Young at Heart
SUPPLEMENT TO THE ALPENA NEWS • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025
85-year-old leads yoga classes in Alpena
By STEVE SCHULWITZ News Staff Writer
ALPENA — Judy Nordstrand has been practicing yoga for more than three decades, and now, at the age of 85, she leads several different yoga classes made up primarily of other seniors.
Nordstrand said she has always been pretty active and believed exercise was important to a person’s health, but there was something special about yoga. She said the exercises and stretches are simple enough for most anyone, and yoga helps improve the mind, body, and spirit of the people doing them.
Nordstrand said she holds a pair of classes at the First Presbyterian Church in Alpena. On Monday, there is an intermediate class from 9 a.m. until about 10:15 a.m. and then a beginner class beginning at 10:30. The same classes, location, and times also apply on Thursdays.
Nordstrand said one of the things she loves
most about yoga is the friendliness between the people doing it in a group setting. She said the stretches are simple enough for most people to do, and some can be done in a chair, so there is no getting up and down off the floor.
“It’s just easy stretches and I just love it,” she said. “It is kind of spiritual without being religious. It takes you through your system of joints, breathing, and your muscles, and there is also a meditation element to it. Yoga helps your mind and body improve, makes you happier, and improves your relaxation.”
Nordstrand said people who have considered trying yoga, but are either too shy to do it or nervous about completing the stretches, should not worry. She said it is common for people to not be able to do everything involved when they first begin, but she said nobody has to do anything they aren’t comfortable with or may cause them pain.
Nordstrand said there is no doubt yoga has helped improve her physical and mental health. She said even though she is in her senior years, she doesn’t intend to stop practicing yoga any time soon.
“I think I can do this forever, or until I die,” she said. “It has helped me. I am a young 85, I take no medications, I’m healthy and in good shape, and I think it is all because of yoga.”
Nordstrand said most of the people who attend her class are seniors and also women. She said she would like to see more men become involved and younger people too. Nordstrand said one person brought their grandchild, and they were introduced to yoga.
“Everyone is welcome and everyone will be made to feel welcome,” she said. “It is a great group and it is also a great time.”
A group of people do stretches during a yoga class led by Judy Nordstrand. Nordstrand is 85 years old, and she said yoga has helped keep her healthy, improved her mental health, and is fun to do.
Courtesy Photo
Gardening safety for seniors
Longer hours of daylight and warming temperatures are hallmarks of spring and each of these variables do much to contribute to the reputation of a season that’s become synonymous with rejuvenation. After months spent confronting cold temperatures and huddling up indoors, people might find the welcoming conditions of spring irresistible, which compels many to spend more time outdoors.
There’s no shortage of things to do outside in spring, and the season marks a perfect time to reestablish one’s green thumb and get down and dirty in the garden. Gardening is a rewarding and healthy activity, though some, particularly seniors, may need to approach springtime sessions in the garden with a heightened degree of caution. Seniors can keep these health and safety tips in mind as they celebrate the return of spring and what that means for their gardens.
• Recognize that gardening is exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies gardening as a good form of exercise, and evidence supports the notion that gardening is a particularly beneficial form of physical activity. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry indicated that individuals who engaged in low levels of leisure time physical activities such as gardening are likely to have a lower risk of stroke than peers who are sedentary. It’s important to keep these findings in mind when gardening, which is perhaps more physically demanding than some may recognize. Seniors can approach gardening just like they would other
forms of exercise, taking the same precautions, such as stretching before and after each session and making a concerted effort to remain hydrated, while out in the garden.
• Incorporate rest into your garden routine. Rest is vital for anyone engaged in physical activity, including gardeners. Frequent breaks during gardening sessions can help avoid strains and sprains and provide opportunities to hydrate and get out of the sun. If possible, seniors can identify a shaded spot on their properties and place a bench there so they have somewhere to rest during gardening sessions.
• Utilize ergonomic gardening tools and other specialized products. The Center for Excellence in Disabilities at West Virginia University notes that ergonomics studies movements of a person’s body during physical activities in an effort to produce tools that ensure a task has as little physical impact on the body as possible. Ergonomic tools are designed to lower injury risk, improve efficiency and increase satisfaction that stems from performing a particular activity. Before each gardening season, seniors can inspect their existing tools and replace them with ergonomic alternatives, if necessary. In addition, seniors can utilize specialized products, including long-handled gardening tools that reduce the need to bend over or kneel down, to further reduce their risk of injury while working in the garden.
These simple strategies can ensure seniors’ springtime gardening sessions are as safe as they are rewarding.
Take on New Hobbies in Retirement
(StatePoint) Retirement should be relaxing, not boring. In fact, taking on new hobbies can keep your mind sharp and body vital as you age. Here are five ways to stay active in your golden years:
1. Join a gym: Joining a gym is one of the easiest ways to ensure you perform a mix of strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Doing both will help keep your bones and muscles strong and your heart and lungs fully functional. Don’t forget to add in yoga and stretching to promote balance and agility. If a gym is out of reach, see what other nearby opportunities are available for working up a sweat. Many towns and cities offer free and budget-friendly, communitybased exercise programming.
2. Play music: There are numerous
cognitive and emotional benefits associated with playing music. Whether you’re a beginner just looking to pick up the basics or a seasoned musician with the hopes of performing in public, you can equip yourself to sound amazing with a high-quality instrument like the CT-S1-76 keyboard from Casio. Its 76 full-size keys and upgraded 13-watt bass-reflex stereo speaker system with surround effect lend it incredible sound quality and a dynamic playing experience, while its sleek, portable design makes it a joy to play anytime, anywhere. In addition to remotely controlling the CT-S1-76, you can also use the Casio Music Space app to learn to play your favorite songs with downloadable MIDI files, interact with PDF scores, and much more.
3. Start a book club: It’s always more fun to read books when you can discuss them with friends. From tackling the classics, to diving into nonfiction works that will challenge your perspective, to enjoying some easy, breezy beach reads, it’s important that the other members of the group have the same reading goals as you. So do a little leg work in advance to ensure everyone is on the same page.
4. Number crunch: You don’t have to be in school to take up math as a hobby. There are plenty of recreational mathematicians of all ages who enjoy crunching numbers to work puzzles, compete in games, and uncover patterns in the real world. To get into your mathematical groove and to support your hobby, use a graphing calculator such as the fx-9750GIII
from Casio. Its over 2,900 functions, including random number generation, metric conversion and object measurement, make it a great tool for any mathematical project.
5. Learn a language: Learning a new language not only creates new neural pathways in the brain, it can be just the motivational ticket you need to finally visit that bucket list destination you’ve been dreaming of. While formal lessons are great, you can help ensure your skills truly progress through conversation. Lean on services like Tandem to connect with a language partner.
By taking on new hobbies and expanding your interests, you can carve out a retirement that is active, adventurous and good for your body, mind and soul.
How to plan a memorable, celebratory retirement party
Professionals spend years saving for retirement. Many enroll in an employer-sponsored retirement plan the moment they begin their careers in their early twenties, and continue to build their nest egg until the day they officially call it quits.
The effort people put into retirement planning makes the moment individuals call it a career worthy of an extraordinary celebration. The following retirement planning party tips can ensure a celebration that suits an occasion as significant as the day professionals call it a career.
• Pick a unique venue. Whether the party will be a sizable affair with a guest list that includes long-time colleagues and friends or a smaller gathering with a retiree’s close knit inner circle, a unique venue underscores how significant a moment
and achievement retirement is. For larger affairs, shop around for venues in much the same way you might when celebrating other milestones, such as a child’s graduation from college or a wedding. If the guest list includes just a handful of friends and family members, consider planning a trip to a resort locale or renting an impressive home through a site like Airbnb or Vrbo.
• Take a stroll down Memory Lane. In the months leading up to the celebration, work with the retiree to identify key moments and people in his or her career. A photo montage of those notable moments and individuals can be a great way to commemorate a lengthy career and simultaneously thank and honor the people who helped along the way. Play the montage for guests at a key moment during the party.
• Ask colleagues to share well wishes. Brief messages from colleagues, whether they’re delivered via handwritten letters or videos each individual films, can be a great way to show the guest of honor how much he or she meant to others throughout their careers. Messages can be incorporated into a montage video or shared privately with the guest of honor.
• Kick the curfew to the curb. It might have been a while since a newly minted retiree had a late night, but a retirement party can stretch into the wee hours. After all, the guest of honor won’t need to wake up for work the next day (or any other day), so let invitees know that the party will keep going well into the night. If booking a venue for the party, plan an after party at your home for a handful of guests who
are particularly close with the guest of honor.
• Keep the focus on fun. While reaching retirement is a celebratory moment that merits a good party, many retirees also feel a degree of sorrow because they’re leaving behind rewarding careers they worked so hard to build. Such sentiments may not be entirely avoidable, but party planners can emphasize fun and a festive atmosphere to ensure the night is celebratory and not sorrowful. Book a band and submit a play list of the retiree’s favorite songs, and encourage guests to dance the night away.
The day professionals reach retirement merits a celebration that’s worthy of the years of hard work and dedication individuals put in over the course of their careers.
Enjoyable ways for seniors to savor spring
After a cold winter, there’s often nothing better than the arrival of spring. From the moment those first crocuses and tulips peek their heads out of the soil to the days of cherry blossoms in full bloom, spring is a time of sunshine, warmth and a renewed sense of vitality.
to grow. It’s important to wait until the threat of overnight frost has subsided. Gardening can be a thorough workout, so it’s important for seniors to go slowly as they acclimate to this type of activity.
• Relax outside. Seniors can soak up vitamin D and enjoy the sounds of nature by spending time on a deck or the front porch. Any activity that was typically done indoors, such as reading a book, listening to music, engaging in a hobby, and more, can be moved outside.
Seniors who may have spent much of the winter cooped up indoors often are inspired by warmer temperatures to venture outside once again when spring has sprung. According to UC Davis Health, time outdoors provides a host of health benefits, and seniors who embrace the great outdoors can reap those rewards. Studies show that nature has a positive effect on the body by reducing cortisol levels and demands on the cardiovascular system and relieving muscle tension. Being outside in sunshine (with the use of sunscreen) can increase vitamin D levels, which is important for a healthy immune system and strong bones.
Embracing the many ways to enjoy spring is relatively easy to do. The following are some ways seniors can make the most of spring.
• Plant a garden. Spring is a time when the ground has thawed and the soil is warm enough to begin planting a garden. Individuals should refer to their particular agricultural zones to determine when to plant. Certain plants need a specific number of hours of sunlight and minimum temperatures
• Explore local wildlife. Trees and flowers are not the only things renewed by spring. Many animals give birth in spring and there might be little ones frolicking. Seniors can look for bunnies, fledglings chirping in bird nests, spotted fawns, and young foxes around their neighborhoods.
• Attend an open-air event. Whether it’s a concert or an outdoor theater performance, seniors can look to local entertainment as a way to get outside and have a little fun.
• Bike or walk the neighborhood. Seniors can find serene paths to bike or walk. Dog owners can take their pooches for a stroll, or meet up with other friends and begin a walking club for camaraderie and exercise.
Seniors can make the most of the warm weather and extended daylight hours of spring to enjoy many outdoor activities.
Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Retired NBA power forward Brian Grant; best-selling musician Neil Diamond; star of television and film Michael J. Fox; and the fortyfirst president of the United States, George H.W. Bush, have had wildly different careers, but all shared one thing in common: Parkinson’s disease. This is proof positive that PD touches people from all walks of life.
The National Institutes of Health say Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects people of all ages, races and genders. Certain factors can increase the risk of developing PD, including being over the age of 60, being male, having a family history of the disease, and exposure to certain toxins like pesticides and herbicides.
Symptoms of PD start slowly and can worsen over time. The Mayo Clinic says the first symptom of the disease may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand or sometimes the jaw or foot. While there is no cure for PD, early intervention therapies may slow its progression, making diagnosis at the earliest of symptoms advantageous. The following are some of the common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, courtesy of the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Mayo Clinic.
• A slight shaking (tremor) in a finger, thumb, hand, or chin while at rest.
• Small handwriting, also known as micrographia, may be a sign of PD. This is when letter sizes are
smaller and the words are crowded together.
• Slowed movement, also called bradykinesia, can be a symptom. People with bradykinesia may find it hard to get out of a chair, shower or get dressed. Bradykinesia also may make it more difficult to blink and a person may have less expression in his or her face.
• Although a loss of sense of smell can be linked to a respiratory condition like the common cold or even COVID-19, no longer smelling certain foods also might be a symptom of PD.
• Loss of automatic movements, such as smiling or swinging arms while walking, can occur.
• Those with PD often have diminished posture that becomes stooped, causing balance problems and falls.
• Voice changes, such as a breathy, soft or hoarse voice, could be an indicator of PD, as can slurring of words.
• Facial masking, which involves a serious or angry looking face, is present in some people with PD.
Additional potential symptoms of PD can include vivid dreams that cause acting out, frequent need to urinate, constipation, feeling very tired, and problems with thinking and memory.
A person should see a health care professional if any of these symptoms seem familiar. A doctor can help diagnose the condition and rule out other potential causes.
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