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BALANCING ACT
Library Holds First Of Three Part Seminar Focusing On Senior Health
By Kim Fink
 | | --Photos By Kim Fink Maintaining your balance is a key part of exercise and overall health as you get older, as these active adults recently learned at the Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library. |
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It was standing room only at the Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library on Friday, when an overwhelming 83 senior citizens showed up to attend the seminar and exercise class "Improving Your Balance."
The class was held in the library's large meeting room which was overflowing as the room typically holds 40 to 50 people.
"We had no idea this was going to get such a huge response," said Senior Librarian and event organizer Jolene Smith. "We expected maybe 20 people. When the registration came in for over 60, I was shocked."
And still more filled in. As the hour long seminar progressed, seniors who were visiting the library for other reasons peaked inside and decided to take part.
"I was very glad I got to join in. I found it very informative," said Anna Stierle of Manchester. "I have some balance issues and these exercises will really help me."
 | | Staff at the library expected only about 20 people. What they got was a packed house. |
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The seminar was led by Ron Hyland, fitness director of The Pines retirement community in Whiting. Hyland believes that this lecture is particularly helpful to seniors because so many of them have problems with their balance naturally and a lot of it is due to the fact that they don't know how to strengthen their bodies to make themselves more secure and safe.
"Balance issues come from a number of reasons," said Hyland. "Age is part of it but there are other factors that come into play such as natural atrophy (shrinking of muscles), medication troubles, vision problems and inner ear issues. A lot of times, it's caused by simple inactivity. The body gets weaker over time and they are just not able to support their own body weight anymore. The best way to prevent this is to maintain their strength as much as possible."
According to the AARP, 40 percent of people over the age of 65 have problems with their balance. Simple resistance training is extremely beneficial to people suffering from this disorder.
Hyland explained to participants that the left and right side of the body don't always work together after a certain age and the key is to strengthen the weaker side in an attempt to get them to cooperate with one another.
"One side is naturally stronger due to years of carrying bags, purses, boxes and so forth on either your left or right side," Hyland said. "If you improve the opposite side, you have a better chance of being stable."
Midway through the seminar, volunteers were asked to come to the front of the room and try some stretches. Holding onto a chair and doing a few repetitions of simple hip extensions could help significantly. And it was also stressed that walking heal to toe is extremely important. "Shuffling" causes many accidents among senior citizens because their upper body is ahead of their feet.
"If you get anything at all out of this class just remember, heal to toe," Hyland added.
Elinore Johnson, 85, of Toms River, was excited to get started on her new exercise routine.
"What I learned today was fabulous! There are so many exercises that I wasn't doing before on my own," Johnson said. "I think he's terrific and comical and I really enjoyed myself today. This is going to help with my balance, I'm sure of it."
For a list of exercises, go to www.medicinenet. com and search for "balance exercises."
Manchester Library will be holding two additional seminars on senior health on September 7 and 28. See their Website at www.oceancountylibrary. org for details or the calendar of events in The Manchester Times.
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