Aging Well September 23rd 2014

If you see a couple walking along Cherry Heights by the Center with ski poles in their hands, they are not delusional lost cross country skiers searching for snow.

They are Pat and Barbara Stone who have discovered a new form of exercising called Pole Walking or Nordic Walking. Walking with ski poles started in Finland in the early 1900’s, but saw a surge in popularity in the early 1990s as elite cross-country skiers used the technique to train during the summer months. From Finland, it moved across Europe where now more than 20 per cent of Finns and about 10-15 million Germans regularly pole walk. And it is now becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. among all ages, particularly older adults.

The appeal is that by adding the poles, walking becomes a full body exercise - working more muscles and burning more calories. It is low impact, decreasing the stress on your hips and knees, and increases your heart rate compared to walking without poles. Using the poles also provides additional stability to reduce the risk of falling. But as with any exercise, to get the most benefit you should use proper equipment and technique. If you are interested, you can find more information online at Nordic Walking Online - www.nordicwalkingonline.com

It is never too late to find an activity you can enjoy with others or by yourself that gets you up and out of your chair.  As with Pat and Barbara it may be pole walking, or you may find water aerobics, chair yoga or social dancing more to your liking. As Doctor Mike Evans points out, you can do anything you want for 23 ½ hours each day – but for 30 minutes you should find some way to be active.

It’s difficult to predict when the flu season will begin, but normally it starts in October and peaks between December and February. So it’s not too early to get your flu shot. Flu shots will be available Saturday at the MCMC Health and Fitness Fair at Water’s Edge between 10:00 and 2:00 PM. And the Center will be scheduling Flu Shots in early October.

And there are additional steps you can take, recommended by the North Central Public Health District, to reduce the risks of catching the flu and other respiratory illnesses.

Wash hands often with soap and warm water for a full 20 seconds - for many viruses, alcohol hand sanitizer is not a replacement for washing with soap and water. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or your sleeve if tissue is not available. Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are coughing and sneezing (otherwise you can kiss and hug as often as you want!). Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs. And if you are sick, stay home as much as possible to avoid exposing others.

The topic for the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on the 30^th, is how aging is perceived in our modern culture and how those perceptions affect us as older adults. Everyone is welcome to participate in the discussion.

For the Center’s Tuesday Night Music on the 30^th, The Dufur Boys will be closing out the month of September. And looking into the crystal ball, I can see Andre, K.C. and Tom performing on October 7th. Music starts at 7:00, over by 9:00 PM, all ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

The comedian who hosted a television variety show and was known for several expressions including “How sweet it is” and "And awaaay we go!" was Jackie Gleason. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Sandy Haechrel.) 

For this week’s “Remember When” question, what singing duo was known for their tight harmonies, was encouraged by family friend Chet Atkins and recorded in 1957 a #1 hit single that included the lyrics “Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?/ What are we gonna tell your pa?/ What are we gonna tell our friends/ When they say ‘Ooh la la’”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a tape of "Little Donnie" and "Baby Boy Phi" on KMA radio.

Well, it’s been another week trying to keep a lid on the kettle. Until we meet again, don’t worry about repeating yourself - most of us won’t remember any way.

“I have a two-story house and a bad memory, so I'm up and down those stairs all the time. That's my exercise.” Betty White