One of the activities that many of us look forward to is Dance Minds. We have a wonderful instructor named Tina who comes along and puts us through our paces. One thing that becomes apparent as we get older is the truth in the adage “use it or lose it”. As we age it becomes more difficult to do the things that we once were able to take for granted. The ageing process takes its toll on joints and range of motion and if left unchecked this can result in reduced mobility and a poorer quality of life.
Prior to the pandemic Tina came into Timken Grange regularly to host her Dance Minds sessions. These sessions are cleverly devised to suit all abilities. The music is upbeat and spans several decades. Many of us looked forward to her visits, not just for the fun element but also for the buzz of endorphins created by the exercises and the general sense that we are proactively working to protect our mobility and retain our independence.
During the pandemic these sessions were suspended as Timken Grange, along with the rest of the world locked down. We continued to exercise, utilizing Skype and Zoom and the team came up with some fun ideas to keep us moving but we’ve missed Tina and her enthusiastic energy.
This week we were delighted to have Tina back and it was clear from the sheer vigor brought to the session that Tina was happy to be back. Not only is it a wonderful feeling to be able to see Tina again and soak up her enthusiasm but this milestone is an indication that some semblance of normality is returning to Timken Grange and that is a reassuring feeling.
Lifestyle Manager Helen told us “These exercises are a valuable tool for maintaining independence. The sessions themselves are upbeat and motivating, Tina includes a range of movements and exercises set to a variety of musical genres and she offers modified moves to suit all abilities. We have some residents who simply attend to enjoy the music, singing along to tunes that evoke happy memories and tapping their feet to the rhythm. These sessions are beneficial for both physical and emotional health and promote social interaction. It is uplifting to see the joy that this activity brings. We are so happy to have Tina back.”