I recently finished my first ever 4-week Brains and Balance Training in the beautiful gated-community of Whitney Oaks Springfield in the hills of Rocklin. This independent living community is paradise. Residents are active and many walk their dogs up and down steep hills and enjoy gorgeous views.
A small group between the ages of 76 and 86 invested their time and a minimal fee to participate in the 90-minute brain-based classes that met twice a week for four-weeks. I applaud these individuals for their interest in brain-based training for optimized movement in daily activity. Thanks for believing in the message I am sending: your brain can change and you can learn how to move better, balance better, and see better.
One of the most improved in the class was a 76-year old lady who not only excelled in the three Senior Fitness Tests but also gained balance confidence that has impacted her life in wonderful ways.
Physically, she stood up and sat down 3 more times in 30 seconds, putting her in the 95th percentile for ladies her age. Emotionally, she feels more secure and has increased confidence walking her dogs up and down the paths in her beautiful community.
She continues to be fascinated by the brain-based training and sensory activation techniques that caused her to balance, move and see better in four short weeks.
Neighbors in the Whitney Oaks community....don't miss out on the next Brains and Balance Training with Coach Kelly session! Introductory Brains and Balance seminar in late-January and classes begin in February. Check out my website for local schedule.
Listen to her personal testimony! Thank you Diane!
I recently finished a four-week Brains and Balance Training session at Fair Oaks United Methodist Church. This class was something special because there were three sisters, ages 74, 83, and 86 taking this balance journey together.
The youngest sister just finished the class and because it helped her so much, she wanted her older sisters, both of whom had suffered a bad fall, to reap the benefits of my four-week brains and balance training program.
As usual, I collect pre and post-senior fitness test scores to measure the efficacy of the intervention; in this case, 8 sessions of small group, brain-based balance and fitness training with assigned homework drills.
Each sister presented with unique challenges to their balance and stability but they all did very well in the class. There were some immediate improvements but the noticeable, "wow, you're moving so much better" changes started in the third week. Taller, level postures. Lengthened spines. Quicker reaction times. Big smiles.
Their nervous systems were integrating both sensory stimulation and motor activation better and the results were evident.
The post-assessment scores proved it! There were some amazing results and the sister with the most improved scores was the oldest!
Lower Body Flexibility:
The 86-year old sister improved her lower body flexibility by 8.5 inches! In FOUR-WEEKS! Day one, she was six and one-half inches away from her toes and the last day, she reached two and one-half inches past those same toes!!!
Not far behind, the 83-year old sister gained an 5.5 inches. The youngest has gained 8 inches but it has taken her a little longer (8-weeks) and there's nothing wrong with that!!!
Lower Body Strength:
Sit down and stand up as many times as you can in 30 seconds. The 86-year old sister did 3 more chair stands, the middle sister did 2 more and the youngest did more 4 more chair stands! She also made it the full 30 seconds without stopping. This was huge because she has COPD. The fact that she can exert high effort and not lose her breath is beyond FANTASTIC! Yay.
Dynamic Balance and Agility:
This tests how quickly they can get up from chair, walk around a cone that is eight-feet away, and return to seated position. This is huge due to the integration of sensory and motor systems for mobility. In the post-test, everyone walked with more stability, awareness, and confidence. The 86-year old was nearly 2.5 seconds faster! WOW!
Amazing results in a short period of time. And this wonderful sisterhood proves that you're never too old to improve strength, flexibility and balance.
Show your sister, or brother how much you care! If you're in the Sacramento region, attend one of my live brain-based balance and mobility classes or attend one of my ABCs of Balance workshops.
If you're not in the area, make sure you sign up for my online balance training course, Balance Training 101. Enrollment begins next week.
Brains and Balance Lady
Formerly known as The Fall Prevention Lady!
I recently completed two Brains and Balance Training sessions in local communities. As you know, I'm always commenting on how well the class does but this time, I decided to get personal testimonials from class participants so you can see directly how mature adults felt about the Brains and Balance Training.
After ten testimonials, I'm noticing some recurring benefits that class participants are sharing. After participating in my four-week balance training program that combines brain activation and balance skill, older adults walk more steady. Their walking gait is more confident and they are more aware of their surroundings and when they need to react.
Isn't that the number one purpose of balance training?
To feel more steady on your feet?
To be aware of your body in space?
To know when and how to react in the case of imbalance???
My Brains and Balance Training class teaches mature adults of all ages and ability levels how to walk steady and know when and how to react.
Walking is one of the first skills we learn as infants and one of the first skills we take for granted as adults. Opposite arm, opposite leg is now replaced with a cane or using a walker.
Walking is a window to brain function because it is a reflexive activity; an automatic process that we don't have to think about. Unfortunately, years of prolonged sitting, untreated injuries and movement compensation result in unstable, unsteady walking gaits.
The fear of falling worsens the walking gait because your brain triggers protective behaviors such as short steps, hunched forward posture and shuffling feet.
It doesn't have to be this way!!!! You can learn how to walk strong and confident again. You're too young to sit back and let life happen to you; make life happen for you. One step at a time.
Register now for my 2019 Brains and Balance Training classes: Local Schedule
Enroll in my online Balance Training 101 course: Balance Training 101
In a recent four-week Brains and Balance Training session at the Fair Oaks United Methodist church, the youngest person in the class was 68 years old. Sally came to class because she knew her legs were weak, she tripped over her own toes all the time and she felt unsteady on her feet.
This tall burst of energy was scared of falling and knew that if she didn't do something now to fix the problem that she would end up falling and who knows how that would turn out.
That's when her friend told her about my Brains and Balance Training classes. After attending my introductory seminar, she immediately signed up for the 4-week training session.
Sally was fascinated with the brain-based drills and she saw huge improvements during class. Her eyes would open wide and she would laugh as she reached further toward her toes than she had ever had in her lifetime.
She missed two classes but that didn't matter; this lady did her homework drills as recommended and her results were amazing! In three short weeks, she:
Strengthened her legs
Increased he lower body flexibility
These improvements are huge in the fall prevention world because your legs are your 'fall prevention' muscles and they need to be strong to react and supple enough to be precise. How you move is important and can greatly affect fall risk.
This nearly 70-year old student learned how to get up and in doing so she no longer needs her hands to get up from the chair! Woo-hoo!!!! This is a personal success for many women because no one likes needing help to stand up. Trying and failing to stand up over and over again gets old and the unpredictability of lower body weakness takes a toll on your confidence.
So after three weeks of brain-based balance training, this lady was able to stand up and sit down without using her hands and on top of that, she could do three more chair stands!
Not only did her legs get stronger but she also increased her lower body flexibility. On the first day, she was one inch away from touching her toes. Three weeks later, she reached one and one-half inches past her toes! Woo-hoo!
Greater lower body flexibility means less likely to drag your toes when you walk, causing unnecessary trips and slips. This was one of her main concerns on the first day of class.
Congratulations for your hard work, Sally, it paid off. When you train the senses of balance, your brain smiles. Learn how to activate half of your brain through brain-based balance training with me, The Brains and Balance Lady!
Thanks to PANC (Parkinson's Association of Northern California), I had the amazing opportunity to learn from the best of the best; Kaiser Permanente movement disorder neurologists who specialize in Parkinsons Disease.
Neurophysical therapists and vestibular specialist Erin from Kaiser put on an amazingly functional neurology based-training program for health and fitness professionals who work with people living with Parkinsons.
Fabulous presentation by Drs and PT from Kaiser. As a brain practitioner, I loved learning functional exercises that target both how to reduce the risk of "freezes" but also how to work through a freezing epsiode.
I learned that there are two major areas of focus when working with people living with Parkinson's. The first and foremost area of concern of their state of mind.
The second area of concern of people living with Parkinson's is motivation. The PTs and Doctors shared motivational strategies like the reminder that "if you don't do it, the disease wins. Get up, Do it. Be accountable. Be responsible. You're empowered.
Specialists Neuro-PT, Erin showed amazing agility ladder drills stacked with my favorite stroop effect drill! The tools they showed; amazing! All my clients will benefit from speed and agility training.
Stroop is amazing for pre-frontal lobe activation. Basal Ganglia, Substantia Niagra. Add metronome. Bam. It was so rewarding to see that the programs I wrote for my PD clients were right on time with neuro-specialist's suggested elements.
Amazing learning opportunity with awesome neuro-based exercises. Pay attention to the Specifics. Precise training gets precise results. There is hope. Train the input for better output.
