The classes will be held On Monday Nights at Yonemoto Physical Therapy on the gym side. Address is 25 S. Raymond Ave. Suite 100, Alhambra CA 91801. To sign up for classes or if you have any questions, please contact us at (626) 576-0591.

Like most health fairs, it attracted the over-50 crowd, but I also noticed a few babies and small children in attendance.  Most of the 20 to 30-year-olds were volunteers.  The event focused on living healthy, with programs devoted to exercise, dancing, movement of all types, eating well and planning your future.

I spoke with a man in the retirement living industry who said that his company promotes healthy living to keep people in their own communities longer, since they have maxed out their units and don’t plan on building more.  It made me think about when I might need such services, and I started to wonder if there would be a place for me to go.  The thought reinforced my intention to plan ahead and do everything I can to stay healthy.  We have been told that Social Security will run out before the Baby Boomers can benefit from it, as will Medicare, mostly because there won’t be enough younger people to support the aging population.  It follows that there won’t be enough caretakers to help an aging population that outnumbers them.

I thought of the 97-year-old physician from Japan who felt our retirement age of 65 was based on statistical data from 50 years ago when the average lifespan was 67.  He thought that since we now live well into our 80s, we should revise our retirement age to late 70s or older.  I always felt that I would want to work until I die, since I like my work and feel it is my “excuse” to be with others.  Plus, I don’t think I can afford to stop working with the economy the way it is.  Nevertheless, I want to be one of those fortunate people who can choose whether or not to retire, and not be forced into retirement for health reasons or because of someone else’s decision.

Thousands of people attended this event, and I had encounters with friends, past patients and people seeking proactive solutions for themselves and others.  My husband commented to an old friend that he looked younger and healthier than the last time they had met.  It turned out this friend had given up a 5-pack-per-day cigarette habit and had also quit drinking alcohol.  An old high school classmate who made a mid-career change was much happier as a result, and looked young and vibrant.  Many retirees looked young and active and were still engaged in community activity as well as physical exercise, but admitted they couldn’t take the stress of their jobs anymore.  Many people sought pain relief solutions and numerous booths promoted various products or services.  One massage therapist commented to me that a person has a lot of choices if they are willing to change their lifestyle habits, which is also a belief I share and one that the health fair also promoted.

I hope this type of event continues so it reaches more people and reinforces the idea of “lifestyle change.”  It should also be geared to younger populations, especially school kids and young adults, while they are able to change the course of their lives and can start including healthy habits that delay the onset of degenerative changes.  Then people will live longer, healthier and more productive lives.

Try an intro qigong class for free! Classes held at Yonemoto Physical Therapy, in Alhambra, near South Pasadena.

Mark your calendars! We’ve set the dates for the January qigong series.

Qigong, a 5,000-year-old method of exercising for health and longevity from China, was held as a closely guarded secret in families and monasteries. This exercise utilizes gentle movement and is thought to balance qi or energy within the body for maximum health and happiness.

Try a Level I* qigong class for free!
(Pick any Saturday morning).

Classes held at:
Yonemoto Physical Therapy (Gym Side)
25 S Raymond Ave Ste 100
Alhambra, CA, 91801

Would you like a calendar view of the schedule? Find it here.

Learn more about aging and solutions by reading “The Aches and Pains of Aging” which covers:

• Aging: Sources and solutions
• Tips and Tricks
• FAQs: Most frequently asked questions about Aging
• Aging Test: What is the state of your mobility
• Yonemoto Physical Therapy Success Stories

Download a copy of the newsletter “The Aches and Pains of Aging”.

In conjunction with Keiro’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Keiro will hold a one-day Expo featuring informative presentations, “Ask the Experts,” cooking demonstrations, fitness and dance demonstrations, wine and sake tasting, a community bookshop, and 80+ exhibitors to nurture an active, healthy lifestyle! This is a sponsored event, and will be open/free to the public.

For more info please visit Keiro’s website linked here Genki Living Expo Flyer

I have since learned that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. During my detailed practices, I exercised both sides of my brain. In brain studies, the right side of the brain sees the world in more holistic, intuitive and creative ways, while the left side is more logical, linear and scientific. Chinese medicine considers balance between both sides to be healthy. Some studies show that the communication link between the two halves of the brain is larger in children who play a musical instrument.

I know from playing the violin that you use both hands, each doing something different, plus you are listening and coordinating the sound and placement of your fingers and reading sheet music at the same time. How’s that for multitasking? One famous music teacher from the Central Coast of California started all his students on the violin, regardless of what instrument they wanted to play, in order to teach them to hear and create the correct sound. My violin teacher made me play one single note for a whole lesson to be able to recreate the same sound. It was extremely difficult.

On another note, I have a friend, a trained scientist and administrator, who took up baking gluten-free items during his retirement and spent an enormous amount of time and energy creating the perfect cookies, cakes, breads and pies. His efforts resulted in the best tasting gluten-free products I have ever eaten. Even though I cannot persuade him to go commercial with his recipes, I do get to eat some great baked goods!

Lately, I have paid attention to how my body feels when I stand and move. I observe the symmetry, preference for order of movement, posture, body effort, flexibility, tension in my muscles at rest and other things. I find I am strengthening small muscles in my feet, my balance has improved and range of motion in various parts of my body has improved. My awareness and attention to detail is better. My thinking is now consistently tuned into what I am doing, rather than moving in a mindless manner. The automaticity of my life has reduced and I feel more in tune with my surroundings.

I realize there is a way of looking at life that includes paying attention to details. We can make things better by improving one small detail at a time. Before we know it, we have created a big change that improves quality in a significant way. It’s similar to the punch line of the joke, “How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.” I hope you find this approach makes your life better, one detail at a time.