“Brain health takes work - Times and Democrat” plus 1 more |
| Brain health takes work - Times and Democrat Posted: Walking can help keep your brain function strong. Riding your bicycle will keep your brain working at optimum levels. And you thought that walking and cycling were good only for your cardio health. It's been proven that a program of regular physical exercise can be the very best thing you can do to keep your mind sharp, your memory active, your recall strong and your overall brain function at a good level. Sure, crossword puzzles, Sudoku and brainteasers are all good ways to keep your brain agile and alert. But research done by Dr. Arthur Kramer, director of the Lifelong Brain & Cognition Laboratory at The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, shows that physical exercise for approximately one hour, three days a week, actually grows brain matter and connections. His research has explored the effects of aerobic fitness training and cognitive training on brain function and selective aspects of cognition of older adults. Recent studies have discovered substantial sparing of selective regions for lifetime exercisers and have also observed that older individuals who are aerobically trained show interesting changes, potentially reflecting more efficient processing, in patterns of cortical activation (as reflected through MRI), as they perform a series of cognitive tasks. With this and other studies that have resulted in similar findings, it has become more and more apparent that good old-fashioned exercise can be the best thing you can do for your brain. But, as Dr. Kramer noted, you don't have to jump into an aggressive "iron man" exercise program. You do have to jump into an exercise program with some creative thinking and a lot of commitment. While walking can be one of the best ways to exercise, it can't be a casual stroll around the mall. It needs to be an intentional and regular effort that you can maintain for a long time. It needs to become a "way of life" for you, not something that you dread and ultimately don't keep up. How do you make this simple but important effort something you can easily do? One of the best ways to make your walking a regular and doable routine is to have a walking "partner." All the research done by the International Health & Racquet Sports Association, the international association of health clubs, proves that people who exercise with a partner actually exercise more often and keep at it longer that those who exercise by themselves. A walking partner will make your time walking more enjoyable, and you will provide support and encouragement for one another - really important on those days when it is a little cold or rainy and you just don't feel like making the effort. I will admit hearing about Dr. Kramer's research in a colloquium at the University of South Carolina got my attention. It is one thing to be concerned about physical health and preparing for an active aging of the body. It is a whole different impetus to recognize what we do with our feet and legs affects what happens with our brain function. Fortunately, I am still at work and giving my brain a pretty good workout each day just dealing with the myriad situations and challenges of what I face. And yes, in my work I am fortunate I get a lot of walking in as I, as my staff says, manage by walking around. But remember, as Dr. Kramer said, the exercise must be intentional, not accidental. You need to make a commitment to the effort. So, keep your brain sharp as you age. Lay down the Sudoku, brainteasers, crossword puzzles and Wii Brain Fitness, and save some time for exercise. Exercise will help your body. Exercise will help your brain. Who knew? Now you do! The Rev. James McGee is executive director of The Oaks. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Get in shape this Spring with MVCC Health and Wellness Classes a JCC - Oneida Dispatch Posted: Mohawk Valley Community College will be offering a second session of their non-credit health and wellness classes at the Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida Street. Multiple sections of Zumba®, yoga, aerobics, kick boxing, body sculpting, Pilates and strengthening classes will be held in the auditorium in beginning March 7 through MVCC's Center for Corporate and Community Education. New this Spring are morning and afternoon Zumba classes. Choose from the following: Zumba: This class fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will tone and sculpt the body while burning fat. Beginners are welcome. Choose from Mondays or Wednesdays, March 7 – April 11 and March 9 – April 13, respectively from 7:15-8:15 p.m. The cost is $45. New Zumba classes: New this spring are morning and afternoon Zumba classes to give enthusiasts more options. Choose from Tuesdays, March 8 – April 12 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. or Fridays, March 11 – April 15 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. The cost is $45. Additional Zumba classes will be held at Perry Junior High and Westmoreland Middle School. Cardio Kick & Sculpt: Perfect for all fitness levels, this course offers a blend of cardio activities to tone the whole body and improve cardiovascular endurance. Students will gain strength, flexibility, and balance while having lots of fun. Session Two will be held Thursdays, March 10 – April 14, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The cost is $45. Yoga Flex & Flow: This hatha yoga vinyasa flow class teaches participants how to energize their minds and bodies, reduce stress, rebalance their body alignment, dissolve unwanted tension, and build strength. This course is appropriate for all levels. The second session runs Tuesdays, March 8 – April 12 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The cost is $55. Yoga for Relaxation and Fitness: Relax and energize with yoga breathing, postures, and stretches. Meditation techniques will heighten the benefits of flexibility, physical strength, inner well-being, and more. Session Two will be held Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. The cost is $55. Strengthen Sculpt and Tone: This course will incorporate the use of resistance bands, hand weights, and the stability ball to increase physical strength, prevent osteoporosis, and help change the body to a more desirable form. Improve core strength and balance as well. Session Two will be held Tuesday and Thursday, March 8 – April 14, from 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. The cost is $65. Turbo Kick Boxing: This interval-based class is a fun-filled workout that combines shadow boxing, kick boxing, sports drills, dancing, yoga and simple dance moves in a party atmosphere. The second session runs Mondays, March 7 – April 11 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The cost is $45. AM Body Sculpt/Kickboxing: This workout is designed to re-engineer the muscular structure by waking up smaller and larger muscles and adding a mix of cardio kickboxing based on balance, core training, and a mix of martial arts. All levels welcome. Session Two runs Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13 from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. The cost is $45. AM Yoga/Pilates: Students will flow into balance, core strength, and flexibility with breath and peacefulness. Learn how to add extra strength to joints and open up the body with resistance bands. Session Two will be held on Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13 from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. The cost is $45 Continued... Mohawk Valley Community College will be offering a second session of their non-credit health and wellness classes at the Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida Street. Multiple sections of Zumba®, yoga, aerobics, kick boxing, body sculpting, Pilates and strengthening classes will be held in the auditorium in beginning March 7 through MVCC's Center for Corporate and Community Education. New this Spring are morning and afternoon Zumba classes. Choose from the following: Zumba: This class fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will tone and sculpt the body while burning fat. Beginners are welcome. Choose from Mondays or Wednesdays, March 7 – April 11 and March 9 – April 13, respectively from 7:15-8:15 p.m. The cost is $45. New Zumba classes: New this spring are morning and afternoon Zumba classes to give enthusiasts more options. Choose from Tuesdays, March 8 – April 12 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. or Fridays, March 11 – April 15 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. The cost is $45. Additional Zumba classes will be held at Perry Junior High and Westmoreland Middle School. Cardio Kick & Sculpt: Perfect for all fitness levels, this course offers a blend of cardio activities to tone the whole body and improve cardiovascular endurance. Students will gain strength, flexibility, and balance while having lots of fun. Session Two will be held Thursdays, March 10 – April 14, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The cost is $45. Yoga Flex & Flow: This hatha yoga vinyasa flow class teaches participants how to energize their minds and bodies, reduce stress, rebalance their body alignment, dissolve unwanted tension, and build strength. This course is appropriate for all levels. The second session runs Tuesdays, March 8 – April 12 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The cost is $55. Yoga for Relaxation and Fitness: Relax and energize with yoga breathing, postures, and stretches. Meditation techniques will heighten the benefits of flexibility, physical strength, inner well-being, and more. Session Two will be held Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. The cost is $55. Strengthen Sculpt and Tone: This course will incorporate the use of resistance bands, hand weights, and the stability ball to increase physical strength, prevent osteoporosis, and help change the body to a more desirable form. Improve core strength and balance as well. Session Two will be held Tuesday and Thursday, March 8 – April 14, from 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. The cost is $65. Turbo Kick Boxing: This interval-based class is a fun-filled workout that combines shadow boxing, kick boxing, sports drills, dancing, yoga and simple dance moves in a party atmosphere. The second session runs Mondays, March 7 – April 11 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The cost is $45. AM Body Sculpt/Kickboxing: This workout is designed to re-engineer the muscular structure by waking up smaller and larger muscles and adding a mix of cardio kickboxing based on balance, core training, and a mix of martial arts. All levels welcome. Session Two runs Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13 from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. The cost is $45. AM Yoga/Pilates: Students will flow into balance, core strength, and flexibility with breath and peacefulness. Learn how to add extra strength to joints and open up the body with resistance bands. Session Two will be held on Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13 from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. The cost is $45 Enrollment is limited and will be taken on a first come basis. For information or to register, call 792-5300 or visit www.mvcc.edu/cced. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Friday. All MVCC non-credit instruction is completely self-supporting, including indirect costs, and requires no public funding. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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