Where Mind and Body Meet for a Little Workout
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-04-09 15:25:00-04:00
Twice a week, 80-year-old Glenn Tucker climbs onto the bus that takes him to the program he refers to as "the answer to his prayers."
A Whole New You: Mind, Body and Soul," is the pilot program for what some hope will become a statewide initiative on senior fitness. The Young-At-Heart Senior Center developed the program using a grant from the Wyoming Senior Services Board. Classes are currently being held at the center in Rock Springs.
"It's not too hard," Tucker said. "You know, you don't do 20 pushups and 10 laps around the gym. It's geared for people our age."
Young-at-Heart Executive Director Jeanine Cox said most senior fitness programs just focus on physical exercise.
"(They) don't include the whole body," she said. "We wanted to do something that was for the mind, emotions, and dealing with problems in life."
She said the Mind, Body and Soul program focuses on prevention—heading off problems before they start.
"If we can get people moving and still enjoying exercise, they will do it more often," she said.
Tucker said vision problems make it difficult for him to do some things, but that he likes being part of a class and often watches the person next to him if he can't see the instructor.
"I'm at that age that I do need exercise and it's so much easier to say I'll do it tomorrow or next week," he said. "This way I kind of made a commitment."
Young-at-Heart Outreach Coordinator Pam Stanley said many seniors don't understand the importance of staying fit. But now that the program is up and running, she has heard some encouraging feedback about the benefits.
"A lot (of participants) talk about how they can now sleep through the night," she said. "They can just do more things. Their joints are not so tight."
At the end of May, senior center directors from all over the state will be trained in this program at no cost, thanks to a grant from the Wyoming Senior Services Board. The grant also allows seniors to enroll for free.
Cox said anyone could participate, no matter their mobility. The Mind, Body and Soul program has many facets, including a walking club, brain games, yoga and a healthy eating program.
"You need to be able to be all around healthy," Cox said. "With our stress levels that we have nowadays, (there are) seniors with multiple health problems."
She said that could lead to depression.
"They need the motivation to be able to participate," she said.
Lorna Lange, instructor of exercise science at Western Wyoming Community College, runs the yoga portion of the program. She said they started the sessions with about 15 participants. They are now up to 40 and counting.
Lange said besides the physical benefits of yoga, it gives the seniors a chance to socialize and make new friends.
"They have a combo of feeling better physically but also mentally," she said.
Lange said when she first started this program she had never worked with seniors. After a few classes and a few weeks of sessions she's hooked.
"I think as I see things that are working, it just makes me want to learn more to always be improving the sense of well being that I can help other people feel," she said. "After a couple of weeks I wouldn't give it up for the world."
Tucker said he feels the same way. "I just really enjoy it. The classes go by so fast."
Stretching the Brain
One part of the "Whole New You: Mind, Body and Soul" program is to exercise the brain as well as the body by using Brain Games.
Here are some sample questions:
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on top or bottom?
2. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
3. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
4. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have a letter on them?
5. On the U.S. flag is the top stripe red or white?
6. How many matches are in a standard pack?
7. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
Answers
1. Bottom
2. Right
3. Blue, red, white, yellow, black and gold
4. One (1) and zero (0)
5. Red
6. 20
7. Counter clockwise (If you are south of the equator, then it goes clockwise).
Other Resources
- Wyoming Senior Olympics
Get more information and register for the games at the official Web site of the Wyoming Senior Olympics.
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