ABCs of Balance workshop at Woodland Senior Center

Last week I presented my "revamped" ABCs workshop at the Woodland Community and Senior Center to a group of about sixty mature adults who wanted to know more about aging and balance from a brain perspective.  Well, at least I hope that's why they were there because that's what they got!

Center Director, Dallas Tringali not only welcomed my progressive workshop about brains, balance and fall prevention but also provided a nice-sized room for my presentation.  For the first time in a long while, I was nervous.

As I prepared my notes, I realized that I couldn't talk about aging and balance without mentioning the brain and the nervous system due to the fact that everything we do and how we move through life all begins in the brain!

People packed into the room and I asked them several times if they were ready to learn something new about the brain and balance.  I was answered with smiles, nods and  Yes, yes, we sure are, I hope so.  One lady joked, is that what you're going to talk about?  LOL.

Over the next 90-minutes, I tried my best to interpret and explain neuroscience in easy to understand words and concepts.  I think I did pretty good but I know that I spoke ENTIRELY too fast; especially after a kind woman told me, "I believe in all my heart what you're doing but you need to slow down for us old folks.  You can't talk as fast".

I appreciate honest feedback because we're all in this together and I'm learning, too!  Honestly,  I think I came up for a breath about forty-minutes into my presentation.   The audience nodded, smiled, did the drills, smiled some more.

As I checked the time, I realized that I would finish my 90-minute workshop in 70 minutes if I didn't slow down!  I took a deep breath and realized I did it; I explained an entirely new way of looking at training in a decent flow of relate-able terminology.

If talking too fast is the only critique, I'm happy!  That means that they understood or at least appreciated the content.

Woodland Senior Center is a great group of people who are genuinely interested in learning how to take control of their body and mind through brain activation.

Brains and Balance with Coach Kelly classes start the first Tuesday in April.  Every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of April we will meet for 90-minutes from 1-2:30pm.  Classes are progressively challenging so participants should plan on making all eight sessions.  Class size is limited to 15 participants.

There will be more classes!

Another Fall Prevention Workshop at Japanese United Methodist

I recently visited Sacramento on a 4-day, four fall prevention workshop extravaganza.  I was excited to visit my old stomping grounds and see some familiar faces.  My first workshop was a return visit to the active Japanese United Methodist Church in South Sacramento.  Health ministry leader Amy Kawahara invited me and made all the arrangements.  After Sunday services,  a group of twenty older adults eagerly waited for me in the gym.

I presented my dynamic 90-minute workshop and had the group doing the different types of exercise recommended to prevent a fall.   First I prepared the group by leading them through a seated warm up.  Afterward, I led them through progressive balance challenges.  This is always a group favorite activity and it allows me to individualize the challenges to each person's abilities.

Once the central nervous system is alive and ready, I encouraged everyone to increase their strength with my Basic 5 Lower Body Strengthening exercises.  And since you have to stretch what you strengthen, I ended the exercise routine with my Basic 5 Stretches.  And because all falls are accidents, I demonstrate how to get up from a fall.  I call this my "HELP, I've fallen and I CAN get up" demonstration.

The Basic 5 stretches are featured on my seated fall prevention exercise DVD series, Take 5 to Exercise.    All the other exercises, including the stretches, are featured in my book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention.  Order you copy today.  You can download it directly to your computer or you can order the hardcopy and I will ship it to you. 

Please contact me if you do not feel comfortable doing financial transactions online. 
My number is (916) 821-5715.

Remain independent.  Get moving.  Stay moving. 
Challenge your balance.

The Fall Prevention Lady

Fall prevention and balance training at Davis Senior Center

As the Fall Prevention Lady, I love giving presentations to groups of older adults because my workshop offers a fresh perspective on the prevention of falls.  I have been studying falls among the the aging population and balance training exercises since 2006.   In that time,  I have read the best of the best fall prevention research and attended some of the best personal fitness training workshops in the country.

As a result, my approach to fall prevention has evolved over the years.  I no longer baffle people with my brilliance but offer an educational presentation that is easy to understand and apply to personal situations.   Aging is unique to each of us and we all have experienced different situations and live with different challenges. 

Today I met with the director of the Davis Senior Center in Davis, California about offering a workshop and balance training there in the fall.  (No pun intended).  The Davis Senior Center is an active hub in the small town and the older adult population is educated and active.  I have had several class participants travel from Davis to Sacramento to attend my fall prevention 101 workshops and balance training classes so it would it would be great to introduce myself and my classes to the seniors in the city of Davis.

Planting seeds, networking, spreading the word about the prevention of falls,
The Fall Prevention Lady