2013 so. placer active

7/29/2019 2013 So. Placer Active

1/12

March 2013Supplement to Gold Country

Media Newspapers

Musical seniorsMusical seniorsMusical seniorshit all thehit all thehit all theright notesright notesright notes

Wise WarriorsWise WarriorsWise Warriorslearn martial artslearn martial artslearn martial arts

Its never tooIts never tooIts never toolate to golate to golate to goback to schoolback to schoolback to school


2/12

CONTENTS

Seniors reap the benefits of yoga.Page 5

Stay in shape by horsing around.Page 7

Volunteers give the gift of service.Page 8

Senior students hit the books.Page 9

Keep the beat with musiclessons.

Page 10

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Seniors earning black

belts, staying activeBY MARGARET SNIDER

GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Many older adults haveexpressed a desire to par-ticipate in martial arts, orregret that they didnt do itwhen they were younger.As evidenced by those whohave successfully joinedand completed martialarts programs, it is possi-

ble to attain these goalswith programs that takeinto consideration the per-sons capabilities, such asin the Wise Warriors pro-gram now offered by TheStudio Martial Arts & Fit-ness in Granite Bay.

We wanted to makesure that even those withphysical limitations arestill active and healthyand those that are in their50s and 60s and 70s, evenfolks that are in retire-ment, can have some-thing that they work hardfor and attain, said Ami-tis Pourarian, 35, owner ofThe Studio Martial Arts &Fitness in Granite Bay andSan Diego. Its never toolate to do martial arts.

The Studio conceived of

Wise Warriors because ofthe number of peoplePourarian encounteredwho said they would loveto learn martial arts, butthought they were too oldor too limited, or wereleery of injuries from thecontact part of the sport.

The criteria are modi-fied slightly based onphysical limitations andage group, Pourarian

said. But theyll still earnevery belt, theyll still workhard for every belt, theyjust wont have that physi-cal contact part of itunless they choose toengage in some of it, thenwe can incorporate it.

It will keep them freshmentally as well as physi-cally, Pourarian said, asthey continuously learnnew material.

We still do all the tradi-tional forms, Pourariansaid. Weve added in a lit-tle bit of Qigong in there,too, a little bit of Tai Chi, alittle bit of yoga, a little bitof meditation, plus all themartial arts aspects. ...They will do weapons,

PHOTOS BY ANNE STOKES GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Wise Warrior Taekwondo student Laurie Rich, ofCarmichael, works out at The Studio in Granite Bay.

Never too late for martial arts

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4/12

theyll do all the kicks, allthe basic self-defense, so

all the components minusthe injury. We just saw theneed in our community.

Pourarian began learn-ing Taekwondo as a teenwhen she tried a classwith a family friend andfell in love with it.

She graduated highschool a year early, earneda bachelors degree inbusiness and a masters inconstruction engineering,

but as far as Taekwondogoes, she said, it has neverbeen for business.

This has always beenmy passion, my way togive to my community, tobetter it in so many differ-ent ways, Pourarian said.I just come to teach.

Pourarian, who is asixth-degree black belt,

has won four nationalchampionships andmade the United States

sparring team, competingin the World Cup in 2001.

Laurie Rich, 51, is oneof her students, and nowalso program director forWise Warriors.

Seriously, if someonehad told me 19 monthsago, before I walked intoThe Studio, that in 2013 Icould be earning my black

belt, I would have laughedso hard, and told themthat they were insane,Rich said. For me, someof the specific benefitshave been believing inmyself, believing that Icould do something that Ithought was completelyimpossible, because ofsome of the physical dis-

abilities that I deal with.There are many other

examples of people who

have, later in life, decidedto take on martial arts as aphysical discipline. DorisMurphy, 83, lived in Gran-ite Bay and began Tai Chiwith Extreme Martial Artsof Granite Bay when shewas 76. She lost her battlewith cancer in March, butbefore she passed awayshe gave an interviewdescribing her experiencewith martial arts.

The main thing withthe Tai Chi moves isstretching, Murphy said.Your body starts feelinggood because the blood iscirculating better. ... Itmakes you feel good andyet you dont have to bestressing yourself out.

She started in 2005, andafter progressing through

the different levels, evenwhile battling healthissues, Murphy tested and

attained her black fringeat the end of 2012.The owner of Extreme

Martial Arts, Ron Dillman,said that while Murphywas training at his studio,she participated in localand international compe-titions and also helped atthe Granite Bay Eskatonwith the senior Tai Chiprogram.

For the most part, our

masters and grand mas-ters are in their 50s, 60sand 70s, Pourarian said.They are flexible, havegreat muscle mass andtheyre healthy. And theydo amazing things be-cause theyve trained inmartial arts. So we wantto share that with every-one.

GOOD TO KNOW

Who: The Studio Martial Arts & FitnessWhat:Wise Warriors non-contact martial arts program

When: 10-11:30 a.m. or 7-8:30 p.m. FridaysWhere: 4130 Douglas Blvd., Suite 405, Granite BayPhone: (916) 258-5425Website:www.trainatthestudio.com

Who: Extreme Martial ArtsWhat: Tai Chi Chuan, Kung FuWhere:8601 Auburn Folsom Road, Granite Bay; 7823Lichen Drive, Citrus HeightsPhone: (916) 781-9777 (Granite Bay); (916) 726-5425(Citrus Heights)Website: www.extrememartialartcenter.com

continued from page 2

BELT:Benefits of learning martial arts include physical fitness and self-confidence

ANNE STOKES GOLD COUNTRY

NEWS SERVICE

Master Amitis Pourarian,left, helps Chris Stewart,of Carmichael, duringthe Wise Warriors classat The Studio.


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5/12

BY LAURA OBRIENGOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Seniors are amongthose turning to yoga forfitness and relaxation.

Acknowledging thattrend, BridgeYoga, a Loo-mis yoga studio, beganoffering a chair yoga classlast fall.

Use of a chair limits theneed to move the bodydown to the floor andback up to a standingposition, a sequence typi-

cal in yoga that may bedifficult for some seniors.

If youre dealing withsome physical constraints either age, or weight, orinjury or illness the chairclass and the restorativeclass are the way to go,said Sherri Conway, whoopened BridgeYoga onTaylor Road across from

Blue Goose Produce lastMay with yoga partnerCasey Bird.

Yoga has become popu-lar as a health treatment,

according to the NationalCenter for Complementa-ry and Alternative Medi-cine, a program of the

YOGA FACTS

May be beneficial for a number of conditions,including pain. Generally considered to be safe in healthy peoplewhen practiced appropriately. People with high blood pressure, glaucoma or sciat-ica and women who are pregnant should modify oravoid some poses. Practice safely and mindfully. Poses should be modi-fied based on individual abilities. Select instructorscarefully they should be experienced and attentiveto individuals needs. Inform instructor about anymedical issues. Talk to your health care providers about any com-plementary health practices you use, including yoga.Give them a full picture of what you do to manageyour health. This will help ensure coordinated andsafe care.Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative

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National Institutes ofHealth.

Some research suggestsyoga may be medicallybeneficial. Possible bene-fits include reduced low-back pain; improvedquality of life; reducedstress; lower heart rateand blood pressure; re-duced anxiety, depressionand insomnia; andimproved overall fitness.

For students at Bridge-Yoga, yoga represents a

valuable part of theirweekly routine.

In a space once used asa funeral parlor, but nowfeaturing a statue of Bud-dha, seven women satatop sturdy black woodenchairs on a recent Thurs-day morning. Lightstreamed into the roomfrom an adjacent plant-

filled atrium.Cheryl Hoffman, 68,

attends chair yoga twice aweek, on Tuesdays andThursdays.

Its slower-paced. Any-body can do it, said Hoff-man, who suffers fromarthritis.

She practiced traditionalyoga in the past, but foundthat the downward dogposition hurt her wristsand other standing posi-tions bothered her knee.She likes that people withlimited mobility dont feelintimidated in chair yoga.

We do all the moves,but we do them in chairs,Hoffman said. If youcant reach the floor, youcan reach the chair, whichis there in this case forbalance if you need it. Ofcourse (the instructor)always encourages every-

body to go as far as youcan.

Jan Cherrstrom, 64, alsoformerly practiced yoga,but injured her leg, mak-ing traditional yoga moredifficult.

I take (chair yoga)because getting up anddown off the floor in regu-lar yoga its hard.

Cherrstrom and Hoff-man said they enjoy chairyoga so much they take

other classes in additionto those at BridgeYoga.Bird said she and Con-

way began offering chairyoga when they realizedthey needed a class opt-ion that was accessible toeveryone.

We had a mixture ofpeople showing up for theclasses that we had on ourschedule and some peo-ple would be not chal-

lenged enough and somepeople would be reallychallenged, she said.

Registered yoga teacherJenn Harrison teacheschair yoga and proposedthe class that was initiallyoffered for six weeks.

It went so well that wekept it, Bird said. Wevegot our regulars that

come.Patty Espinoza is one of

those regulars. She has

taken several of the differ-ent classes at BridgeYogasince the studio openedlast year.

I really have to talk tomyself to get here, butonce I get here? Love it,Espinoza said. This is thebest thing thats hap-pened to Loomis.

A cancer survivor, shesaid yoga has helped herbones strengthen to the

point where she no longerneeds medication forbone loss.

In addition to the exer-cise, Hoffman said sheenjoys the camaraderie ofthe chair yoga class.

Because were all thesame age, we have (thesame) history references,she said.

BRIDGE YOGA

Where: 3587 TaylorRoad, Loomis

Info: (916) 303-0621;www.bridgeyoga.com

continued from Page 5

YOGA:Chair yoga, offered in Loomis, offers gentler alternative to traditional methods

Seventy-five-year-

old Ina Rankin, ofLoomis, has beentaking yoga classesat BridgeYoga forsix months and hasseen a markedimprovement in herflexibility, balanceand energy levels,and a decrease injoint pain.

ANNE STOKES GOLD

COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE


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7/12

BY DEBBIE BROWN


When the first of theyear rolls around, manyresidents look for ways toimprove their health.It seems that more oftenthan not, joining a gym isthe most common way toachieve that goal. An over-looked alternative, but onethat is just as beneficial, ishorseback riding.

Exercise produces en-

dorphins, relieves stressand helps with depression.If you need an outlet foryour stress or want to getin some exercise that willhelp your entire body,check out one of the manyhorseback-riding trainingfacilities in Placer County.

According to TammyMcDonald, owner of Tam-

my McDonald Training inNewcastle, horseback rid-ing is a gym workoutbecause the entire body isaffected.

Health encompassesso much more than thephysical aspect of ourwell-being, McDonaldsaid. It involves our emo-

tional and mental health.Exercisers are often

surprised after theyve hadtheir first workout on ahorse, McDonald said.

They usually feel as iftheyve done somethingincorrectly, because thenext day they may feelpain in the legs, their

shoulders might be soreor their core feels like theyhad a vigorous workout,McDonald said. As amatter of fact, all thosethings happened becausethey did have a workout;it just wasnt in a gym.

According to McDonald,riding horses isnt the only

way to improve health.

Senior citizens who areno longer able to be asphysical as they oncewere, or who suffer fromdepression, have foundcomfort just by beingaround horses. They mayfind serenity in brushingthe equines or just watch-ing them run around thearena.

When I get older peo-ple out here, its more for

the mental health thanphysical, McDonald said.

Horseback riding is notonly beneficial for the rider,but the rest of the familyoften appreciates it, as well.

Christina Castellanosyoung daughter, Sofia,attends sessions at Ride toWalk, an equine-assistedtherapy center in Lincoln.

Sofia, who has cerebral

palsy), is unable to sit upon her own and thereforeneeds a back rider (atherapist who sits on thehorse with the rider).

She smiles and makessounds while she is rid-ing. Her trunk and headcontrol is improving,Castellanos said.

As we either strive tocontinue the New Yearsgoals we created, or decide

that we want to try some-thing new, horseback rid-ing is an activity that is tru-ly for the entire family.

When we were kids,maybe if our parents hadknown the benefits ofhorseback riding, wewould have received thatpony we always wantedfor our birthday.

Amy Oettle,

left, and Ride toWalk ExecutiveDirector KristineCorn focus onhelpingChristian Lyons,10, put a smileon his faceduring hisequine-assistedtherapy session.

COURTESY

Finding ways to be healthy can be horseplaySupplement to Gold Country Media ACTIVE 2013 7

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8/12

BY LAURA OBRIENGOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

From visiting home-bound individuals tomending library books,area seniors who volun-teer said they enjoy con-tributing to the health oftheir communities.

Sue Batz, 69, and herhusband, Dave, 71, havevolunteered with PlacerFood Banks Empty Bowlsfundraiser, which tookplace in Roseville in Feb-

ruary, for three years.My husband and I

really just enjoy being ofservice, Batz said. Weenjoy the interaction withpeople, and we just reallyfeel like its an importantpart of our lives to helpmake other peoples livesbetter.

Volunteers donated8,500 hours to Placer Food

Bank last year, accordingto Mary Towne, a public

relations representative.Opportunities includefood sorting and packing,driving trucks, communi-ty outreach, office supportand special events.

Helping seniorsBecause they have the

necessary free time, re-tired or semi-retired indi-viduals comprise a largemajority of volunteers at

some organizations, suchas Seniors First. The or-ganization provides meals,rides and companionship,among other services, toseniors in Western PlacerCounty, according to itswebsite.

Seniors First administersthe area Meals on Wheelsprogram. Of the roughly300 volunteers distributing

meals, about 90 percentare over age 50, said Chel-sea Bullen, coordinator ofsenior nutrition.

Volunteer Carol Hos-kins coordinates tworoutes in the Sun City

Roseville area.I worked 45 years and

Im used to being active,said Hoskins, 70, who hasvolunteered with Meals onWheels for 14 years. Ivebeen blessed with a lot of

advantages, and so this iskind of my work now.

Its just a good feeling to

help people, and theyre allso appreciative, she said.

Serving communityRather than helping

individuals, some volun-teers focus on a commu-nity-wide level.

The Twelve BridgesLibrary in Lincoln used400 volunteer hours in arecent month, said Phyllis

Brown, volunteer coordi-nator for the library.

She said individuals mayvolunteer at the library ona drop-in basis rather thancommitting to a set sched-ule. Preparing new booksfor circulation, emptyingbook receptacles andreturning books to theshelves comprise the meatof the available volunteerwork, but some less-exert-ing activities are available,such as book repair.

They still use theDewey Decimal System inlibraries in the nonfictionsection, so you use yourmind while youre doingthis, Brown said. Some ofthe volunteers have toldme that thats why they likeworking in that section,because it does have someexercise aspects, bothphysical and mental.

PHILIP WOOD THE PRESS TRIBUNE

Volunteer Ed Cooley loads the trunk of his vehiclewith food he delivers to seniors in Placer County.

HOW TO HELP

Seniors First:

www.seniorsfirst.org,(530) 889-9500Placer Food Bank: (916)783-0481, www.placerfoodbank.orgTwelve Bridges Library:(916) 434-2410,www.libraryatlincoln.org

Seniors in service give back to their communities8 ACTIVE 2013 Supplement to Gold Country Media

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9/12

BY AMANDA CALZADA

GOLD COUNTRY MEDIA CORRESPONDENT

Putting the mind to thetest of overcoming societystandards of age andearn a degree poses littlechallenge to Nancy Cookand Barbara Widga, bothWilliam Jessup Universitypsychology undergradu-ates of the School of Pro-fessional Studies.

Theres never a perfecttime to go back to school

as an older adult, but Idetermined now is thetime, as I have unfinishedgoals in my life that needto be completed, saidCook, who married at anearly age and began hav-ing children in her 20s,something she has noregrets about.

Cook, 55, started schoolseveral times while raising

her family, but put her edu-

cation on hold because herfamily was her first priority.Throughout her life, shehas always had a deepsense of knowing her gifts,she said, and knowing thateducation would help fullyutilize them. She finalizedher decision to attendWilliam Jessup a few yearsago, she said.

Widga, 68,said the deci-sion to pursue her dream

of counseling people whoare experiencing grief orcrisis required muchthought and prayer beforeenrolling in William Jessupto pursue her degree.

Sometimes life dealsyou tough times and yourjourney seems extra-stressful. And sometimesyou have to step back andfind humor in everyday

occurrences, said Widga,

who experienced onemajor life change that ledto another.

In 2000, Widga suddenlybecame a widow and saidshe realized that God hadnew life plans for her. Shesaid she began to see thatGod sent people in need ofcomfort due to grief or lossher direction for support.She said she listened withher heart, but felt she

needed a head of knowl-edge to provide Christiancounseling.

Initially, attending a uni-versity was not her firstchoice. Widga researchedcertificate programs andshort-term seminars. Shequestioned her academicpotential at her age andthe idea of leaving a nearly45-year successful career

in management to tackle

an entirely different field.Rather than just study-ing to pass the classes, shebelieves she is readingand studying to learn, asshe maintains a 4.0 gradepoint average sincereturning to school inFebruary 2012. Cook alsostrives to learn the mate-rial and not just attain agood grade for the sake ofher transcript she said

her education is for herand those she will serve.However, she is inspiredto see herself attain theA she felt challenging toreach as a younger adultin school.

The greatest challenge inreturning to school, Cooksaid, is maintaining disci-pline and focus.

I have never been con-

tent to just stay

where I am, saidCook, who has recog-nized herself as agoal-setter her wholelife.

Prior to her undergradu-ate education, Cook ad-ministered her own li-censed child care center of100 children for 10 yearsand worked as a real estateagent with her husband.

When the real estate

market crashed, Cook heldthe position as a director ofa program helping at-riskyouth before heading backto school.

Nancy and Barb areperfect examples of stu-dents demonstrating it isnever too late to learn,said Sheila Haut, a publicinformation officer atWilliam Jessup. At WJU,

students of all ages receivea quality education thateffectively prepares themto best achieve their per-sonal goals throughout alifetime.

Widga said she haslearned that the brain ofsomeone who is consid-

ered a senior citizen is justas able to learn as that ofsomeone in their early 20s.The age difference be-tween her and most stu-dents in her classes, sheadded, has never been aproblem.

You are never too old tolearn, she said, and whoknows where it will leadyou.

Nancy Cook

Studious seniors hit the booksBarbara Widga


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10/12

Lessons keep minds

and bodies activeBY ANNE STOKES


Throughout humanhistory, music has held apreternatural ability toaffect its listeners. From

Duke Ellington telling you

to Take the A Train toLady Day singing theblues, music has the pow-er to invigorate the sensesand soothe the soul. Andaccording to scientistsand medical profession-als, playing music may beable to do much more for

ones physical, psycholog-

ical and social well-being.Music has been shown tostave off the onset of men-tal decline, ease stress andprovide opportunities forsocial activities.

Studies published inNeurology, the medicaljournal of the American

Academy of Neurology,

have shown that cognitiveactivity such as playingmusic, reading, puzzlesand other hobbies canhelp reduce the risk orslow down the onset ofAlzheimers disease andother forms of dementia.The skills required to playmusic can also improvecardiovascular strength,muscle tone and respira-tory function, and mini-

mize arthritis, dependingon the instrument.

Bud Gardner, HeadCoot with the Sun CityHarmonicoots, foundedthe harmonica orchestrain 2004 after placing an adin the Sun City Bulletin.The band, which com-prises 60 members fromthe Sun City active livingcommunity, has since

played in more than 300performances. Gardner, aformer avid athlete andcoach, can testify to thephysical benefits playingthe harmonica brings.

Its a complicated in-strument you blow tomake music and you draw(in) to make music, heexplained. You breathefrom your diaphragm, so

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Without Music Life Would B (flat), reads HeadCoot Bud Gardners shirt as he teaches anintroductory harmonica class through SierraColleges Community Education.

Musical seniors in tune with mental health


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in doing that yourestrengthening your lungs.Its a whole health move-ment playing this littlething.

I think as life changesfor everybody, its easy toremove yourself and may-be dwell on things thatyoure no longer able todo, said Courtney Siegel,executive director of Oak-mont of Roseville. Butthere is a level of partici-pation in all of the activi-ties that we love that wecan still do and enjoy ondifferent levels. It mightnot look exactly like how it

used to, we might not beable to participate how weused to, but being able tostill enjoy what we love isimportant.

Molly and I, we couldsit at home and playtogether, but thats notnearly as much fun asplaying with a group andlearning to jam, explainedRon Peck, who founded

the Sun City Lincoln HillsUkulele Ohana with hiswife, Molly Mulligan, a lit-tle over a year ago. Whatstarted as a small groupplaying in their diningroom has grown to 60 peo-ple, many of whom attendweekly rehearsals nowheld at the communitys

Orchard Creek Lodge.Peck, who gives beginnerslessons, learned to playhimself after retiring andmoving to Hawaii.

I was walking aroundaimlessly, he said. Wewent to Kmart one dayand my wife went in andshe came out with a $14ukulele and said, Go learnto play. And so I wentdown to a senior center inHilo and took lessons andlearned and that was thebeginning of it. That wasabout seven years ago.

GOOD TO KNOW

Sun City Roseville: (916)774-3880; www.suncityroseville.org.Oakmont of Roseville:(916) 415-8156;

www.oakmontofroseville.comSun City Lincoln Hills:(916) 625-4000;www.suncity-lincolnhills.org

Judy Skillings, left, andPat Nicholes practicewith the Sun City Lincoln

Hills Ukulele Ohana.


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