Fitness Center Adds Beginner Tai Chi

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin

Seabury is excited to bring another great group exercise class to our schedule. Beginning the first week of March, Seabury is offering residents an 8 week exercise class in the ancient Chinese exercise of Tai Chi.  These Chinese exercises are proven to strengthen the immune and nervous systems, reduce stress, and improve balance and coordination.  Gentle stretching, breathing, and fluid movements release tension, make the body limber, and promote an overall sense of health and well-being. 

Studies have shown that individuals who practice Tai Chi have a 47% decrease in falls and 25% the hip fracture rate of those who do not, and that Tai Chi can be beneficial for retarding bone loss in weight-bearing postmenopausal women.

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What Yoga Has Done For Me …

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

I have worked as a fitness professional for the past 30 years. During that time I have taught a variety of classes from Kick box to Step, run road races, and completed a triathlon. I took yoga classes over the years and became certified to teach it, but never really appreciated the benefits of yoga until I was in my 50’s.  I remember the day I called my friend Sheila, owner of the studio where I now practice, to discuss my situation. I have osteoarthritis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis and more parts of my body hurt than didn’t. I knew I had to change what I was doing and wanted her advice. She listened patiently and then told me I needed to try Gentle Yoga. She had told me the same thing for years.

Instead of ignoring her advice this time I tried the gentle class. It was a transformational time for me. I came out feeling better than when I went in. I was hooked! Over time I learned to properly breathe, I learned to quiet my unbelievably chatty mind, I learned not to compete with myself or others in practice, I learned to listen to my body, my pain diminished and I felt better than I had in years. At 50 years old I was now ready to accept the benefits of yoga. I have been practicing yoga 3 times a week every week since.

On Monday Wednesday and Friday mornings I now teach Yoga here at Seabury. I am trying to share what I have learned about the benefits of yoga to the people I practice with here. I have seen their strength grow, their balance improve, and some have told me they feel less pain after they practice. I am truly convinced that yoga can transform one’s life. I know it transformed mine.

Cindy Senk

Fitness & Wellness Supervisor

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Exercise for Longevity

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

By Brian Harris

Seabury Fitness & Wellness Coordinator

As we age there are many natural physiological changes that take place within our bodies that we don’t even realize are happening.

As we get older:

  • Our Maximum Heart Rate decreases about 1 beat per minute each year after the age of 25:
  • The volume of blood that our hearts can pump decreases:
  • Our blood vessels can stiffen and our blood can become thick and sticky:
  • We tend to lose a significant amount of muscle mass and start gaining weight (fat mass) around the age of 40:
  • Our bones can become less dense and more susceptible to fracture:
  • Our nervous system changes, causing our reflexes to slow and causing us to become less coordinated:

Exercising is the best way we know of to combat the natural processes of aging. Exercise is shown to improve the function of our pulse rates, blood pressure and the overall heart-pumping capacity in general.

The best type of exercise to engage in is Aerobic Endurance Activity. This type of activity;

  • Works the large muscle groups:
  • Elevates our heart rates in a rhythmic pattern for a sustained period of time:
  • Works and strengthens our heart muscle while keeping our arteries pliable and strong:

Endurance training is also shown to;

  • Lower cholesterol:
  • Reduce body fat:
  • Boost mood and improve sleep:

All of which decline in inactive older adults, so get out there and get moving!

Click the following link to read a shining example of Exercising for Longevity:

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Seabury Sponsors 2nd Annual ‘Batter Up’ Baking Contest

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

An excellent turnout of seniors attended the Second Annual ‘Batter Up Baking Contest on Wednesday, January 25th, with more than twenty Windsor seniors baking their favorite sweet treat. Held at the Windsor Senior Center, the contest was open to Windsor Residents, age 55 and up. Seabury, a premier life care community located nearby in Bloomfield, was proud to sponsor the event for the second year in a row.

Rick Liegl, the Senior Services Coordinator of Windsor, decided to start the contest two years ago after having success with a tomato growing contest.

“It’s a feel good event for the whole community – these are the greatest bakers, as they’ve been baking for so many years,” he states of those who entered the contest. “Seabury is a great partner and people recognize the Seabury name and its involvement in this contest.”

Judging the contest were members of Seabury’s fine culinary staff, including Executive Chefs Ken Cassella and Remo Santilli and Pastry Chef Corinne Robar – herself, a first prize winner of the Perfect Pie Contest at the Big E in Springfield, Mass. Seabury gave everyone who entered the contest a certificate of recognition and awarded prizes for the three categories as listed below.

More photos, including prize winners, can be seen via Seabury’s Flickr page.

Event Grand Prize Winner – Lois Chapman, Lemon Filled Cupcakes

Cup Cake Category

1st Prize – Margaret Papelian, Zucchini Oatmeal Muffin

2nd Prize – Claudia Brown, Rock Bottom Double Chocolate Cupcake

Cookie Category

1st Prize – Carolyn Lambert, Chinese Chews

2nd Prize – Paulette Riccio, Biscotti

Pie Category

1st Prize – Jane Urbane, Key Lime Pie

2nd Prize – Pauline Martin, Magic Apple Pie

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Finding the Fountain Of Youth

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

There is a fountain of youth. Millions have discovered it – the secret to feeling better and living longer. It’s called staying active. Finding a program that works for you and sticking with it can pay big dividends. 

Regular exercise can prevent or delay diabetes and heart trouble. It can also reduce arthritis pain, anxiety and depression. It can help older people stay independent.

There are four main types of exercise and seniors need some of each:

Endurance activities – like walking, swimming, or riding a bike – which build “staying power” and improve the health of the heart and circulatory system (5 days per week for 30 minute, ACSM Guidelines)

Strengthening exercises which build muscle tissue and reduce age-related muscle loss (2 non-consecutive days per week, all major muscle groups, 8-10 exercises, 10-15 repetitions, ACSM Guidelines)

Stretching exercises to keep the body limber and flexible (2 days per week minimal; ideally 5-7 days per week, all muscle groups, hold stretch for 10-60 seconds, ACSM Guidelines)

Balance exercises to reduce the chances of a fall (2-3 days per week, ACSM Guidelines)

 By Matt McGowan

Fitness and Wellness Specialist

 

American College Of Sports Medicine Guidelines in parenthesis

NIH: National Institute on Aging

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The Cosmic Dance

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

Seabury will present The Cosmic Dance BIG Poster, in Heritage Hall. The event will feature Seabury’s own Heather Stanton, Director of Resident Services, as the Cosmic Dancer, music by Rick Stanton, Seabury resident Dick Watson as the narrator, artwork by Seabury resident Marye Gail Harrison and images by Seabury Environmental Services Assistant Carl Donatelli. The program will introduce residents to The Earth Charter. It’s another wonderful example of the fine active and artistic endeavors that our residents and staff take part in together at Seabury.

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Start The New Year With A Healthy & Effective Fitness Program

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

It’s the start of a new year and the time when many people resolve to start exercising regularly. But there may be many questions, such as from what to do, to how often, to how to avoid injury.

The following 5 tips may help a person learn how to start a safe and effective fitness program…

  1. Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program. You may need a complete physical or just need advice on how particular medical issues you may have may affect your exercise plans.
  2. Work with trained and certified fitness professionals to ensure you are getting the proper guidance and support. If you have a particular medical condition, make sure the trainer has experience working with that issue. Be a good consumer; check the certification(s) the trainer has and ask questions. Never do any exercise that causes pain. You are responsible for your own health and well being.
  3. Start slow and gradually increase intensity. Remember it is better to do too little than to do too much. If you work with a trainer, remember it is you who decides how much you will do. The trainer will guide you, but you have the final say.
  4. A great place to start is with a walking program. Walking is functional and most everyone can do it. Purchase a simple pedometer and track the number of steps you take daily. 10,000 steps days is a recommended goal, but start slow and gradually increase the amount of steps per day as you feel stronger.
  5. In addition to walking, include strength and flexibility exercises into your routine. Once again, a certified trainer can help guide you in the right direction.

It is great that you are thinking of exercising to improve your health & wellness. Follow the guidelines above, use your intuition to determine how you feel, and never exercise to the point of pain. The staff of the Seabury Fitness and Wellness Center is ready to assist you in your fitness and wellness goals and towards having a healthy 2012!

By Cindy Senk

Seabury Fitness & Wellness Supervisor

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Clips from The ICAA Go! Green: Presentation

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

Seabury staff members and residents chat enthusiastically about the Go! Green: program, Seabury’s trails and staying active and fit. 

http://youtu.be/wmIiKR9-1h0

http://youtu.be/ZWKlCVQUQis

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10 Tips to Become or Remain Healthy in 2012

Posted on December 27, 2011 by admin

ICAA Offers Older Adults 10 Tips to Become or Remain Healthy in 2012.

Governments, communities, businesses, families and individuals can use tips to encourage older adults to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

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Alturas Duo perform in Heritage Hall at Seabury

Posted on November 25, 2011 by admin

On Thursday, November 17, the chamber musical act known as The Alturas Duo, returned to Heritage Hall at Seabury for another well attended performance. Carlos Boltes and Scott Hill have been performing together since 2002. Both are currently members of the Hartt School Community Division of the University of Hartford, where they first met and began performing together.

At Heritage Hall, the duo dexterously moved through arrangements of baroque, South American Folk and classical instrumental music, often switching instruments. Boltes played the viola as well as the charango, a small, South American stringed instrument similar to a guitar, with a higher pitched acoustic tone, while Hill mostly played the acoustic guitar. The set list included a lovely 4 piece suite influenced by a South American desert where, according to Boltes, it never rains. While each piece was different in tone and pace, they flowed effortlessly from one to another without pause, yet enough of a mark to tell where one piece ended and another began. “The Places We’ve Left Behind” was an exquisite guitar and viola piece that was written by another colleague for the duo especially; “free art” is how Hill described the song, and what’s not to like about that. Boltes’ viola sounded like a solemn yet lovely voice. The final song, (see the video linked) “Nubes Pasajeras” – translated to “Passing Clouds” – was another they “…learned by ear,” rather than by reading sheet music; it began slow and quiet and then built to a steady, rolling tone that imagined raging storm clouds.

The Alturas Duo performance at Heritage Hall was well attended and drew a rousing ovation at its conclusion.

\”Nubes Pasajeras\”

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