Senior Living Magazine Island Edition January 2012 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

JANUARY 2012 TM

Vancouver Island’s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

• Seniors Don Their Tap Shoes • A Sound Mind in a Sound Body • Zooming with Zumba Gold • Paddlers Compete in the Ancient Sport of Dragon Boat Racing And much more...

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JANUARY 2012

Be Your Best �� At Any Age

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FEATURES

30 Classiﬁeds

6 Everyone Loves a Good Tapper

Socializing, exercising brain and body or performing – tap dancing can be fun and inspiring for all ages.

8 A Sound Mind in a Sound Body

Creating emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual balance throughout one’s life.

10 Dragon Power

31 BBB Scam Alert Cover Photo: Tap dancer Paul Miles in performance costume. Photo: Vernice Shostal

Once afraid of the water, paddler Donna James got bitten by dragon boat fever.

14 Zooming Along with Zumba Gold

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Dynamic dance-ﬁtness classes have taken the world by storm, including a modiﬁed version for active seniors.

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18 Nostalgia in January

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20 Captivating Kyiv

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16 Taking the Stairs Improves Your Mind The beneﬁts of physical ﬁtness are widely known, but incidental exercise also has its merits.

4 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

28 Ask Goldie

Ancient cathedrals, lively street performers and feasts of traditional fare are all part of the Ukrainian experience.

24 Creative Haven

One Nanaimo couple has turned their entire property into a showcase of their creativity.

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by Goldie Carlow

29 Courageous & Outrageous by Pat Nichol

32 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Senior Living (Vancouver Island) is published by Stratis Publishing. Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Coordinator/Designer Steffany Gundling Copy Editor Allyson Mantle Advertising Manager Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 For advertising information, call 250-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Sales Staff Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-479-4705 ext 104 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

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Editorial Oct 2011.indd 1

COLUMNS

This time of year causes us to look forward and look back at the old year and past years, as we take stock and review our life’s balance sheet.

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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

BY BARBARA SMALL

Making Time for Leisure Activities When Caregiving

hen providing care and support for someone, over the long term, you can provide better care if you care for yourself as well. Family caregivers have a tendency to give up their own activities and interests in order to prioritize care. Their social life disappears, hobbies and interests are forgotten, they are less physically active and family leisure time diminishes. Some family caregivers feel guilty if they take time for themselves, and others are too tired or too busy. However, research shows that leisure has a positive effect on mood and self-esteem and decreases stress and loneliness. Introducing leisure time back into your life will benefit both you and the person you are caring for because you will be more rested and less resentful of what you have to give up. How might you begin to introduce leisure time and pleasurable activities back into your life? First, start by identifying what you enjoy doing. What activities did you used to do that you can make time for again? Did you once play bridge every week, enjoy painting, exercising, reading, cooking, playing golf, gardening or going to the theatre? Do you prefer to do activities on your own or with others in a group? Which members of your social network might you approach to plan an outing? What days and times work best for you? Will you need to arrange for someone to cover for you or can your family member stay on his of her own for a short period?

An activity doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. Even 30-minute or one-hour breaks throughout the week can help replenish your energy or help you reconnect with others. January is a great time to explore what is available in your community through the various recreation centres or other community centres that offer not only fitness classes but also cooking, craft, gardening and other special interest classes. You do not have to sacrifice your own life and what you enjoy doing in order to be an effective caregiver. Maintaining balance is important in all aspects of your life, and when people focus too much in any one area, other areas suffer. Balance doesn’t just happen, it is created by choice: choosing to make time for leisure activities means choosing to make time for your own health and well-being. This, alone, can SL make you a more effective caregiver. Next month: Managing the transition into facility placement Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

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Fitness & Leisure

Everyone Loves a Good Tapper BY VERNICE SHOSTAL

Photo: Vernice Shostal

riginating in the United States over 300 years ago, tap dance has its roots in both traditional British jigs and African folk dance. Characterized by the sound of tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussion instrument, the dance is sometimes performed as part of a music theatre. Judy Somers, an adult tapper for the last several years, wanted to dance since she was a child. Since there were no dance classes in B.C.’s interior where Judy grew up, her mother, a Shirley Temple contemporary, taught Judy the dance steps she remembered from lessons she had taken in her youth. Having enjoyed Bollywood, ballroom and belly dancing later, Judy was in her mid-40s when a friend suggested they take an adult tap class. “Let’s do it,” was Judy’s response. She loved the patterns and the music and has been tap dancing ever since. An education media producer for distance education courses at the University of Victoria, Judy says, “I have never been in a team sport, but I think there’s a similar team spirit in our dance class, especially when we’re practising for a performance. Many of the gals in our group have been together for several years, so there’s a real social part to the class, as well as the exercise. If I go to class in a grumpy mood, I come out with a smile.” Dancing once a week, Judy says her hips may be a bit sore after a dance night, if she doesn’t stretch, but it’s always worth it. Blessed with a creative imagination, Judy says, “In my mind, on a good night, I’m Ann Miller or Ginger Rogers. I love to dance, and with tap dancing, you’re not dependent on having a Tap dancer partner when the music inspires you.” Brenda Jagdis Judy recommends tap dancing to anyone who enjoys camaraderie and moving to upbeat music. Beginner classes are offered at local recreation centres and “guest nights” at various dance studios encourage newcomers. Dancing since she was seven, Brenda Jagdis tried ballet and stage performance dance but then moved on to dancing in a studio, where she had a chance to perform in more than just the into a group of supportive friends with whom she socializes. The year-end shows. While a university student in her 20s, Brenda camaraderie started when they decided to sew their own costumes joined the Jerry Gosley Smile Show, a song-and-dance comedy to perform in a festival. Brenda offered to co-ordinate the producroutine that ran six shows a week for two months every summer tion, but everyone worked together with fabric and patterns laid out on the floor, and everyone took part even if they couldn’t sew. and continued for 30 years. In addition to dancing, Brenda co-ordinates the Jerry Gos“Tap dance keeps my brain mobile and flexible and sharp,” says Brenda. In tap, “you have to be doing one thing and think of what ley Memorial Arts Fund Scholarship Program, a scholarship for you’re going to do next and beyond that. You have to be able to post-secondary students studying music theatre full time. She also co-ordinate your head, direction, position, your arms, your legs and works with DanceWorks, a society that promotes dance through your body as well as how you look.” Although she enjoys the prac- workshops, financial support and festival. “Dancing is something tise, Brenda finds “the pure joy comes from performing on stage.” that fulfills me,” she says. Inge Ranzinger in herBrenda home has encouraged two of her friends to start tapRecently, A former infant development consultant with a bachelor’s degree with one her paintings. ping.of She highly recommends the exercise to people her age. in child and youth care, Brenda says her tap dance class has evolved 6

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Paul Miles’ parents enrolled him in tap dance lessons when he was eight. “I felt quite ‘lost’ after my first lesson,” he says, “but was determined to catch up. I later enjoyed the special attention accorded to male tap dancers.” Paul learned modern, jazz, ballet and Spanish dancing in the ’60s when he lived in what was then Rhodesia. There, he won trophies in dance festivals and distinctions in tap exams. Later, in his teens and early 20s, he danced and performed in a number of musical productions. From Rhodesia, his family moved to Malawi and then to South Africa. Finally, looking for a better life for his family, at age 46, Paul and his wife, Leigh, brought their family to Canada where Paul soon reconnected with theatre performances. That led to taking more tap dancing lessons. He passed his ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) tap examinations up to Associate Teacher level. According to Paul, dancing may be approached in many ways: as an exercise, as a learning experience that focuses on conveying techniques for movement and physical expression, or as a public performance concerned with entertaining the audience. Paul’s greatest interest has always been in entertaining the audience. “I’m a firm believer in the great power of humour,” he says. “I think that tap dance performances should generally express ‘joie de vivre.’” Although dance, even tap, can express pathos, Paul believes “that should be the exception rather than the rule.” Paul takes the opportunity to dance in festivals and music theatres whenever the opportunity arises. He finds tap dancing a stress relieving contrast to his administrative/accounting day job, and a purposeful way to socialize. He believes tap dancing can be enjoyed well into one’s senior years. “Dancing makes me feel good about myself and provides a sense of achievement,” he says. Whether socializing, exercising the brain and the body, or performing, the musical tap dance can be fun and inspiring for all ages. SL Everyone loves a good tapper. For information about adult tap dancing, visit the Dance Victoria website at www. DanceVictoria.com or call 250-595-1829.

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JANUARY 2012

Fitness & Leisure

A Sound Mind in a Sound Body BY JAMES ELLSWORTH

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Meditation is another strategy that promotes calm self-reflection. The technique encourages a peaceful mind by taking time to focus on breathing, muscle relaxing and visualizing. Often, but not necessarily connected to Buddhist concepts, the techniques are very good for eliminating distractions and stress. Perhaps more important is that meditation can promote a positive rather than a negative outlook, which studies say are key to aging and well-being. Victoria even offers free drop-in noon mediations at the Bodhichitta Buddhist Centre on Douglas Street. Book clubs are another way to possibly help address intellectual, emotional and spiritual sides. It is true there are gender differences in reading but both men and women can

Photo: James Ellsworth

uvenal, the Roman writer, used the motto, mens sana in corpore sano, meaning a sound mind in a healthy body. John Locke, the English philosopher, said “if you had those two elements in your life, you would have little else to wish for.” Taking care of the mind and the body are imperative for seniors aiming for fitness and leisure fulfillment. And it seems that the B.C. coast is a great area to practise those strategies. There is increasing research on the aging mind and body, called age identity. It seems new terms such as “felt age” or “subjective age” may be a more important factor than chronological age. Dr. Becca Levy said in a 2006 Yale University study that pessimism about elderly decline becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Better to be half-full than half-empty. In another study Dr. Ellen Langer, a Harvard University psychologist, asked men in their 70s and 80s to relive or act 20 years younger over a retro weekend. The men subsequently behaved younger and more independently. A University of Toronto sociologist, Dr. Markus Schafer, in a 2010 study on age identity said that learning new things, reading in a new area, or at least trying to become connected with new technologies and platforms are some ways to feel on average 12 years younger. Dr. Levy concluded that attitude or expectation, not biology, leads many to set limits for themselves. Victoria and Vancouver are ideal locales to foster healthy age identity. There are always active peers and like-minded people visible running, biking, and walking dogs. A May 2009 Maclean’s poll showed that Victoria ranked third and Vancouver seventh among Canadian city-dwellers who spend on sports and recreation. It makes it easier to try the strategies that researchers suggest when so many around are role models in an active city. Socrates of Ancient Athens fame said that the first order of wisdom was to know oneself; an unexamined life was not good. The ancients also viewed people as having four sides – emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual, and they must remain in balance. Getting older and retirement are transition periods in life and usually represent a crossroads. The process can be wrought with the confusion and that goes along with change. To ignore any side can be harmful but the emotional and spiritual probably are omitted more than the others. Several tests and questionnaires can assist with self-reflection and self-knowledge – what Socrates called the examined life. If not directly spiritual, they can at least help a person focus on discovering needs at any stage in life. Whether people are left-brained or right-brained in their approach to solutions, introverted or extroverted, linear or random thinkers, knowing these tendencies can help give perspective to any transition. Online questionnaires and analysis can open the door for consideration and discussion.

55+ locker room at the 2011 Playmakers’ Hockey Tournament

benefit from the stimulation of reading in new fields, and from socializing. Statistics Canada (1998 Canadians’ Reading Habits) showed that men read as often as women. For instance, although somewhat more females read books than males, 68 to 54 per cent, over a quarter of men (27 per cent) read at least a book a week. Also, both sexes read at least a book a month with almost the same frequency, about 35 per cent. That means that a third could be in book clubs, mixed or uni-gender, and use it as a vehicle for intellectual fitness. When one thinks of fitness though, one more stereotypically focuses on physical activity, the sound body. The west coast has many bike trails and walkways, but 55+ year-olds also are taking part in friendly competitive events too, such as running and hockey. For 32 years, Victoria has been hosting the Good Life Fitness Victoria Marathon, which features not only the marathon but also a half-marathon and an 8 km road race each Thanksgiving weekend. In 2011, there were participants from 16 countries and a chance to

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run with Olympians. The statistics for men and women aged 55 to 80+ were remarkable. • 13 per cent of the runners in the marathon were over 55 years old, including 12 runners over 70 years • 14 per cent of the runners in the half-marathon were 55+, including 13 who were 70+ • Of the 702 participants over 55 in the half-marathon, women outnumbered men (373 to 329) • 18 per cent of the runners in the 8 km were 55+, and again there were more women racing than men (240 to 206) • 34 men and women over 65 years old participated in the marathon, including two who were over 80 years old. Some “seniors” are part of teams raising money for charities; some run because they can; and everyone loves the event, especially the last 2 km, lined with cheering throngs. The Times Colonist 10 km road race has been held around Easter for the last 22 years. Interestingly, in the 2011 event for 55 years old and up categories, there were more than twice as many female participants (1,880 to 702). There were even seven women in the 80-84 division, one more than the men. If running appeals as a physical fitness activity, then there is plenty of company out there. Many seniors also participate in the BC Senior Games for those 55 years old plus. It has track and field events as well as a bevy of other activities like dragon boating, bowling and ice hockey. Speaking of Canada’s game, Victoria also hosts an annual Playmakers’ ice hockey tournament every spring. At the 22nd tourney held April 4-9, 2011, over 40 teams gathered, approximately 700 players over 55 years old. Thirty-four of them were over 80 on two teams; and for the first time, there was one forward line comprised of 90 year olds. Doug Shorting, treasurer for the tournament said the name “Playmaker” was chosen to represent fun and friendship. “We wanted to give more emphasis to the guys who made passes and set up goals, not the goal scorers themselves,” says Shorting. “There is no trophy and no individual records or stats are kept. It’s all for the love of the game.” Research shows the saying, “You’re as young as you feel” has credibility, especially if one has a positive attitude and gets active. There are many strategies for addressing what even the ancients knew, that keeping a balanced life is important at any age or stage. Yes, keeping the mind and the body sound is paramount. SL For links to online questionnaires, meditation locations in Victoria and local running events, visit Senior Living magazine at www.seniorlivingmag.com/soundmind

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CORRECTION NOTICE In Margaret Growcott’s article “Beyond the Dust” in the December 2011 issue, the measurements of Grette Wilkinson’s glass blasting booth built by her husand, Alfred, should have been 8’ x 4’ x 8’ and not 8” x 4” x 8”. We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

JANUARY 2012

Fitness & Leisure

DRAGON POWER BY MARGARET GROWCOTT

SENIOR LIVING

Sunshine Dragons (a mixed seniors team of the Sunshine Club of Port Alberni) on Sproat Lake, Port Alberni.

Whiteman who suggested the Rotary might be willing to support her. Just before Christmas 1999, the Port Alberni Dragon Boat Society was formed, and Donna found several other interested people. Kenn Whiteman was instrumental in helping Donna with the fundraising through garage sales, car washes, bottle drives, a magic show, a Last Chance Diamond Mine and many private donations. “Just to remind us why we were doing this, and because we had no boat yet, we practised in a local church on kindergarWWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Photos: Margaret Growcott

onna James of Port Alberni had a lifelong fear of water after nearly drowning as a child. Today, she spends much of her time on a huge lake, paddling a dragon boat. Born and raised in Alberta, Donna says, “I first saw a dragon boat in Vancouver at the 1986 Expo, but it didn’t mean too much to me then. I had never really been interested in boats because of my horrible experience when I was little. My initial feeling on seeing what amounted to a sort of canoe with a dragon head and tail attached was that it might interest my son. It turned out he was very interested and he soon got involved in dragon boat teams in Vancouver.” That’s how it was for a while, until Donna and her husband went to see their son paddle in a Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver in 1997. “I was fascinated and saw immediately that it was very different from canoeing. I suddenly realized I had been bitten by the dragon and knew I had to try it.” Donna’s initial request to Parks & Recreation in Port Alberni to start a Dragon Boat team received a resounding “No”: there was no boat available. Donna discovered a team in nearby Qualicum, formed by Breast Cancer Survivors – “Hope Afloat.” The team was invited to Port Alberni to give a demonstration. This would whet Donna’s appetite even more. “I jumped into the boat and was all fired up,” she recalls. “It was my dream to have a dragon boat in Port Alberni.” But it would be another few years before her dream came true. Donna happened to mention her dream to Rotary Club member Kenn

ten chairs,” says Donna. The fledgling group, called the Alberni Wave Riders, was determined to enter the Vancouver International Dragon Boat Festival in 2000 even though they still had no boat. Undaunted, they prepared by driving to Victoria twice, where they hired a coach and boat so they could really get the feel of the sport. With 180 teams participating in the Vancouver Festival, Donna’s novice team from Port Alberni came in second at the B Event. By April 2001, the team had raised

$22,000, and was able to have a boat made by Vincent Lowe, a boat builder in Vancouver. Their dragon boat was a traditional “6/16 boat,” meaning it had 20 paddlers, one steersperson and one drummer. For those unfamiliar with dragon boating, 6/16 means six deep strokes followed by 16 fast strokes to get the boat to plane on the surface, skimming the water. Unlike a canoe, when moving, a dragon boat sits on top of, rather than in the water. Very stable, it cannot tip over and sink, owing to its unique construction. “I feel safe in the dragon boat, because of its inherent stability and because we are never too far from the shore,” says Donna, who paddles several times a week on nearby beautiful Sproat Lake.

Sunshine Dragons with Donna James at the helm. Today, Port Alberni has three dragon boats, all 6/16 types, and they all belong to the West Coast Dragon Boat Society, from which all four Alberni teams rent the boats. Donna coaches and paddles with the Sunshine Dragons (a mixed seniors team) and the Paddle Pushers (women only), having received her Dragon Boat Coach training in Vancouver and Victoria. The two other Port Alberni teams are the Ladies of the Lake (women only) and the Alberni Wave Riders (mixed). Traditionally, dragon boats were made of teak, but nowadays they are a mixture of wood and fibreglass and sometimes include other materials. The boat is 40 feet (12.2 metres) long and weighs 1,500 lbs (680 kg). “An advantage of this sport,” says Donna, 79, “is that any age can do this, including kids.” The teams launch the boats on the first Sunday in April and paddle all summer taking part in many regattas on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, with a winding-up festival on the last Sunday of September. They have won many medals and ribbons over the last 10 years. Continued on page 13...

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HARVEST

An avid sportswoman, if not actually participating, Donna is volunteering, supporting others, and over the years she has been a volunteer for a number of sporting events, including the 2004 B.C. Winter Games hosted by Port Alberni. She was notably the first Lady President of the Alberni Valley Golf Club, a beautiful 18-hole course out at Cherry Creek. Being a “stunt girl” at the annual Alberni Forest Fest is also on Donna’s agenda; she masquerades as an Edwardian-era passenger on the steam train, which is frequently held up and robbed by the notorious, horse-riding Beaufort Gang. Dragon boating is the fastest growing team sport and has become a passion for Donna. She also paddles in an outrigger canoe but, as she says, it is the noise and the hype of racing in the dragon boat that she loves most. “Dragon Boat Festivals are wonderful: teams hanging out, jostling each other, waiting for that adrenalin rush once we get in the boat.”

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THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI from O. Henry stories, book & lyrics by Mark St. Germain, music & lyrics by Randy Courts

She has been prey to back pain from time to time, but is still addicted to activity, be it tai chi, line dancing, golf, curling, exercising at Curves, or just walking. She says all sports help with her back problems, especially paddling. Going back to its origins, there is a spiritual aspect to dragon boating, which has its roots in ancient folk rituals of competing villagers held over the past 2,000 years in Southern China. Like the original Games of Olympia in Ancient Greece, it included aspects of religion, community, and ceremony, along with the competition. Donna is emphatic. “Well, whatever the origins, maybe there is something spiritual about it because it’s my passion. The paddling keeps us young and fit. When some team members went to get flu shots, the nurse was very impressed with our muscle tone.” Testament to the health benefits of paddling, members of the Sunshine Dragons, several of whom have had hip and knee replacements as well as breast cancer surgery, were seen to climb swiftly and sprightly out of their boat onto the dock SL at picture-perfect Sproat Lake. For more information, or to get involved, call 250-723-6865.

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Fitness & Leisure

ZOOMING ALONG WITH ZUMBA GOLD

ith a slightly decreased intensity, Zumba Gold is a group fitness class aimed at active seniors, baby boomers or anyone beginning a healthier lifestyle. I signed up for seven sessions of Zumba Gold, and I feel like I’ve finally found my fitness niche. I’m not alone in being a “tad” slower or unco-ordinated while loving every minute of it. I have unleashed the “hidden dancer” in me, while enjoying a surprising workout wrapped in a dance party atmosphere. Zumba instructor Claire Handley cheerfully announces at the start of class, “It doesn’t matter if you start out on the wrong foot. And, if you swing the wrong arm and knock your neighbour over, just pick her up, dust her off and keep on moving! The main thing is to enjoy yourselves.” “Zumba” has been a registered trademark since 2001, when Columbians Alberto “Beto” Perez, Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion joined forces to bring this dynamic dance-fitness to the masses. Their goal was to spread the philosophy of health, happiness and loving everything you do, especially your workout. The three young men used a mixture of music, ranging from Latin to rock and blending dance steps borrowed from salsa, calypso, reggae, merengue, tango, mambo, samba and cha-cha. Zumba organizers claim there are more than 12 million people in over 110,000 locations from more than 125 countries enjoying weekly Zumba classes. Appealing to all ages, shapes and sizes, Zumba brings out the dancer in everyone who tries it. It is pure energized fun, burns off calories and leaves participants smiling. All you need is loose, comfortable clothing, lightweight sneakers, a bottle of water and a fun attitude. For me, the seven weeks have flown by. Most of my classmates agree as they quickly register for the next series of class-

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Zumba Instructor Claire Handley leading the class, Cathy (dressed in black), Monica (in stripes) and Kathy (wearing white t-shirt).

es. “I’ve tried different fitness classes, but this is the one that’s most fun to do,” says classmate Maureen. “I look forward to my Zumba Gold Wednesdays.” Kathy echoes the sentiment, “I never thought I’d look forward to fitness classes, but this is a fun class that keeps you moving.” In addition to Zumba Gold, several other types of Zumba classes are available in Victoria, including Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning and Aqua Zumba. Zumba Gold offers a satisfying workout with modified moves, yet the music never makes the “Zumbers” feel they are doing dreaded exercise. Monica sums up what we all feel. “It’s so much fun you don’t realize you’re exercising!” The three Albertos would be happy to hear that. SL For class locations and times in your area, visit Senior Living magazine at www.seniorlivingmag.com/zumbagold

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Photo: Judee Fong

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ignificant research indicates that physical activity is beneficial for good mental health. Simply improving circulation can have a huge impact on the brain. Many people think staying mentally fit has little to do with physical exercise. Not true. In fact, physical activity can help improve one’s mood, ability to cope and general well-being. Some researchers suggest that exercise works by helping to distract from negative, anxiety producing thoughts that often fill inactive minds. While that may be part of the equation, the larger

BY DON LESTER

their future and themselves. Incidental exercise includes housework, cycling to work, using stairs instead of the elevator, gardening and even walking. So, the kind of exercise that helps the brain is easy to do. Exercise also causes an increase in the release of the brain chemicals like endorphins that affect mood and create that happy feeling. Take a few minutes during the day to raise the heart rate and get the blood pumping. The result: feeling more alert and better able to handle the day. Several studies suggest regular exercise helps reduce the risk of be-

Several studies suggest regular exercise helps reduce the risk of becoming depressed and decreases the symptoms in those who are already clinically depressed. part has to do with blood circulation. Sitting still starves one’s brain of a good oxygen supply. The longer the brain goes with this reduced oxygen supply, the more likely it is that memory and thinking problems will set in. Before long, thinking slows and it gets more difficult to think about complex ideas. When the body is sedentary for a while, whether sitting at a computer or in front of a TV, it changes and the metabolism slows down. This slowing of the metabolism means blood flow reduces, so circulation reduces to supply only the body core in an effort to conserve energy and provide the best blood flow to the heart and digestive system. This is why muscles shrink and become weak, if people stay inactive for too long. This doesn’t mean a heavy exercise routine is necessary; getting active with incidental exercise helps people feel better physically and mentally about WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

coming depressed and decreases the symptoms in those who are already clinically depressed. So, if it can help with depression, it must be good for general mental health. As humans age, they experience brain cell loss, decreases in reaction time, and decreases in nerve activity. After the age of 25, maximum oxygen uptake by exercising decreases by up to 25 per cent, per decade. Decreases in hormones cause the rates of depression to increase, while motivation decreases, all of this contributing to a possible reduction in daily function. But, regular exercise can reduce or eliminate all these adverse effects of aging on the physical and mental health of anyone over the age of 25, even though it cannot halt many of the physical changes that occur with aging. Stay mentally young by keeping SL physically busy.

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JANUARY 2012

Nostalgia in January BY NAOMI BETH WAKAN

ell, we are into the New Year and the heavy nostalgia we indulged in over the holidays has gone, or has it? At this time, looking back to the old year and past years, we often do a kind of stocktaking, a look at our life’s balance sheet. Sometimes, we look back with longing, and that kind of yearning we call nostalgia. Of course, these memories rarely resemble reality. It’s as if we are searching for an anchor, a benchmark of a perfect time in our lives. Whatever Eden we remember with nostalgia, one thing is for sure, and that is that we can never fully restructure it into the present. Wishing to do so can only cause suffering. Remembering happy times and places can give us the strength to go on, but being stuck in our memories can only bring on a feeling of melancholy, and eventually depression at the impossibility of ever having those good times again. But were they truly good times, or do we just selectively remember them that way? People are very good at colouring the past. Many of those memories may not actually have been so good while they happened, and perhaps our present yearning makes them appear more attractive. Nostalgia rounds off the sharp edges of times that may not have happened as we remember them. “Good old days” often depend on a bad memory. Psychologists seem to think that it is at times of transition that the past pulls us most strongly, and certainly moving into a new year could be counted as such a time. We may be full of hope, we may be full of fear for the coming year, either way we are tense and as Owens Lee Pomeroy reminds us, that at such times “Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect!” According to researchers, men’s nostalgia is triggered mostly by views of dated cars and sports equipment – an antique Chevrolet, an old, favoured hockey stick. Women, on the other hand, can be apparently dissolved in memories by the touching of textiles or china: a lace doily that went under a favourite vase, a teacup celebrating a coronation. Whatever has triggered the nostalgia, memory lane seems to lead most of us to pastoral moments in our childhood. watching a child dancing with her shadow and suddenly I’m longing for my childhood when my feet skipped along the clouds 18

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Although a small-town girl myself, my nostalgia, oddly enough, is for a time and place I never really experienced – it is for a thatched cottage in a hedge-rowed English village. Later, as I tried to recreate it on five acres in Ontario, I found the work to maintain the property was killing, and though in my fifties, during those years I looked as though I was in my seventies. In my nostalgic reveries, I had discounted the lack of plumbing, the servitude of the farm labourer, the woes of poverty, the wretched social system that kept the cottager pulling at his/her forelock as the lord of the manor swaggered by etc., not to mention the extreme fire-hazard of a thatched roof. My dreams had all been Miss Marple’s village or that of Midsomer Murders (sans the killings). Nostalgia, for sure, does not involve critical analysis. Researchers say most nostalgia is for our teen years, which I find amazing since that hormone-jangling time is more associated in my mind with angst. However, I will relate that my husband does burst into song (as we lie in bed listening to the oldies and goldies) when tunes from his adolescent years come on the radio. We have a slight dilemma here for I am 14 years older than he, and so I lean towards nostalgia for Bing and Frankie, while he is with Elvis and the Beach Boys. We found a happy solution for our musical nostalgia though with a station that covers 70 years of music, thus including both of our musical memories. There is nothing like a tune to set memories going of supposedly better times. It’s odd that wartime melodies bring back floods of reminders, for even though they were bad years, they were also wonderful in the camaraderie, the breaking down of social class separation, the togetherness in a single aim that they provided. The other day, I picked up a first edition copy of the sheet music for “Lily Marlene” and although that was a song of the at-that-time enemy, in some strange way it became one of ours too. The wartime songs of 60 years ago have the ability to swamp a person with nostalgia. For the British, the name Vera Lynn brings up a slew of titles – “We’ll Meet Again” and “The White Cliffs of Dover” are a couple that spring immediately to mind, and even though I have only once had a glimpse of those white cliffs, somehow when I hear the title, let alone her voice, my eyes water up. Healthy? Unhealthy? Nostalgia, though thought to be value neutral, leans slightly to the negative. When I am overly nostalgic, I ask myself “Is it that I am so discontented with the present, or so dreading the future, that past memories seem to be sweeping over me a lot these days?” A critical analysis of the past, for example thinking the humanity

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Featured Business of small-town main streets was more cohesive for a community than shopping malls on the outskirts of a town, is emotionally neutral. Most memories aren’t. I think a brief mourning of good times never to return is appropriate, but absorption in the past and the melancholy that hangs over such memories is not. Just as too many daydreams of how the future might be can shatter the present, so too strong a yearning for things long gone can drain us of the energy we need to make the here and now as joyful as possible. Perhaps we are, for the most part, less nostalgic these days than previous generations since most of us lead highly mobile lives: living in many different places and changing occupations several times. So, it is hard to select at what time or in what place to fix our nostalgia. this lifetime of so many moves that when I have a longing to go home, I can no longer recall where it would be

Creating Health and Wellness One Body at a Time By Starr Munro Pain and suffering caused by health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and stroke can seriously impede your quality of life. But with regular use of Hot Health System’s Whole Body Vibration Trainer you can free your body from the shackles of pain and find the freedom to live your best life. “Easy to operate, the Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Trainer is an exercise machine that applies Vibration Exercise technology to stimulate the body’s natural response to vibration,” says Sharry Yaeck, Vice President of Hot Health Systems, retailer of the WBV Trainer. “It only takes ten minutes on a WBV Trainer to achieve the same health benefits as if you went for an hourlong run.” “The machine works by sending vibrations or waves of energy throughout the body, which activate muscle contractions at 30 to 50 times per second. The vibrations help stimulate blood circulation. This in turn moves more oxygen through the body, helping muscles to become more flexible and aiding the lymphatic drainage system to remove waste substances that cause pain,” says Sharry. “The benefits of this gentle, yet effective, therapeutic training machine are just amazing.” Originally invented in the 1960’s by Russian scientists seeking a cure for osteoporosis, Vibration Exercise technology has been utilized extensively within the aerospace industry. Russian astronauts used it to strengthen their bodies to combat the weakening effects of living in zero gravity. American astronauts training on conventional fitness equipment were only able to sustain 120 days in space, while Russian astronauts using Vibration Exercise were able to spend 420 days in space. Medical researchers are currently exploring the impacts of Vibration Exercise for victims of stroke and spinal cord injuries.

“Regular use of the WBV Trainer results in more stamina and energy; increased flexibility, mobility and coordination; and rapid recovery of muscles tissue,” says Sharry. “Managers of seniors residences tell us that the residents who use the Trainer are finding their incontinence improved and restless legs a thing of the past. They’re getting rid of their canes and walkers due to increased muscle strength and improved balance, and getting rid of inhalers while cutting down the amount of time they need to be on oxygen. Sciatica and back pain are relieved.” “People who use the WBV Trainer are always saying ‘thank you,’ ‘thank you.’ ‘I no longer have arthritis pain, I’m sleeping better now, my back pain is gone.’ Our clients are so grateful,” says Sharry. “It is a matter of personal integrity that our customers are not only happy with their purchase, but impressed with their overall improved health.” “I used to have a very fast heart rate - over 90 bpm - now my heart has gotten stronger and my heart rate has lowered to just over 80 bpm on average. And I am losing weight!” - Joanne, Regina, SK “I have sciatica from my hip to my toes and this machine reduces my pain for the full day. I don’t know what’s doing it but I generally feel much better. I wouldn’t be without it now!” - Dave (age 91) “My mother had a very severe stroke a year ago and we could never get her to go for physiotherapy. After starting to use the vibration machine, she got her balance back and started getting stronger. So now she is willing to go out for physio treatments.” - Ian,Victoria BC “I had a very bad accident falling off a ladder. My foot caught and was badly mangled. After using the Trainer just a few times, I have been pain free for the first time in 12 years.” - Randy, Wainwright, AB

Hot Health Systems 1-877-393-6114 OCTOBER 2009 w w w. h o t h e a l t h . c a

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JANUARY 2012

Captivating Kyiv Travel & Adventure

BY IRENE BUTLER

y great-great-grandmother was born in a village near Kyiv, and although ties to our family line in Ukraine have long been lost, I feel the tug of my ancestral roots as I step onto Kyiv soil. Within minutes of our arrival at Hotel Ukraine in central Kyiv, my husband Rick and I take the short jaunt to Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) filled with folks enjoying the 30degrees-Celsius day. People of all ages splash about in the refreshing water cascading over a wide staircase. The tiers of concrete seating around the square are packed with people sharing picnic lunches; a phalanx of pigeons at their feet waiting for crumbs. I gaze upward at the statue of the protective goddess Berehynia rising from a marble column atop a sizeable arch. It was erected in 1991 to commemorate Ukrainian independence in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse. I can only imagine the profound significance given the country’s history of over 300 years of

invasions and occupations. We take our first walk of many down Khreschatyk Street that flows from the square. Agog with its beauty, it is hard to believe this street was destroyed by the retreating Red Army in the face of the invading Nazis during the Second World War, and then completely rebuilt in the pompous style of the Stalinist era. Being the weekend, this main commercial street is closed to traffic. The atmosphere is one of mild chaos with the sheer volume of locals and visitors strolling and partaking in the delights of sidewalk cafes, or the world’s best ice cream from one of the many kiosks (whose trade we contribute to daily). Street entertainers compete for attention. My favourite is the podgy juggler standing motionless as a block of ice. A few coins placed in the hat at his feet results in a swift thaw. His face beams and his girth jiggles in time to the balls being tossed and caught with great finesse for a 20-second interval, after which he fast-freezes again – until more coinage is

Photos: Irene and Rick Butler

Procession to St. Sophia.

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St. Sophia Cathedral

dropped into his hat. The moniker “city of golden domes” attached itself to Kyiv for the abundance of majestic gilded cupolas on the numerous churches. St. Sophia’s Cathedral, the oldest standing church, was built in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, whose body is entombed within. After beholding the incredible frescoes and mosaics, some dating back almost a millennium, we are leaving the church when melodious voices draw our attention to the street. A procession of thousands spills into the church square. Men and women in traditional embroidered shirts and blouses are interspersed with clergy in full regalia of flowing robes of gold; the bishops’ ensemble topped with golden crowns. I search the crowd for a young person, who will probably speak English. A teenage girl says, “This is the anniversary of when Christianity came to Kyivan Rus.” This historic name dates back to when the Varyagi (or Rus) a Swedish Viking civilization, ruled a vast

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area of Eastern Europe with its capitol in Kyiv between the 9th and 11th centuries. Prince Volodymyr, upon visiting Constantinople 988, accepted and brought Christianity back to the powerful state of Kyivan Rus. It is then on to the smaller but stunningly beautiful Michael’s Cathedral with its bright blue exterior and statues of saints in alcoves, and St. Volodymyr’s in brilliant yellow and wealth of frescoes. Other gems we visit are the fantastical Chimera Building with giant frogs, mermaids, gargoyles and the Golden Gate (Zoloti Vorota), a reconstruction of the original entry into Old Kyiv. By now, we figure our clambering about hilly Kyiv has sufficiently built-up our calf muscles for the long undulating walk to what is commonly known in English as the Caves Monastery (Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra). This 28-hectare complex on the slopes of the Dnipro River is said to be the “Rome” of Orthodox Christianity with several churches and museums of folk art and historical treasures. The focal point for me undoubtedly is the underground monastery founded by monks Antony and Feodosiy in 1051. “The monks who entered dug the caves themselves,” says Pete, an English student on hand to translate our guide’s Ukrainian. “Their mission for the rest of their lives was continuous prayer, only interrupted by sleep and being passed food through a small window by monks who took on this duty. After death, the cave became their tomb and given the cool temperature and perfect humidity, their bodies mummified naturally.” With a candle to light our way, we move slowly along the dimly lit passages lined with glass-topped coffins where the corpses now rest. The reflection of my candle flame flickers in eerie tendrils as I peer into coffin after coffin, scanning the decoratively shrouded corpses to find the ones that reveal exposed hands. Black as basalt, but not in the least shrivelled, the hands resting across their chests are as detailed as my own with knuckle creases and fingernails. The fact that the monks’ bodies remain in this uncanny state of preservation to this day heightens the

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JANUARY 2012

conviction of believers that they were true holy men. Pilgrims and visitors come in droves; the complex is the cradle and spiritual heart of Eastern Orthodoxy. The Chornobyl Museum is high on our list of sites. There’s no English signage, but an audio device leads us through the disaster that occurred at 1:23 a.m. on April 26, 1986 when two explosions blew the top off reactor No.4; the radiation released is believed to be 100 times that of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Photos line the walls of the heroic men who risked their lives being exposed to lethal amounts of radiation, some with barely more than facemasks, in order to encase the reactor in concrete and steel. The horror is brought to life on a screen with pictures of before and after the tragedy, and of the devastation to homes and farmlands, deaths, sickness and deformities – as disturbing as it is highly informative. A stone’s throw from the museum is Andriyivsky Uzviz (Andrew’s Descent), one of the oldest and quaintest streets in Kyiv. Souvenirs from fine crafts, to tacky, to bizarre – it’s all here. I scour the lean-to-shops that fill each side of the rough cobblestone roadway and come away with some great pieces of wooden jewelry and matryoshka (nesting) dolls. Feasts of traditional fare top off our Ukrainian experience; vareniki (dough filled with potatoes and mushrooms, or meat, or cottage cheese), holubtsi (rice and meat rolled in cabbage), the list goes on – making Rick gleefully comment, “It’s worth a trip here for the food and beer alone.”

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The author and her husband, Rick, toast to Kyiv.

There is no doubt we were witnessing a great time in Kyiv’s and in Ukraine’s history: the forging of its new independent identity full of challenges and potential. The locals we encounter on our ventures are friendly and welcoming. I leave with renewed pride in my ties to this rich heritage, and both Rick SL and I agree there is much left to see – next time.

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For more photos and “If You Go” information, visit Senior Living magazine at www.seniorlivingmag.com/kyiv

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CREATIVE HAVEN Artist Proﬁle

BY CATHRYN GUNN

Bertha Frankoski at work in her studio in Nanaimo, B.C. Her own artwork adorns the walls in the background.

Wally working one of his selfinvented machines to shape and polish a stone into a vase. 24

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When they finally retired to Summerland, B.C., Wally devoted more of his time to his creative efforts, which include landscape artistry, gardening, sculpting, stonework, woodwork, painting, sewing and inventing. Bertha harvested and marketed the produce from their two-acre property, maintained the books and kept track of the family’s activities. This was a period of amazing creative activity. The Frankoskis’ park-like gardens were the site of photo sessions and weddings. Art shows, charity events, and marketing of Wally’s work earned them a certain measure of fame in the area. When they chose to relocate to Vancouver Island, Wally was commissioned to create a centrepiece for the city: a sculpture of a mermaid holding a basket of flowers, inscribed with the words “Fruit of the Earth.” The sculpture is made of wire and concrete, a medium Wally still uses. “I always pursued art, even as a child going to school,” says Wally. A self-taught artist who claims El Greco as one of his influences, Wally always held other jobs while their family was

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Photos: Cathryn Gunn

any of today’s art galleries are designed with relaxation in mind. Subdued lighting, comfortable seating, peaceful surroundings, and beautiful artwork make a gallery visit pleasant and worthwhile. All these features are also characteristic of a gallery of sorts at the home of Walter and Bertha Frankoski in Nanaimo. The walls in this home are covered, from floor to ceiling in some rooms, with the couple’s artwork. Sculptures and vases rest on pedestals, shelves, the custom-carved fireplace that Wally made from local wood, and even the kitchen counter. Sculptures on the lawn and trees, fountains shaped from stone, paintings on every wall – their entire property is a showcase of their creativity. Bert and Wally have created an artistic haven for themselves in a semi-rural setting, but also close to family and amenities. The journey to this place has been colourful and busy. It started in Saskatoon, where their eight daughters were born and raised. Wally worked in various jobs over the years; Bertha kept busy with the family and spent six years working as a real estate agent.

growing up. Art was a hobby. In the last six years, however, since moving to the Island, he has spent 14-hour days in his workshop carving stone, treating wood for his own picture frames, painting and sculpting. Wally uses local wood and stone for much of his work. “I can look at something and see the piece of artwork in it before I even start,” he says of the creative process. Many of the woodworking and stoneworking tools Wally uses he designed and built himself out of parts of other machinery. “I have to watch what he goes out of the house carrying,” says Bert, with a grin. His workshop is an amazing testament to the power of recycling. An old floor polisher made into a stone grinder/drill combination, a fluorescent light casing, and a converted potters’ wheel are some of the dozens of reclaimed items that have become part of Wally’s inventions. Many of Wally’s paintings have non-traditional shapes, for which Wally stretches the canvases. He prepares his own distinctive frames. “I wanted to set myself apart from other artists,” he says. “My paintings can’t be reproduced in print form and put in factory-made frames. So, I make my own frames that complement the paintings in texture and shape.” Wally emphasizes that his work is one-of-a-kind. He is a meticulous artist, drawing everything out in pencil before setting it in oil. Many of Wally’s paintings are inspired by the vistas of Guayabitos, Mexico, where the couple spends two months every year.

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Victoria Law Firm Donates 1% of its Proﬁts to Enviromental Causes On Wednesday October 19th, 2011 local law ﬁrm Horne Coupar in partnership with 1% for the Planet and the Victoria Foundation hosted an event at the Legacy Gallery on Yates Street to meet with other local 1% for the Planet members and islandbased environmental organization recipients of funding. Speakers included Mark Horne Q.C., partner with Horne Coupar, David Anderson, former Minister of the Environment of Canada, local environmentalist Vicky Husband and Rory Grewar, Grants Manager for the Victoria Foundation. 1% for the Planet is a global alliance of over 1394 companies that donate 1% of their annual net revenues to a network of more than 2673 environmental organizations worldwide. It was founded in 2002 by two successful businessmen, also passionate environmentalists, who understood it was good business to protect the natural resources that kept them in business. Horne Coupar has been a member of 1% for the Planet since 2007. “As parents of young adults, my partners and I felt that we should and could do something meaningful for the environment passing to future generations by donating one percent of our gross revenues to environmental causes. Clients are supportive of our commitment and we would encourage other businesses to get involved as the collective impact of a one percent commitment to the planet would be profound. Our relationship with the Victoria Foundation through its flow through environment fund has been of great assistance in enabling us to support diverse projects which provide a measurable benefit to the local environment.” Mark Horne, Q.C. Partner, Horne Coupar. To learn more about 1% for the Planet, please visit their website: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

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Gardening is another passion manifested on a smaller scale than in earlier years. Nowadays, Wally looks after a garden on a rock wall he built himself, situated near a pond that he also built. The pond includes a concrete fountain sculpture with a carved stone centrepiece that rotates – like all of his works, a Walter Frankoski original. He has designed and built many ponds on the properties they have owned over the years. Bertha came to art later in life. Fed up with being an art widow, hearing about paint and painting all day from Wally, she was surprised one day when he gave her a paintbrush, canvas and paint, and said, “Here. Paint.” “I didn’t even know I could do it until I tried,” says Bert of

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“Masks” mixed media (concrete, wood, plaster, wire) by Walter Frankoski. Tree stump has been incorporated into the piece.

an art career she started in her 50s. She specializes in realistic acrylic paintings of natural settings, some on canvas, some miniatures done on wood that Wally prepares for her. Bertha’s other great interest is the computer. She recently upgraded her chip downloader so she could get higher-resolution images from her camera. She keeps track of the clan via Facebook, and is an avid surfer of the Internet. She recently connected electronically with a long-lost cousin, whom she encouraged to take up painting in her 50s, as she did. “You never know what you can do,” she says. These self-taught artists celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and their 78th birthdays in 2011. Their work is on display at West Coast Classic Floral Design in Nanaimo. SL See more samples of the Frankoski’s art at Senior Living magazine online www.seniorlivingmag.com/creativehaven 26

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JANUARY 2012

Photo: Jason van der Valk

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ASK Goldie BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: My wife and I divorced 10 years ago after our four children left the nest. We saw very little of each other until this last summer when we seemed to have more family celebrations. Strange as it may be, we now get along very well when we meet. I would like to start dating her with the hope of us getting back together again. Some of my friends think this is a crazy idea. However, we feel we are both older and wiser and do not have the stress of family life now. What do you think about it? –N.S. Dear N.S.: There are many things to consider. It’s true you do not have family stress now, but you can encounter many types of stress as you age. I would suggest you take it slow until you spend lots of time becoming reacquainted. You have doubtless both changed over the years. Also, the stress you experienced before may affect your judgment now. There is no guarantee you can resume your old relationship but time and effort can produce a new one worth experiencing. Dear Goldie: I have been in a very good relationship for three years, but in recent months, it seems to be deteriorating. We are both in our seventies, in good health and keep active. But it seems we have lost interest in things we used to share and enjoy. We both have large families whom we like spending time with. Can you suggest anything to bring back the spark to our relationship? –W.O.

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Dear W.O.: You are fortunate to be in good health and still active. The problem might be your large families. Continued excessive involvement with family activities may deprive you of your personal lives. It is time for you and your partner to look into this before your relationship disappears. Immediately start planning a vacation where you only have each other to focus on. At your age, your families have enough adults to deal with any problems that arise. Enjoy your holiday and continue SL your great relationship. SENIOR PEER COUNSELLING CENTRES Campbell River 250-287-3044 Courtenay/Comox 250-334-9917 Duncan 250-748-2133 Nanaimo 250-754-3331

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Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. 28

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COURAGEOUS and OUTRAGEOUS Photo: Frances Litman

BY PAT NICHOL

Year of the Dragon

was born in the Year of the Dragon. I’m not sure if that makes me fearsome or fearless. I would like to think I am a bit of both. As I age – I refuse to mature – I am having greater difficulty with the numbers showing up on my driver’s licence. So, I want to share something I wrote about when I first began with this column. If you didn’t know how old you were, how old would you be? Quickly now, don’t think too much. What was the first number that popped into your head? There’s a good chance the number that jumped into your mind is your emotional age. Mine is 35, which makes my 30-something daughters nervous. When I ask this question to audiences, I receive answers that range from two to 45. Two is a great age – it gives you permission to take a nap at any time without apology. Our chronological age doesn’t reflect our inner reality. Get used to the idea that we will never be old, no matter what our passport says. I have a plaque in my office that says, “Don’t always act your age.” I’m not suggesting for a moment that I am not proud of my age. I turned 60 with the turn of the century. It was then that I realized I needed to share my message with others. It is necessary for us to be role models for the next generation. We have a great deal to share. Theodore Roszak, historian, said it well: “We are the first generation of the senior dominance. We are beneficiaries of a revolution in life-extending medicine. We enter the second half of our lives possessed of more political influence, greater wealth and more vitality than any older generation before us. The

values we choose to live by cannot help but be a commanding influence in shaping the coming years.” The following is a poem that I share often, it is from that great poet Anonymous. Be who you are Practise what you know Teach what you learn And continue to grow. Just Imagine Just imagine that You are smarter than you know, More courageous than you guess, Healthier than you are aware of, More creative than you think, More attractive than you assume, Wiser than you suppose, More valuable than you have ever been told. And you are able to make a difference in the world that you have not yet begun to realize. Just Imagine So, for those of you who are dragons, or would like to be dragons, celebrate. This is your year; it is our year. Just be careful about where and how you share SL your fire. To my good friend Laurie, Happy Birthday, one day you will catch up.

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Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. www.patnichol.com WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

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�� JANUARY 2012

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SCAM ALERT BY ROSALIND SCOTT

The Skinny on Choosing a Health Club

ach year, thousands of consumers across B.C. follow through with their New Year’s resolution to get fit by joining a fitness or health club. Most people who join health clubs are pleased with their choices, but others are not. They have problems with high-pressure sales tactics, misrepresentations of facilities and services, broken cancellation and refund clauses and lost membership fees as a result of spas or clubs going out of business. If you are considering joining a health club, the following guidelines can help you select the club that’s best for you. Shop around. Ask friends, coworkers, and your doctor for recommendations. Call several clubs to find ones that match your interests and budget. Check with the Better Business Bureau for Business Reviews on the clubs you are considering vi.bbb.org Take your time. Give yourself time to make your final decision, and don’t

cave in to high-pressure sales. A hasty commitment to take advantage of a limited time offer may cost you more in the long run. Ask about free trials, and see if you can sample the services and equipment before you buy. Read the contract carefully. Get any verbal promises in writing. Determine if you can afford the payments and total cost. Make sure you’re satisfied with the cooling off period and cancellation rights. What happens if you move, lose your job, become sick, or the club relocates or closes? In the event of the latter, you may be able to use your membership card at another facility (if the club belongs to a chain or association allowing you to use another gym’s membership, for example). However, keep in mind your original purchasing decision was not based on a fitness club you’ve never been to at an inconvenient location. Find out if the club is suitable for you. Make sure the hours and location

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JANUARY 2012

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

hat happened to the mother who would not allow her children to leave the dinner table before they finished their vegetables? What happened to the dinner table? What happened to vegetables at mealtime? We have become a “hurry-up” society and junk food people, at least in my opinion. We have no time, it seems, to pick up “g’s” when we are speaking or to learn manners or to think wholesome and edifying thoughts or to take time to plant roses, let alone smell them. (Not all, but many!) We live on hamburgers and pizza, deep-fried chicken and Chinese takeout. Coke battles Pepsi and good old healthy milk is a “yuck” unless found in a milkshake. And in the midst of it all, is this great emphasis on health and exercise, diets and fat farms. Many of the purists eat just vegetables, jog and bicycle and protest that big business is polluting the environment. When I drive my car, I watch out for the bicyclists, and when I walk in the park, I never totally relax in fear of being run over by a jogger. Sometimes,

I think there are more runners than running shoes. But often, I want to ask a question. Are there just as many joggers who like to go jogging in their minds? I realize, of course, that a healthy body increases the chances of a longer life. But a healthy mind almost guarantees a more satisfying one. We can jog through the pages of history, through the gardens of a poet’s mind, through the fantasy of pretend and, of course, through the Bible. We can jog in the open field of promise – held fast by our own visions and dreams. Not only are many of us junk food junkies to our bodies; we are junk food junkies to our minds as well. We are not near as choosy now, as we were 40 or 50 years ago as to what we will accept and what we will reject from entering our minds and taking up residence there. We are, in many cases, lax stewards and just allow any old thing to throw its garbage in there. We are invaded with cheap and promiscuous entertainment on our televisions and in our movie theatres. Instead

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of standing up for decency, we are debating its merits. Sports and sports figures along with many bazaar entertainers are idolized. Degradation and irreverence seem to be the norm. The almighty dollar legalizes by excuse every immoral act and practice that disturbed and greedy minds can come up with. Junk food for the mind is more dangerous than sugar and more addictive than heroin – all obtainable as easily as the click of a switch or the pounding of a key. We are inundated with ads of all kinds about physical fitness and how to lose weight. But there is little advertising about mental fitness. Maybe that’s because we’ve made the body a god, and the mind the subject to bow down to it. I think our minds, in general, have become fat with complacency and indifference – sluggish with irreverence and lack of respect. Where morality once sought new gems for her crown, she now sits outside the gate of the city, begging alms of those who were once her children. I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of choice. But as I have mentioned so many times before, freedom has responsibility and must govern itself with common sense and decency. SL

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