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Roundin' the Bend...

So, I took Mom to Curves for the first time today. Drat it all, I did NOT take pictures! How did THAT happen??? Well... cuz I was the one teaching her how to use the equipment today. I might be the one teaching her to use it EVERY day -- but I'm hoping that SOME days an "adventuresome" employee might help out. However ... I might have been the only employee they had that was quite THAT adventuresome. But we DID it! She got all the way around the track! And I made an impromptu executive decision that SHE should only do ONE time around the circuit -- but to stay on each machine for at least a full minute - maybe a little more. Same with the recovery boards. The reason I thought this method to be in her best interest is because it takes her soooooooo looooooong to get on and off each piece that if we even dared to TRY to follow the little lady who's sO sweet voice encourages us on and around, well... it just wouldn't work at all! So! She made it once around the track - with me encouraging EVERY pump of her arms or legs (depending on machine) and EVERY lift of her knee when I had her marching on the recovery boards. It was a stitch! It really is quite a workout just getting her through HER workout! When she was done, then I did MY workout -- 2 times around! WOW! I did not realize HOW MUCH I had missed it! It felt SO good to be back!!! I was amazed at how well I was still able to do because honestly -- I have done NOTHING - not even a stretch - in two and a half months!!! And after MY workout, I grabbed her and took her into the stretching room too! That was actually a bit more trying than the entire workout! Stretching is what she needs most -- and I knew it would be! Heck - it's what's we ALL need most! I really really wish people would UNDERSTAND how important stretching IS to the overall workout! As far as mobility goes, stretching ALONE will give that back -- without EVER using ANY other form of exercise! I was proud of her though! She got down on the floor with me -- and that's more than some of the MEMBERS have done in the year and a half I've known them!!! She doesn't have a bloomin' thought of her own in her head anymore -- but she follows directions well! If you repeat them 72 times a minute... *G*

Tomorrow we rest her body (mainly because we have other commitments for MY time) and we will do it again on Wednesday! She had fun! She doesn't remember NOW that she had fun... but she DID! It occurs to me that having alzheimers could be beneficial that way! If you THINK you're doing it for the "first time" EVERY time - then it will always be brand new! Right??? We'll seeeeeeee!

posted by Melli at 2:43 PM