A few months after we opened in 2015, my dad had the idea to do what has now become our annual charity fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association. I have shared about our connection to this organization on my social media, but realized that in the past 10 years, I have never written a blog post about it.
My grandmothers were both named Dorothy – a fact I didn’t know until I was older. As kids we called my mom’s mother “Grandma Jean” (her middle name, and mine) to avoid confusion. Now, years after their passing, I sometimes refer to them as the “Double Dorothys” or the “Double Ds”. In addition to sharing a name, my grandmothers shared a struggle with dementia before they passed away.
I feel very lucky that I got to spend quite a bit of time with both of them. They both had a spark and a special magic to share. My dad’s mother passed when she was rather young, so I remember less of what she had to deal with towards the end of her days. Grandma Jean lived a lot longer, and came to live with my parents in her final years.
Anyone who has been around someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s knows the pain of it. Seeing someone who was once vibrant and engaging get lost inside their own head is a terrible thing. It’s tragic for them, and for those who love and care for them.
At the same time that Grandma Jean was living with my parents, I was beginning my journey as a fitness coach. I remember trying to help her do some exercises that had been prescribed by her doctors, but there wasn’t much we could do to help her physically at that point. She had been active in her younger life, but mostly sedentary in her golden years. I wished I had been able to help her sooner, but since I couldn’t change the past, I was determined to facilitate a much more physically active lifestyle for myself, my family, and anyone who crossed my path!
Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, we have a lot of research on things we can do to decrease our risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Here are some of the things we do everyday at Breakthrough:
Exercise – Physical exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s so well documented that it will probably be the first thing that comes up if you do a google search on the topic.
Learning new things – Activities that stimulate your mind can reduce your risk of cognitive decline. We coach our members to connect mind and body. We teach them exercises that require them to think and learn, rather than just zone out on an elliptical machine.
Meditation – Every yoga class ends with a guided meditation, and our members learn to do a “breathing reset” to connect mind and body at the beginning of each strength session. This not only helps with reducing stress and anxiety – it also improves our ability to focus and gain mental clarity, which can help with age-related memory loss.
Community – Social contact is known to reduce dementia risk. Our members interact not just with people their own age, but a variety of ages, since everyone has a custom program of their own. We have never wanted to do training sessions restricted to a certain age group. Our older members are excited to be around younger people and see what they are accomplishing, and our younger members are inspired to see that it’s possible to be strong and active into your 70s and 80s.
Since the day we opened our doors, our mission has been to “help people improve their lives by building strength of body, mind, character and spirit.” Of course I can’t say with certainty that if the Double Ds had been able to be Breakthrough members, they wouldn’t have had to suffer from dementia. But, damn, I would have loved the opportunity to have tried. They would have been the life of every party and you guys would have loved them.
This is part of what our members mean when they say “Breakthrough is more than just a gym”, and it’s a big part of why I do what I do. It has never been about “getting bikini ready for summer”. It’s about living life to the fullest, embracing the opportunities each day brings, and loving with your whole heart.
So… with all that said, that’s why we support the Alzheimer’s Association every year on The Longest Day. We use the summer solstice to shine our light for those who need it. And I hope you can join us in some capacity – non-members can come take a class for a donation of any amount, all are welcome to join our Team and do our 1600 Strength Challenge on 6/20, or consider a donation if you are able. You can join or donate here.