LAST MEETING: Bridget Garner - Ageless, Active & Aware
Now we know why many residents of retirement homes often look so fit and healthy. Bridget Garner holds regular exercise sessions in certain local homes. A qualified physiotherapist, Bridget used to work at Hutt Hospital and now works in Aged Care.
When she first met her husband-to-be, she found the ideal ice-breaker with her first words to him: "First take your pants off and hop onto the bed." However, this introduction is not recommended for non-physiotherapists and even then, precision in spelling is recommended.
Bridget holds "Triple A" (Ageless, Active & Aware) classes using equipment such as Swiss balls and weights, but for her show-and-tell interactive address she used only strips of red elastic and chairs. To the accompaniment of rousing music, we warmed up, leaving some of us already exhausted. We then perched on our chairs and started to exercise. The list below includes only a portion of the many and varied exercises Bridget got us to do and is a reminder to you to do them as the instructions were “Do try these at home”.
*circling toes * circling elbows * clapping * moving legs in and out * moving heads up and down *
* backstroke * freestyle * squeezing shoulder blades together * extending legs out and up*
* pushing & pulling the bands wrapped around the foot * holding arms wide and rotating *
* sitting on the edge of the chair and leaning back *
* rolling shoulders *
Everyone saw the wisdom of such regular exercises and thoroughly enjoyed the participation. Doubtless many made a mental resolution to do these every day, and doubtless many such resolutions will remain unfulfilled, but nevertheless, a most useful and worthwhile address.
As the Romans said, "Mens Stulta in Corpore Sano."
