Sit-to-Stand YouTube demo

What incredible weather in Sarasota! We all have spring fever. I have never seen so many people pruning and planting. Now we all need to do a rain dance.....

I have been in contact with Julie Pascoe, a personal trainer from West Virginia, who ordered all three of my DVDs. She has a particular passion for teaching older folks how to safely get out of a chair. I happen to share this passion so we have had fun emailing back and forth. Julie has posted an excellent demo on YouTube YouTube, standing from a chair

ASFA award

My certification as a Senior Personal Trainer comes from the American Senior Fitness Association. They recently won a fine award for the work they do. Here is the write-up:

SFA Wins "Best Practice Award"
The American Senior Fitness Association (SFA) has been chosen for the 2009 National Council on Aging Health Promotion Institute's Best Practice Award. SFA earned the award based on its professional education programs, which provide training for older adult physical activity instructors and personal trainers.The National Council on Aging describes the award program as follows: "This award is given in recognition of a program that not only meets its goal of promoting good health, but also demonstrates a creative response to the barriers and issues that confront all health promotion programs." In determining Best Practice Award recipients, the judges consider innovative retention of older adult fitness participants, evidence-based evaluation of program effectiveness, funding and marketing procedures, and the use of volunteer personnel.

Since 2005, three to four community-based fitness programs have received the Best Practice Award annually. However, SFA was selected for its educational training of older adult fitness professionals on an international scale. The association provides distance-learning courses in senior group-exercise instruction, personal fitness training, and long-term care physical activity management.SFA officials will accept the award in Las Vegas on March 17, 2009, at the National Council on Aging and American Society on Aging's annual conference. "We are deeply honored to receive this tremendous distinction," SFA president Janie Clark said.

The American Senior Fitness Association has conducted older adult fitness professional training since 1992. It has been a leader in developing international curriculum guidelines for senior fitness professionals and in establishing senior-specific fitness testing protocols and norms. It has contributed to numerous academic textbooks, scientific articles, and mainstream publications and productions on older adult health and fitness topics.SFA recently launched a new educational program, Brain Fitness for Older Adults, which teaches senior exercise professionals how to incorporate cognitive fitness into their physical activity programs. For more information about SFA professional education programs, click on www.seniorfitness.org.

Working with Elderhostel

Elderhostel has given me the opportunity to reach hundreds of active seniors from across the United States. What a perfect fit for the work I do. I am currently putting together a curriculum for a complete Elderhostel week called "Let's Move! An Active Learning Experience". Outdoor activities in Sarasota County will compliment participation in several different types of exercise classes of interest to seniors. A progressive immersion into Movements for Balance & Strength is the foundation of the course. I think seniors from across the US would be interested in having an active Sarasota vacation.

My involvment in the Pinellas Fall Prevention Coalition training program is coming to an end. Participants have already begun to take the skills they learned in the train-the-trainer program I led to community members in need of falls prevention information and exercise. My experience with this Pinellas group has been incredibly gratifying for me. I thank the Coalition for their vision in which they saw what a difference a concentrated community-wide project can make to seniors. Kudos!

Train-the-Trainer in Pinellas

Whew! I have been traveling to locations in Pinellas County two days a week to teach techniques to staff and volunteers that will help seniors stay on their feet. They are learning to lead Movements for Balance & Strength exercise classes and Do You Know Where Your Feet Are? education workshops. It is an exciting experience to give people actual skills that can reduce the risk of falling. Most prevention efforts are mostly talk. While talk can raise awareness and motivate folks to act, by itself it does not reduce the fall risk. Participants have been warm, welcoming and appreciative for the information. So far I have trained people in Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, and Largo. This week I am going to south St. Pete and back to Largo. The Fall Prevention Coalition in Pinellas County received a grant from the state Emergency Medical Services to provide this training that extends through February.

In Style

2008 has found me grappling with end-of-life issues with four relatives and in-laws. Although we all knew this time would come, it is still hard to face. In addition, I have found myself in the midst of lots of organizing and re-organizing in the last few months---hence, my blog has suffered from lack of attention.

An announcement of Balance Basics as "new in town" appeared in Style Magazine, published with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, today. Check out top of p.20 in "Contents": http://adserver1.harvestadsdepot.com/sarasotaht/ss/style/

About a month ago, I was thrilled to hear that the Pinellas Fall Prevention Coalition received a state grant for a one-year countywide falls prevention initiative. The grant is centered around Train-the-Trainer sessions I will provide to exercise and education leaders throughout Pinellas County. The Coalition is hard at work announcing the grant and identifying prospective leaders. Train-the-Trainer starts in September. It is such a challenge and privilege to be working with this project that has the potential of reaching tens of thousands of seniors.

Late last week, I was in touch with the American Senior Fitness Association whom I am certified as a personal trainer. They reviewed my Movements for Balance & Strength videos and, knowing the scarcity of senior balance videos, were pleased to see the high quality of the videos (thank you to Damen at evolvmedia). They are opening a retail web sales outlet and will be selling the Movements for Balance & Strength series at http://www.maturefitness.com/

Until next time.....

First week of Balance Basics

I thought writing a blog would be the easiest part of my website.....I am finding that not to be the case, but I will continue to try and keep you informed. I am hard at work trying to get the word out that I am available to help seniors who are in need of balance tips. I am currently focusing my attention in two areas: working with web stores who have expressed an interest in carrying my Movements for Balance and Strength DVDs, and attending local meetings of groups whose concerns about seniors and falls prevention are similar to those of Balance Basics. Until next time...I wish you the best of luck keeping on your feet.

Welcome to Balance Basics

Welcome to Balance Basics! It has taken immense effort to bring this new business to you. I have had support and suggestions from both professionals and personal friends and would not be able to offer balance products and services without their help…..thanks.

It is my intention to use this blog to keep you up-to-date on what is happening through Balance Basics and to offer helpful tips that will help keep you on your feet. The first outing for Balance Basics will be on Sunday, March 9, at the First Congregational UCC Health Fair, 1031 Euclid Ave, Sarasota, from 10am-1pm. I will have brochures and will be selling Movements for Balance & Strength DVDs/VHS Videotapes. You are certainly welcome.