Saturday, February 14, 2009

SENIOR FITNESS IN DARK

Hello and welcome everyone! Happy Valentine's day! I was thinking that there ought to be a
" Fitness Day. " A National Holiday! How about it?! We have just about every other holiday now.
Celebrate Fitness! I am trying to bring this about by writing to several in D. C.
Well, I am delighted we are together once again. Many of you are already aware that I conduct
"balance" exercises....for the most part for seniors and mostly to senior women. Well, they get it.
I have designed various "drills" to regain functional balance. Exercises include foot work,
ladder work, skips, hops, plyometrics, isometrics and martial arts. Each week I present a class
challenge. The challenge came about, when after several classe participants got a little cocky. So, I designed a program (Foot work) by having them close their eyes when doing the
exercises. Standing with both feet on the floor, then on their toes and count to ten. No one could do it. Then stand on one foot and go up on your toes and count to ten. No one could do it.
The classes found out that it is difficult to stand in the dark. Another lesson...even though
we may have balance and eyesight, we depend upon fixed objects in "normal life" to be functional. We practice the "eyes closed" drill for ten minutes each class now. Guess what?
They can now do the drills, though not perfect. Everyone has much better balance and confidence. Great job class! Sometimes, in order to see the light, we have to visit the dark.

Have a great and meaningful life everyone! Jimmy O
Reference: http://www.secondwindfitnessfilm.com/
Email: sprint444@hotmail.com

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