I don’t know about you, but I’ve lost many friends, neighbors, and even my own dear mother because of a serious fall. According to the CDC, every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the US—making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group. That’s the bad news. So, what’s the good news? Learning and living with these facts has birthed a burning desire in me to create a program to keep us thriving, as well as surviving! More about this later-
So, how is YOUR balance?
Do you ever feel a bit unsteady or even clumsy? Do you bump into furniture, or have you stubbed your toe on more than one doorframe in the same day? Balance disorders include a wide range of problems from lightheadedness to feeling like you’re trying to hold a tree pose in a boat during hurricane Katrina!
The inner ear is the headquarters for your body’s balance or Vestibular system.
Vestibular issues might show up as:
- Lightheadedness
- Coordination problems
- Struggling to walk in the dark
- Veering left or right when walking
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Stumbling or feeling unstable
- Sensitivity or difficulty with vision or hearing
A few Common causes for feeling off-balance include:
- Dehydration
- High or low blood pressure
- Medication side effects and possible interactions
- Viral infection (especially with sinus/inner ear swelling)
- Being tripped by your dog’s leash
- Cat or baby toys on the floor
Illness, injury, and lack of sleep can play havoc with proprioception (the sense of where our body parts are in space.) Proprioception enables us to walk and motor about automatically. Weakness in proprioception might show up as:
- Bruises or broken fingernails when we misjudge the distance or force necessary for task completion.
- The sensory system of touch and feeling in hands & feet weakens. Kinesiological (sensory motor sensitivity in our muscles and joints) input dulls.
Aging: while older and wiser, we become less steady as the inner ear balance declines along with the strength of our eyesight, hearing, and sense of touch, not to mention postural misalignment acquired over time through our habits, lifestyle, or conditions like osteoporosis, scoliosis, sarcopenia, depression and neurologic disorders.
FEAR: When we fear falling our risk of falling increases due to our autonomic (physical and mental) response. (remove)
So, what to do? Balance activities like yoga, Tai Chi, trail walking, and Mind-Body Exercises specifically designed to be balance-boosting! Ta Da! That’s why I’ve been creating my online course, “Building Better Balance”J You may doubt that a single person or course can make any difference when the statistics seem insurmountable, but for those who join me and commit to improving their balance, I know as Moshe Feldenkrais stated, “There is no limit to improvement through movement!” So, here’s the plan:
#1. Register for my FREE webinar, “How to Survive a Fall,” because despite knowing the many reasons why people fall, fate and gravity will likely try to take you down. Learning the steps to follow for the best outcome is critically important. This webinar, Sept. 8, will be recorded so register to attend or to receive the recording.
#2. Try to attend the live-streamed webinar 3-3:45 EST because you can participate in the Q&A. I will also enable closed captioning for those of us with hearing loss.
#3. Forward this newsletter to inform friends & family. Everyone is welcome to attend, but they need to register to receive the zoom meeting ID and Passcode.
#4. Whitelist or add this email address to your contacts so that you will receive our emailed zoom invitation and the follow-up email (with a PDF of the safety steps to follow)
#5. Enroll in the “Building Better Balance” 4-week course where I’ll present the information you need all in one place!
Week 1 – Risk assessment and environmental risk reduction
Week 2- The Anatomy of Balance will focus on balancing and strengthening our body systems and bones while becoming better friends with gravity
Week 3 – Playing with the Vestibular System focuses on challenging and strengthening our balance through creative, research-based movement
Week 4 – Functional Fitness and Survival Skills for Vibrant Living – Putting it into practice by adding smart moves into our routine
More details in the News & announcements, including the deep discount for Presale Registration for Building Better Balance!
The undeniable principle, “Use it or lose it,” is the main take away for this edition of our Groovy News! It’s never too late to slow or even pivot turn the downward progression of losing strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. I’ll be looking for your registration and welcoming you with my happy, happy dance! WE CAN DO THIS!
News & announcements:
Every Monday and Wednesday, Karen Johns is available between 10 am & 12 pm for energy healing. (Other times are also available) https://www.karen-johns.com/energy-renewal
Informational fliers for the “How to Survive a Fall” complimentary webinar are available for posting physically or digitally. Please help me to help others by placing these in your office, church, or synagogue, or sharing with your Facebook & social media friends. The digital flier is attached here*
Thursday, Sept 8th, 3-3:45PM EST – Complimentary Webinar, “How to Survive a Fall” live-streams via Zoom. REGISTER HERE:
Thursday, Sept. 8th, Presale begins for Building Better Balance! Use our presale code to save $100. It will be announced during the “How to Survive a Fall” Webinar and also posted in next month’s newsletter. *Attendees of last year’s course may re-enroll for $35. (The new and improved course recordings will replace the 2021 course.)
Tuesday, Sept 20, 12:45-2PM “How to Survive a Fall” presentation to UC OLLI.
Sept 22 Building Better Balance Presale ends (to save $100.)
Thursday, Sept. 29, 9AM-2:45PM Score’s “Confluence” conference for women. Sharon will present, “You Are Your #1 Resource.” All women in business are invited to attend. Registration link and info are listed below. https://greatercincinnati.score.org/event/confluence-2022
October 6, 13, 20, 27 Building Better Balance live-streams from 3PM – 4:15PM EST. This course will not be available again until June 2023. Registration opens Sept 8th.
Thank you for reading this L O N G newsletter and for sharing the important information about “How to Survive a Fall,” and the need for “Building Better Balance.” You likely remember the “Tale of the Starfish?”
IT ALL STARTED WHEN…
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference for that one!”
Care to join me in helping yourself and making a difference for others? Together we can help more people to thrive, not merely survive~
Namaste` Sharon
References I’d like to credit: health.clevelandclinic.org, “March 18, 2019/Ear, Nose & Throat”. Doug Keller, “Hamstrings and Postural Pain,” American Journal of Pain Management 1994.