At Prestige Senior Living we run a variety of different exercise programs to keep our residents fit and healthy. All have different purposes, and combined, they allow for longevity and overall physical, emotional and cognitive health.
One of the most popular programs we run at Prestige is called Ageless Grace® – a brain-body exercise program that keeps residents fit both physically and cognitively.
Ageless Grace® is done while seated – which may seem easy, but residents quickly learn there’s more than meets the eye.
By being seated, it forces people to react and think differently about how they perform the exercises. Doing so improves neuroplasticity – a key element of maintaining cognitive health (more on that in just a moment).
The exercises quickly challenge people and build strength and endurance with repeated participation.
But Ageless Grace® is more than exercise – it’s fun.
Yes, fun.
When people try Ageless Grace® for the first time, they have to let go of their inhibitions a little bit. The movements can be unusual at first – these aren’t arm curls or planks. Arms and legs move akimbo sometimes, and because the whole idea is to challenge people to think and move differently, it can be difficult at first to grasp the exercises.
Of course, that’s the whole point. That challenge is what makes Ageless Grace® effective.
Once people embrace the uncertainty and the challenge of the program, and realize everyone else is in the same boat, it becomes enjoyable as residents gradually improve at different elements while surrounded by friends as music plays throughout the session.
And isn’t that what life is all about – overcoming a challenge to grow and improve?
Improve Your Neuroplasticity
We’ve mentioned how beneficial Ageless Grace® is for the body, but some of its biggest effects come in the brain.
The program is designed to challenge residents to use their bodies in unfamiliar ways, and in doing so, it’s been proven to help with neuroplasticity. It’s a big word, but neuroplasticity essentially refers to the brain’s ability to change and reorganize itself.
It was once thought that wasn’t possible, but research has shown that the brain is not a static organ, and programs like Ageless Grace® can help maintain, and even strengthen, cognitive health.
By challenging the body in new ways, it keeps the brain firing in order for the resident to master the moves. And with 21 different Ageless Grace® exercises, even those who take part in the program regularly are continually learning and growing.
We’ll have more on neuroplasticity in upcoming blogs – be sure to check back throughout the month of January to learn more.
Learn More About Ageless Grace® and Prestige Senior Living
To learn more about Ageless Grace®, join us through January for a series of free webinars with Denise Medved, the creator of the program. The webinars will be a great opportunity to learn more about the program, try out some of the exercises and understand the importance of neuroplasticity.
To get a sense of what to expect, you can watch the TED Talk she gave a few years ago where she introduces the program and gets the audience participating right along with her.
The webinars will be held on January 12, 19 and 26, all at 11 a.m. Pacific time – sign up here!
To learn more about Ageless Grace classes, contact the community nearest you to learn more. You can also book either an in-person or virtual tour where you will learn more about the community and our wellness programming. Enjoy life at every age with Prestige!