Older adult personal fitness clients increase strength and lose body fat!!!

As you may or may not be aware, I am a "Movement Re-Educator".  In other words, I help people break poor movement habits and re-learn how to move more efficiently.  When your body moves "efficiently", more muscle fibers are working and daily tasks require less effort.  Less work means you feel better, have more energy, and reduce your risk of a fall.   Not to mention, burn more calories which means you can occasionally indulge without guilt!

I work part-time at 24 Hour Fitness in Gold River, CA to help people of all ages reach their fitness goals.  Most of my clients are mid-60s and older and are dedicated to living life at it's fullest!  Everyone has different goals but the majority want to increase strength, improve balance, reduce pain and just feel better!

This week, I re-tested two clients to see if their workouts are helping them reach their goals.
Client #1, a 65-year old woman, lost a total of 4 inches of fat, mostly around her belly button and 2 inches below her belly button!!!!  Woo-hoo!  She met with me consistently twice a week for 6 weeks.

Her body is not only tighter but she is also moving better.  Even though she is on her feet all day at work, she reports less pain and her customers are starting to comment on how much younger she looks and asking how much weight she's lost.

Client #2 is an 82-year old gentleman who was 'sedentary' for about a year and hates getting old!  He is a former athlete and has always been "on top of his game" however persons in their 80s lose muscle mass much quicker than younger peers.  Even though he only came to see me once a week, he lost 3% body fat and reports that he "sees muscle definition again" in his thighs (our fall prevention muscles).  He did 2 more chair stands in 30 seconds and gained 1 inch in lower body flexibility.   Way to go, Bob!!!

I hope that you truly understand that it's never too late to improve your fitness; strength, balance, flexibility and endurance, not to mention your posture!  The first, and most important, step is to learn what you need to do and then get active.

If you're in the Sacramento region, I invite you to attend one of my Fall Prevention 101 workshops or enroll in one of my FallProof™ balance and mobility training sessions.  I offer them monthly at FIT4U in Carmichael, CA.  Visit my website: www.thefallpreventionlady.com for schedules.
If you prefer 1:1 training, come see me at 24 Hour in Gold River.

If you're not close to me, be patient!  I am developing an internet-based program that you will be able to follow in the comforts of your home so you can stay at home!!!

Palos Verdes Seniors and balance training

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

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

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

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

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

Fall Prevention 101 workshop @Fremont Presbyterian church

Today I will be giving a free Fall Prevention 101 workshop at Fremont Presbyterian Church.  Attendees will learn about what causes falls and how to progressively challenge the body's balance systems.   They will also receive a discount to purchase my new book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention.

This is an introduction to the balance training classes I teach in the community.  I will be offering a 4-week session at Fremont in August.  For more information about other locations in the Sacramento area, please visit my website, http://thefallpreventionlady.com.  OR click this link HERE.http://thefallpreventionlady.com/local-class-and-workshop-schedule

Increased awareness is the first step to preventing falls.
Take Responsibility for your wellness.

The Fall Prevention Lady

2-week balance training refresher course

Balance training takes practice but sometimes life gets in the way and we get busy.  If you don't practice strengthening, stretching and balance exercises regularly, your endurance levels will drop, your strength will diminish and your muscles will get tight.  All this affects your risk of a fall.

I just finished both beginner and intermediate level balance and mobility training sessions at Parkside Community Church and one of my most loyal members is going to France with her granddaughter at the end of June.  She knows that she needs to keep practicing if she wants to enjoy her vacation but she also knows that she won't do the exercises at home.

For this reason, I decided to offer a "2-week refresher course" for any and all participants who have completed my beginner level training.  If you have attended one of my classes, please drop by and refresh your balance skills, connect with old friends and see your favorite instructor!

When:  Tuesday and Thursdays, 1:30-2:30pm
             June 5, 7, 12, 14
Where:  Parkside Community Church
             5700 S. Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA  95822
Cost:  $8 per class.  You don't have to attend all of the classes.

Make balance training part of your daily routine.  Stop in for a refresher course!  Let's get Joyce to France!

Class member practices balance training principle to avoid a fall

I just finished my first FallProof™ balance and mobility training session at Eskaton's Senior Connection in Fair Oaks, CA. The class was small but this fostered an intimate setting for participants. The ages ranged from 73 to 90 years of age and abilities were just as varied. Regardless of physical capability, everyone in the class improved on the three dimensions of senior fitness associated with fall risk in the 4-week training period.

One 85 year-old lady increased her dynamic balance and agility score by 3 seconds! Translated into understandable terms, she was able to get out the chair and walk around a cone quicker, more balanced and with more confidence that she could 4-weeks ago. Balance and agility require specific training to improve.

Another skill needed to prevent falls in everyday life is the ability to react to unexpected pushes, like when someone or something bumps into you. Case in point; on the last day of class, the lady mentioned above came in, sat down and told me she probably wouldn't be doing much in class because she got bumped into unexpectedly and her hip was hurting. I asked what happened and she told me that she was at the store and a hurried man accidentally bumped into her (with hard force). She said that SHE DID NOT FALL but her hip was sore.

I asked her to think about what she just said. She had prevented a fall by applying the training skills we had covered the second week of class. She smiled and said, "yeah, I did prevent a fall, didn't I?". YAY!

Strength, flexibility, endurance and balance training. Four important components of a fall prevention program. Join me at home in strengthening and stretching exercises with my Take 5 to Exercise DVD series or if you're in Sacramento, join me in one of my community-based balance and mobility training programs. YOU CAN DO IT.

The Fall Prevention Lady