prevention expert, created FallProof™ balance and mobility training with a specific audience in mind; people over age 60, who live at home and who are at high to moderate risk of falls.

How do you know if you're at risk, not to mention moderate/high risk of falls?

• You have fallen in the past six months
• You are concerned about falling
• You are living with peripheral neuropathy
• You are living with limited vision

You feel it...

• You feel unsteady when walking
• You need to use your hands when getting up from the chair
• You feel your balance "isn't what it used to be"
• You 'feel wobbly'

In my professional opinion, FallProof is the best balance and mobility training program for mature adults who live at home and want to stay there.   It's not rocket science however balance-specific exercises are required for maintenance.  The training techniques you learn will stick with you for life!  

"Walking the Cats" in a FallProof™ balance class

• If you want to keep what you have; if you're happy with what you can do right now...this program is for you.

• If you want to improve your balance, feel stronger when you stand up, feel more stable when you're walking or stop suddenly when walking; this program is for you. 

• This program is for ANYONE who is concerned about their balance or who has ever thought about "not ending up like your parents".  

Balance is important.  More so than we think....until we lose it.  Do me a favor; stop right now and try to name two people who have fallen or whose life has been changed because of an accidental slip, trip or fall.....

If you can name two people whose life has been changed because of a fall, DON'T BE THE THIRD!  Statistically, one in three people over the age of 65 fall each year (CDC).  FallProof™ is proven to increase strength, flexibility and confidence; major fall risk factors as we age.

Upcoming 4-week FallProof balance training classes:
1.  Thursday, March 30.  T/Th, 10:30-noon.  Fit4-U.  4440 Marconi Ave.  $99.  Ends April 27.
2.  Tuesday, April 18.  T/Th, 1:30-3:00pm.  Parkside Church.  5700 S. Land Park Dr. Ends May 11.

Visit my website, THE FALL PREVENTION LADY for more information.
Follow my page on Facebook:  The Fall Prevention Lady

Boomer-itis and fall prevention

I read an article about it before and since my mother has officially reached Baby Boomer status, I would like to spread the news. Boomeritis is a disease that affects people 50 and older, basically the baby boomer generation we hear so much about these days.
So what is boomeritis? Boomeritis is characterized by the nagging pains that have developed in your knees, back, and hands. It is the inflammation that immediately sets in after bouts of exercise. It is the aching that doesn't go away but now remains more constant. It is the tendonitis, bursitis, all the -itis that you never had before!

Unfortunately, boomeritis not only affects the baby boomers! Heck, as a 41 year old athlete, I'm beginning to feel it, too. I know lots of people my age that complain after doing some exercise or strenuous movment. Basically, boomeritis is a sign that we are not as young as we used to be. It takes longer to recover from the workouts and you are more sore after increased effort (ok, ok, that's just me lately but it does take more time to bounce back).

In order to combat this boomeritis, we need to longer warm up and cool down times. Longer recovery time may require an extra day between workouts but nothing AND I MEAN NOTHING, beats consistent movement. Take 5 to Exercise is a new approach to seated exercise routines and was developed to encourage daily movement in order to reduce the risk of a fall. Staying active not only reduces fall risk but also improves quality of life.
As we age, we need to devote MORE time to flexibility and strengthening exercises but unfortunately, we don't spend as much time caring for our body as we should.
Make the time, you're worth it: Take 5 to Exercise.

The future of Senior Centers as we know them...

SB977 is a piece of California legislation that calls for the assessment of the current senior center infrastructure so that we as a society are ready to provide for the aging baby boomers. The demographic studies have been out and by 2025, 1 in 5 Californians will be over the age of 65 and the fastest growing segment of the population (nationwide) are people over the age of 85 (CDC, 2006).  The odds of developing a disabling, chronic disease increases proportionately to chronological age; fifty percent of adults older than 65 are living with some type of disability.   

I'm not talking about deadly disease, I'm talking about impairment that affects one or more major life activities.  Limitations in everyday life.  Unfortunately, we are all aware of the outrageous cost of healthcare and if people don't start living a wellness lifestyle, quality healthcare will not be available.

Enter the cost effective senior center.  The local hub of the community, senior centers are a gathering place that provides more than a hot, nutritious meal.  As the need for consistent exercise among older adults increases, so does the demand for qualified programs and instructors.  Falls among the elderly are a public health concern that require a multifactorial approach to prevention. 

The current system of senior centers is outdated and needs to be assessed to see what programs are working and which are no longer necessary.  The days of bingo and meals of meatloaf and mashed potatoes are gone.  Baby boomers want yoga, internet, support groups and sushi.   Needs are increasing and demands are changing.  

Unless you can see yourself going to the same center your parents went to and using the same equipment they used, it's time for a change.  It's time to reassess the current infrastructure so we as a society are better prepared to meet the needs of the future.

Physical falls can change a person's life instantaneously and  unfortunately, people don't realize the seriousness until it happens to them, or someone they love.  Participating in a consistent exercise routine not only reduces the risk of a fall but also improves the quality of your life.  My Take 5 to Exercise seated exercise routine is something an adult child and her parents can benefit from.  Be a role model for your parents and your children. 

Take 5 to Exercise each day.

The Fall Prevention Lady