My Post-Retirement Rebirth Through Volunteering

By Ruby Whitman

Following my retirement from the field of social work, I was feeling somewhat adrift. I filled some of my time with travel, theater, museum visits, book clubs and taking courses. This is what I didn’t do with my time: help people. I always viewed my profession as a win-win proposition, and that was what was missing in my life.

I was playing Scrabble with a neighbor, and we talked about the sense of loss I was experiencing. She suggested that I contact Volunteer New York! That’s how I became connected to Family Service Society of Yonkers (FSSY), where I was given the opportunity to help students improve their reading skills. I was assigned to two students at Claremont Elementary School in Ossining. They were in third or fourth grade and were reading chapter books (books intended for intermediate readers, typically ages 7-10). I hoped that with the improvement of their reading skills, reading would become enjoyable for them.

I am a voracious reader. Books got me through the Covid lockdown. But what about children who view reading as a chore? I mentored students through Zoom. I asked them how they felt about remote learning and what they were learning. Without exception, they said “nothing.” Some had internet connectivity issues; most were bored and couldn’t or wouldn’t focus. It was even more of a challenge for students where only Spanish was spoken in the home. There was no one available to read to their children in English.

I now have one student at Claremont. She is in third grade and can barely read at a first-grade level. She never reads independently, since reading is a struggle for her, and she prefers to play in her leisure time. I do encourage her, and hoped she would read over Christmas break. She did not.

School closures led to a tsunami of many ill-equipped students who haven’t moved on from first grade. I worry about my student and others like her. What will happen to her in fourth grade, where expectations are higher? How will she be able to tackle other subjects where reading is essential?

In the face of the loss of learning opportunities at the elementary school level, I asked myself the question, “What can I do?”

I do what I can.

Ruby is looking forward to extending her work as a volunteer. She also is continuing to take classes and she plans to renew her social work license. Ruby is a grand example of an RSVP member! Thank you, Ruby!

My Path to Becoming a Chair Yoga Instructor And an RSVP Volunteer

By Haruko U. Stanton

I’d like to share my philosophy with you and why I believe so strongly in the value of chair yoga. Here’s how I see our body change in life: 4 becomes 2, 2 becomes 3. What do I mean?

As a baby, we crawl, using four “legs” (limbs really). Once we’ve learned to walk, we use two legs. As we get older, we may use a cane, so we have three “legs.” When you do chair yoga, you will also be on three legs: your two legs along with the chair, your third.

With the support of a chair, you can safely do a lot of exercise in a small space. You can exercise while sitting – while watching TV or waiting for the food to be ready, and you can make effective use of the down time in your daily life. By correcting your posture and focusing on your breathing, you can easily refresh yourself while sitting.

For me, who is still perfecting my English, being able to use my body to work for everyone's health is a time of great joy for me. I am so happy that I met Wendy Armstrong and Cheryl Brandwein, so I can share that joy and instruction with you RSVP members. How did my life lead me here – to volunteer?

I was born in Japan in 1967. As a young child, I was very shy and inflexible (My fingertips didn't touch the ground when I bent forward.) By joining the gymnastics club and doing calisthenics in junior high school, I became more flexible, and my personality brightened. I felt that exercising connected me with the people around me. I made many friends.

When I was sixteen, the aerobics boom landed in Japan. I worked parttime and saved money to pay for a training course and started studying and teaching. (It was around this time that I first visited America.) I was really taken with a statement the “father of aerobics,” Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH is quoted as saying, "It is easier to maintain good health through proper exercise, diet and emotional balance than it is to regain it once it is lost.” Surprisingly, three years after I started teaching aerobic dance, at the age of 19, I developed hip pain. When the pain set in, I couldn’t walk. I received all kinds of treatments, but nothing worked until I tried yoga.

In 2003, I obtained a license as a Health Fitness Programmer and started a personal training service. I feel an overwhelming joy when I offer personalized training and see my clients getting healthier. I started teaching Pilates in Tokyo in 2003 and even helped an injured dancer get back on stage.

I met my husband in Tokyo when I was 40. We got married in New York, which is where I have been living since. Over time, I feel that I have come to understand New York a little better. Being able to volunteer like this is truly a blessing and has helped me to blend more with American life and increase my English skills.

My advice – much of which I share when conducting a chair yoga class: When sitting in a chair, maintain good posture, keep your chest open and breathe deeply. Place the soles of your feet on the floor and press your feet into the earth to stretch your body toward the sky. Your shoulders are relaxed. As your shoulders relax, you can feel the blood flow to your fingertips and start to circulate to your head. Poor posture puts pressure on the internal organs, causing indigestion and poor blood flow from the heart. In other words, “throw away the trash and remove the rust.”

See you at Chair Yoga class!

You’re Invited to . . .

RSVP Chair Yoga

Bi-weekly zoom class designed for seniors

By Cheryl Brandwein

Join RSVP every other Thursday from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. for our ongoing Zoom program Chair Yoga with Haruko! Chair yoga has been shown to improve flexibility, relieve cramps and stiffness, and create a happy mental state. Whether you're looking to maintain strength, improve your mood or regain balance and muscle mass, chair yoga is a great option for you! Various poses, bends and flows are targeted to build muscle and tone the body, strengthening areas such as your arms, legs, core and back. Using a chair for seated poses, you can take advantage of the many benefits yoga provides, such as increased circulation and strength, improved balance and coordination, and decreases in blood pressure, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain. Our aim is to offer you some relief – and fun!

Haruko Stanton is a new member of our RSVP family! She earned a Master of Japanese literature from Kobe Women's University and received a diploma in sports nutrition. She is certified in yoga, pilates, and as a gyrokinesis personal trainer. Haruko has been teaching chair yoga since 2015 and graciously volunteers her time to train our RSVP family every other week. Haruko shared, “I started working as a fitness instructor and trainer in 1983. Having improved chronic hip pain through dietary improvement and exercise, I am interested in physical and mental connections.”

Here is a quick reference guide to the many benefits of chair yoga:

• Increased Flexibility

• Improved Strength

• Reduced Stress

• Improved Balance and Coordination

• Reduced Inflammation and Pain

• Improved Concentration

• Increased Circulation

• Lower Blood Pressure

• Boosted Moods and Mental State

• Better Sleep

Virtual chair yoga classes are ongoing and available. Watch for our RSVP Chair Yoga Email for info on how to register. Haruko is also available for private lessons. Each class requires a separate sign up. Email Cheryl or Wendy if interested in joining the fun!