Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged
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Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged Presenters: Evelyn and Greg Keyes Please note, most all pictures shared were taken pre-Covid, and as a result spacing in many cases was not a requirement. Welcome to an adventure of both the Mind and Body as we journey into the World of Endorphin release for the Cognitive or Physically challenged, in many cases both. Often as one journeys through life, especially in the latter part of it, an individual may find challenges afflicted to their body. These challenges may be caused by either internal domains of it, or external incidents that afflict such bodies, leaving them somewhat challenged in being able to function normally. That is when YOU enter the picture, to lift and inspire those so afflicted to get the absolute best out of the Functionality of their Body. At the same time stimulate their minds, so that it also enters domains of improved Functionality sharing those amazing Feel-Good moments whilst being inspired. Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged – Keyes GJ & E. 2021 When one looks at the first of 2 pictures just shared, it is easy to see the Benefits of Exercise. Apart from exercising and improving and/or preventing or delaying deterioration of the Body, the Brain is one of the most important things that can improve the Quality of Life for a person Physically and/ or Cognitively challenged. How can we do that at the same time as Exercising the Body physically? Simply by adding the domains of suggestive Adventurism (A trip through the powers of vocal expression, content, and Body/Facial expression). With such sharing as an Instructor/Therapist, you add the many further releases of various Feel-Good chemicals as shared in the 2nd picture released from the brain through the body. Feel Good chemical released by the brain through the Body Serotonin is a Mood Stabilizer, which can relieve many moods including perhaps the derivative of such: Depression and Anxiety. There are so many Moods a person experiences, especially those challenged Physically and/or Cognitively. Endorphins are fabulous for relieving pain! Need we say more of the importance of this? It is obvious, anything that can relieve pain to the body, without the use of external drugs is a huge positive. Oxytocin is released often during Sexual Pleasure, Childbirth or Lactation. We will not be entering these domains, but will be sharing Adventurism in story telling or imagery suggestion, that stimulates this Cerebral created drug, which can send those shivers of pleasure and finally… Dopamine simply is the reward chemical released during activity of fun and enjoyment. The following links (please skim past the advertisements unless interested, which to be honest we were not), show why we have for over 3 decades, presented sharing the domains of Adventurism / Laughter in Exercise for well abled Individuals and those challenged: 8 Ways to Boost Endorphins in the Brain https://www.powerofpositivity.com/increase-endorphins-brain/ 10 Ways to Increase the Dopamine in Your Brain 2 https://www.powerofpositivity.com/increase-dopamine-brain-boost-productivity/ Page Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged – Keyes GJ & E. 2021 Through-out our presentation, we will be sharing domains of Musicality, Interactive Demonstration and of course Adventurism in Story Telling, linked with basic choreography or simple movement. We sincerely hope you will join in, which then hopefully will inspire you to create not just what we share, but a plethora of other possible presentation classes. These will simultaneously enable therapeutic improvement to the body at the same time enhance positive mental stimulation. A little History and now adopted Methodologies Over the past few decades, focus on Seated Fitness and Wellness Classes have been on the Therapy of the Body mainly, with an Auditory no-nonsense type of approach. What has not been truly focused on more widely by many Instructors, is the Power of Motivation and Laughter, which has been shown to be a huge winner to accomplish participation. If one casts their memory back a few decades or do a Web Search, you will see personalities such as Richard Simmons, who was perhaps the first Stage and Television Exercise Science demonstrator that used the powers of Motivation and Laughter to stimulate many in the field of Exercise. Patch Adams in the USA, during the 1970-80’s was a physician, comedian and clown to mention a few things. He was portrayed in the extremely successful film ‘Patch Adams’ by Robin Williams. Patch was a pioneer that proved the power of improving Wellness in many incapacitated, unwell and/or cognitively impaired people by the domains of Enjoyment through Smiling, Laughter and Movement. 3 Page Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged – Keyes GJ & E. 2021 I (Greg), began sharing Seated Fitness and Cognitive Stimulation via Fun and Functionality of the Body in the late 1990’s. Since then, I have been fortunate to present such across the World from New Zealand to Europe and of course IAFC2003 (from memory), with ‘Creating the Seats of Energy – Fun Chair Aerobics’. Believe it or not, 2 years after Evelyn and I met at IAFC, 20 years ago at this time! Evelyn did similar styles of presentations in Europe at various venues. No wonder we were attracted to each other, with similar styles and interests. Her focus using similar methodologies as Richard, Patch and myself was for the Lower Functioning Autistic, Cognitively/Physically challenged and the Elderly, who due to deterioration of their bodies through the aging process, found movement extremely difficult. 4 Seated Aquatic Classes Page Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged – Keyes GJ & E. 2021 Pictured is Evelyn presenting to a Seated Aquatic Class at our pool, demonstrating that it is quite feasible to do such. We fortunately have a smaller pool width than normal and demonstration on Deck is on the other side to the Clients. Evelyn got into the water to invigorate and motivate the clients doing specific moves, as the White water testifies. Our pool is purposely designed with seating as you can see, that enables this for small groups of clients. There are Noodles which can assist, with seats that attach, but often they may require stronger core muscles than your clients have available. Another possibility for your consideration if wanting to introduce Seated Aquatic classes, is weighted base of the leg’s chairs with rubber feet coverings, to ensure stability and no damage to the pool floor. From experience and Research / Experimentation in our pool, Aqua Seated Aerobics and Strengthening, Obese clients, although loving the release of weight and benefits of the Aquatic domain around their bodies, is the possibility of them literally floating off. *When teaching such a class, please ensure you present it on Pool Deck with a chair. This enables you to fully watch every client and be able to respond quickly. It also enables you to nicely demonstrate to everyone movements and transitions. Wayward Floating Clients To overcome the problem of wayward floating clients, ensure the depth of water the chairs and clients are in is not too deep that enable this to happen. Unlike a normal aqua class, the depth of water this would be done in, is far shallower. If your shallow end is too high, do not introduce such classes for the type of clientele we are covering today. *Do NOT Anchor down the clients with a seat belt or other apparatus. This basic No No is in the event someone may fall off the chair. The chair will tip also with them acting as an anchor, or obstacle in regaining the original position of being stably seated. Ensure that distances between clients are approximately Covid distancing or more. Another great thing about Seated Aquatics, if you are able to consider such with your Pools, is the drag intensity on the legs and when arms are submerged. A favourite of ours when doing this is using both Marching and Classical music. Often with the latter style of music, clients whether under the domains of being Challenged or Fully abled, is becoming the many instruments of an Orchestra or Band. This is wonderful for things like arthritis in the fingers, etc., by doing actions such as playing the piano on top of the water line or playing the harp just below the water line. Important Note If you do decide to try Seated aquatics with your clients, experiment and try everything for at least 10 individual full-length classes by yourself initially. This period will enable you to determine what works for you and does not. The learning curves you would employ and transitions. Being seated continuously for a class in the Aquatic environment is uniquely different to that of Land and is an unique style of class which will test the very best of Instructors/ Therapists. 5 Page Seats of Adventurism for the Cognitive & Physically Challenged – Keyes GJ & E. 2021 Ensure once you feel confident, do 2 further full-length classes on Deck, so you can relate domains of Water Speed vs Land Speed, Range of Motion (ROM) and other idiosyncrasies between Land and Aqua. Once feeling confident, then recruit either colleagues or fully abled clients, conducting at least 5 classes and get feedback from them after each class as to what worked and what did not. Try to have a variation of Body Types, with hopefully 2 very thin clients and 2 – 3 approaching the other extreme. By the time you have completed this in-depth training (literally), your confidence level will at a higher level and your awareness at the peak.