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To know the purpose of one’s life is often pondered, especially as we experience personal turbulence, minor setbacks and a reality that differs from our hopes and expectations. After a tragic accident, 2 divorces, the death of my father, a move across the country, the theft of my dog and an honorable withdraw from Nursing school, I began to wonder what I was supposed to do with my new life here in Californa.
After four years of running my own Personal fitness training business plus 4 years as a Fall Prevention instructor for the City of Sacramento’s 50+ Wellness program, a Graduate Certificate of Gerontology, an internship with the Area 4 Agency on Aging, and the research, development and production of a 5-day Fall Risk Reduction series later, I have been accepted into California State University at Sacramento’s Graduate school for the Spring 2009 semester to complete my Master of Science in Therapeutic Aging! Yipppppppeeeeeeeeeeee!
With academic approval, Sac State will let a student create a ‘Specialized’ major if none of the other Masters programs fits the student’s vision. Having earned my Graduate Certificate of Gerontology at Sac State in June, 2006, I recently decided to combine my study of aging with Therapeutic Recreation because I want to study my Take 5 to Exercise fall risk reduction series within local community programs in order to produce a published, evidence-based study that people know. A program that people trust. Heck, if the economy stays as bad as it is, I may as well be a poor college student while I increase my worth, right? RIGHT.
Therapeutic Recreation builds on my undergraduate Public Health studies through the promotion of independence, well being and quality of life resulting from the application of preventative behaviors. Accept that choices made today will affect your life tomorrow and in the years to come. In fact, how you live your life in your 50s determines the health of your 60s. The changes you make during your 60s predict the health of your 70s. The actions you take in your 70s determine the disability of your 80s. And so on.
I recently attended a Gerontology fair at American River College and listened as chairman and Gerontology department head, Dr. Barbara Gillogly, stated that chronic disease doesn’t just ‘appear’ but is the result of years and years of unhealthy behaviors and poor lifestyle choices. She firmly believes that the bottom line to health and longevity is diet and exercise. A healthy diet and consistent exercise.
Consistently engaging in an exercise program designed to reduce the risk of a fall will improve your physical health, increase your confidence and boost your self-esteem. Take 5 to Exercise is the single most important activity one can do remain independent in a culture that promotes self sufficiency. Who doesn’t want that?
I will be studying what happens when one consistently follows my fall risk reduction exercises in order to prove what I am saying. I am in discussion now with the Northern California Veterans Administration about research possibilities. That’s Plan A. I have a Plan B, too. Either way, I will produce an evidence-based study that demonstrates the benefits of my Take 5 to Exercise fall prevention exercise program.
Therapeutic Aging. It sure sounds good to me. I am excited about advancing my education while promoting my prevention-based exercise program. Order your copy today before the price goes up and you call me Master!!!