Today started a new balance and mobility training session for the Fall Prevention Lady at Parkside Community Church. This class meets Monday and Friday mornings from 9:30-10:30AM. Since I provide small group training, the class is small and for the first time in 6 years of teaching fall prevention classes, there were more men than women!
It's so exciting to see that more men are starting to realize that they HAVE to get active if they want to stay active!. As we introduced ourselves and our expectations of the class, one statement made my day. When asked why he was taking the class, the response was, "I fell the other day and landed on my knee and my face (he had the bruises to show it). I realized then that I have to start exercising if I want to prevent another fall."
I teared up with joy when I heard that! Why? As the Fall Prevention Lady, I have been studying, developing and practicing exercises that help prevent falls since 2006. I eat, breathe and sleep fall prevention! In fact, it has been demonstrated that exercise is the #1 way to prevent falls. Participating in a strengthening, flexibility, balance and endurance training program is the best way to remain independent.
Now you understand why I was overjoyed to hear that this 83 year-old gentleman made the connection: EXERCISE PREVENTS FALLS.
Hallejuah!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
What can I teach you about fall prevention?
I started my next balance training session at Fremont Presbyterian Church last week and there was a 93-year old woman who looked at me and said, "I don't think there's anything you can teach me about fall prevention that I don't already know"....
Ok, I love this woman already! I started talking with her and immediately went into 'balance and mobility specialist/personal fitness trainer' mode as I assessed her posture. I offered a few tips and within 3 minutes, she was sitting taller with a smile on her face. She continued to listen to me as I explained the different types of exercise she needed to do to prevent a fall.
I assessed her in three areas of fitness associated with fall risk. After her daughter completed the health history questionnaire for her mother, I assessed the daughter. Both found the tests interesting and eye-opening. The mother cannot wait to start class on Tuesday and the daughter is considering joining. Regardless of your age, you can benefit from my balance training program.
As they were leaving the mother said to me, "I was wrong, there's so much I'm going to learn about fall prevention from you. THANK YOU". No, thank you.
Praise God.
Ok, I love this woman already! I started talking with her and immediately went into 'balance and mobility specialist/personal fitness trainer' mode as I assessed her posture. I offered a few tips and within 3 minutes, she was sitting taller with a smile on her face. She continued to listen to me as I explained the different types of exercise she needed to do to prevent a fall.
I assessed her in three areas of fitness associated with fall risk. After her daughter completed the health history questionnaire for her mother, I assessed the daughter. Both found the tests interesting and eye-opening. The mother cannot wait to start class on Tuesday and the daughter is considering joining. Regardless of your age, you can benefit from my balance training program.
As they were leaving the mother said to me, "I was wrong, there's so much I'm going to learn about fall prevention from you. THANK YOU". No, thank you.
Praise God.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Balance assessments at Senior Health and Wellness Fairs
Out and about in the community, I (The Fall Prevention Lady) have been busy educating about falls and doing balance screenings at senior health fairs. I love interacting with older adults about fall prevention. One lady at Eskaton's Senior Wellness Fair on Wednesday said that "talking with you was the best 5 minutes of my life".
I don't need to tell people how serious a fall can be but I do love increasing awareness of how to reduce the risk of an accidental fall. There are balance training techniques that can change your life instantly. Listen to what I'm saying...I tell you in an easy to understand language and demonstrate easy to do exercises. It's like the "EASY" button I have, "That was easy!!!"
I am getting ready to release a product that every person over the age of 65 should have in order to remain independent. In the meantime, I am getting ready to do some balance assessments, increase awareness of my fall prevention exercise classes and promoting my new product at the Fremont Presbyterian Church's senior health fair.
Praise the Lord. Have a blessed day.
I don't need to tell people how serious a fall can be but I do love increasing awareness of how to reduce the risk of an accidental fall. There are balance training techniques that can change your life instantly. Listen to what I'm saying...I tell you in an easy to understand language and demonstrate easy to do exercises. It's like the "EASY" button I have, "That was easy!!!"
I am getting ready to release a product that every person over the age of 65 should have in order to remain independent. In the meantime, I am getting ready to do some balance assessments, increase awareness of my fall prevention exercise classes and promoting my new product at the Fremont Presbyterian Church's senior health fair.
Praise the Lord. Have a blessed day.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Stretch what you strengthen
In order to remain balanced, a person needs to follow a balanced fall prevention exercise program. That includes:
- Strengthening activities
- Flexibility exercises
- Balance training
- Endurance activities
I had a 90 year-old participant in my 6-week community-based balance and mobility training class and she increased both her lower body strength and her dynamic balance and agility skills. Unfortunately she did not improve her lower body flexibility but that was because she didn't do the Basic 5 stretches.
Like most older adults, she is concerned about the ability to get out of the chair and her balance. Thus, she practiced her chair stands but didn't do her hamstring stretches! Remember...you have to stretch what you strengthen and strengthen what you stretch!
The Fall Prevention Lady
Monday, March 12, 2012
Another "ahaaa" moment in fall prevention class
As you know, I teach fall prevention exercise classes throughout the Sacramento region. I am currently teaching a balance and mobility training session at Carmichael Presbyterian Church in Carmichael and this small group is thriving! In fact, they are enjoying the training so much that they want to extend the session from the original 4-week session to the 6-week training package.
In today's class, one lady shared two revelations or "A-HAAAAAAA" moments that she had over the weekend. In other words, the light bulb went off and she suddenly understood, very clearly, two concepts that I have been teaching since the first day of class. These moments occur when a person applies the training principles in everyday life. When she/he is practicing what is taught in class.
Her realization was how important it is to pay attention to where she is looking while standing or walking. A person tends to fall in the direction that she is looking so if you are looking down at the ground, your chances of falling down if something unexpected happens (bumped, stumble, trip) are pretty good.
She went on to tell us that she observed people at the park and EVERY SINGLE PERSON was looking at the ground while walking. She noticed people's forward-rounded postures, chins pointing to the ground (or cell phone) and eyes focused on the ground. I'm not saying to ignore the surface you're walking on but there is a research-based training principle that can help you reduce the risk of a fall simply by changing where you're looking.
Postural awareness is a vital component of my balance training and so is multi-sensory training. We are a vision-dependent society when it comes to balance so I strongly recommend you get into a training program that challenges your vision, vestibular and somatosensory systems, if possible. If not, stay tuned...I am creating a new fall prevention product that will benefit everyone!
Her other A-HAAAA moment? Stay tuned. I will discuss that next time.
In today's class, one lady shared two revelations or "A-HAAAAAAA" moments that she had over the weekend. In other words, the light bulb went off and she suddenly understood, very clearly, two concepts that I have been teaching since the first day of class. These moments occur when a person applies the training principles in everyday life. When she/he is practicing what is taught in class.
Her realization was how important it is to pay attention to where she is looking while standing or walking. A person tends to fall in the direction that she is looking so if you are looking down at the ground, your chances of falling down if something unexpected happens (bumped, stumble, trip) are pretty good.
She went on to tell us that she observed people at the park and EVERY SINGLE PERSON was looking at the ground while walking. She noticed people's forward-rounded postures, chins pointing to the ground (or cell phone) and eyes focused on the ground. I'm not saying to ignore the surface you're walking on but there is a research-based training principle that can help you reduce the risk of a fall simply by changing where you're looking.
Postural awareness is a vital component of my balance training and so is multi-sensory training. We are a vision-dependent society when it comes to balance so I strongly recommend you get into a training program that challenges your vision, vestibular and somatosensory systems, if possible. If not, stay tuned...I am creating a new fall prevention product that will benefit everyone!
Her other A-HAAAA moment? Stay tuned. I will discuss that next time.
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