Blog archive
April 2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
WALK WITH EASE
By Susan KujawaPosted: 01/03/2023
Walk With Ease
Walking has long been one of the best forms of exercise. But as we age, we can become more limited, and walking may eventually become the only way we can flex our muscles, speed up our heart rate, and deepen our breathing. Sometimes, walking itself can become too much of a chore as our capacity changes from being able to walk several miles a day, to just one mile, to a trip around the block. Eventually, we may stop walking altogether.
Walk With Ease is a research-based program to help people develop a walking routine, either from scratch or to reinvigerate what they are already doing. The Arthritis Foundation developed the program, but it is not limited to just those who have arthritis. Participants can start off at any level and increase their walking distance (or time) over a span of six-weeks.
In November 2022, Priyanka Kumar, the Membership Services and Volunteer Coordinator at Pasadena Village, took a leadership role in making Walk With Ease available to the Pasadena community. The program was offered at no cost to participants due to the generosity of the Navigage Foundation, Pasadena Community Foundation, and other donors. Under her guidance, the program has just completed its first six-week session.
Priyanka initiated the program by providing a copy of the Walk With Ease workbook to each participating member. The workbook stresses a basic five-step pattern: warming up, gently stretching, walking at “normal” speed, cooling down, and gently stretching again. The book also contains forms that the walker can use to track progress.
Once each week, a group of about ten walkers, including Villagers and others from the Pasadena community, met in Pasadena's Michillinda Park. Following the workbook's guidelines, Priyanka began each session by talking a bit about a portion of the workbook's content. Then she led a warm-up stroll followed some simple stretches. The next step was to walk at “normal” speed as each participant walked at her own pace for a given amount of time monitored by Priyanka. The session then shifted to a short cool-down walk ending with another set of simple stretches.
The park provided a pleasant environment not only to exercise but also to chat with other participants. As an extra attraction, four or five of the area's famous peacocks displayed their beautiful plumage while making sure they stayed out of the way.
Occasionally, a session included a “special event”. At one session, participant Suzi Hoge brought photos and samples of an array of some 40 devices intended to help older folks with such activities as opening jars, holding pens, turning keys, etc. At another session, Meg Maryan of Home Instead Pasadena (one of Pasadena Village’s generous supporters) brought a balance scale intended to predict the likelihood that a person will experience falls. She demonstrated its use, then the participants got to try it and receive their rating. See here for more information on the balance scale.
During these sessions, Priyanka's leadership skills shone. Her warmth and enthusiasm were contagious. Participants made new friends and found that walking and talking are good ways to get exercise and feel better about the day!
Priyanka will offer another six-week Walk With Ease program beginning in late January. This time, the sessions will be held at Lacy Park in San Marino. Learn more here.
So come and join the Walk With Ease group to rediscover the benefits of walking. Can't commit to six sessions? Come when you can. You think you will walk too slowly? Impossible! Whether you are a Village member or not, the group will be delighted to see you there.