Irene Pastore

88 Year Old World Table Tennis Champ

September 5, 2013

ACTIVE LIVING BEYOND 50

I hope my older clients, and their caregivers, are inspired by this post about Lisa Modlich, an 88-year-old American, senior athlete, and world table tennis champion from Houston, Texas.

During most of her life, she played outdoor tennis, but switched to indoor table tennis around 20 years ago.

Modlich maintains an active lifestyle, and advises others to get up and keep moving.

Ping Pong: You’re Never Too Old For Gold, is the title of a new PBS documentary, making its U.S. premier on September 9, 2013.

The film covers Modlich’s career, along with several other senior table tennis athletes, who range in age from 81 and up.

Dorothy De Low, is a 100-year-old former world table tennis champion from Australia. Known as The Grand Old Lady of table tennis, she started playing after her husband passed away. Watch a clip of her game on You Tube.

Fox News Producer In Fatal Hiking Accident

September 1, 2013

Martin Burns, a Fox KTTV investigative producer and writer, died on August 25 in a hiking accident in the foothills above Altadena, California. He was 56 years old.

Hiking alone in the Los Angeles National Forest, his body was discovered by another hiker, at the bottom of a steep ravine, below the trail that leads to Inspiration Point.

Disappearing On The Hiking Trail

August 30, 2013

CARDINAL RULE: DON’T GO IT ALONE

When you set out on a hike, one of the most important rules, is not to go alone. If you bring a child, at least one other adult should also go along.

Here are two recent stories about disappearing hikers. One has a happy ending, while the other doesn’t look too good.

FATHER AND SON DISAPPEAR WHILE HIKING

Hiking without cell phones, or flashlights, a 51 year-old man, and his 11 year-old son went missing in Maui, Hawaii.

Starting out on the afternoon of Friday, August 9, they were reported missing 5 hours later by a family member.

A helicopter and fire personnel searched the area hit by heavy rains. The man and his son were airlifted to safety on August 10. They were very lucky to be found.

66 YEAR-OLD HIKER MISSING IN MAINE

As of August 5, the search for 66 year-old hiker, Geraldine Largay was called off. Starting out in April, alone on the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia, she covered 950 miles, and disappeared near Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Largay was reported missing on July 24, by her husband. Among the 115 search and rescue volunteers, were dog teams, wardens, and searchers on foot and horseback.

Biomarkers: The 10 Keys to Prolonging Vitality

August 20, 2013

DON’T SETTLE FOR GETTING OLD

Published in 1992 by Fireside Books, Biomarkers was written by William J. Evans, PH.D, and Irwin H. Rosenberg, M.D.

If you’re interested in staying active, fit and independent into super old age, then buy a copy of this groundbreaking book.

Biomarkers is based on a study by the Tufts University Medical School, and is one of the most important books ever published about the positive effects of exercise on the human body.

Based on medically proven research, the authors reveal that frailty and chronic disease are not caused by aging, but by inactivity and poor nutrition. With that in mind, both young and old are given hope that remaining vital and healthy is a reality, no matter your chronological age.

Healthy Pets Lead To Healthy People

August 18, 2013

An initiative is underway in Los Angeles to promote human and animal health. The ecological concept that the two are linked, is supported by the American Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Centers for Disease Control.

Healthy Pets, Healthy Families coalition will focus on creating educational campaigns, and other strategies to meet its goals of disease prevention in humans and animals.

Some of the health issues prompting the formation of the campaign is the rise in animal obesity, the development of cancer in animals from exposure to second hand smoke, the effects of disasters on companion animals and their people, due to lack of preparation, and the prevention of contagious parasitic diseases.

LINKS

Fur Fitness

Healthy Pets, Healthy Families

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Yoga Improves Senior Balance

August 15, 2013

THE TREE POSE

There are many types of Yoga poses: standing, seated, twists, balancing, lying on your back, abdomen or side.

Balancing poses may be done while standing, seated, or on your hands.

Yoga can strengthen overall, and deep core muscles that are important for maintaining good balance.

If you’re over 55 and would like to learn a beginner level standing balancing pose, consider the Tree Pose a good choice. The pose can be modified to suit individual ability.

HOW TO DO TREE POSE

Set up the pose as shown in the photograph above.

Stand on your right foot for 10 to 30 seconds. Repeat on your left foot.

If you’ve never balanced on one foot, it might be difficult at first. Just keep practicing, and don’t overdo it.

It’s traditional to do Yoga barefoot. However, if you feel more comfortable wearing shoes, that’s fine, as long as the soles are non-skid.

Practice the Tree Pose on a non-slippery floor. If you want to invest in equipment, purchase a sticky mat. Go barefoot while using a mat. Socks can bunch up on a sticky mat, and cause you to trip.

HOW TO MODIFY TREE POSE

Use A Wall For Support

Stand facing a wall. Place both hands on the wall for support, instead of having your hands in front of you. Hands are shoulder width apart.

Use A Lower Foot Position

Place your foot on the lower part of your leg, instead of higher up.

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