It is no secret that brain health is a key factor in our overall health and wellness as we age. But how much do we know about ways to keep our brains as healthy as possible throughout our lives? The brain is a complex organ made up of more than 86 billion neurons and 100,000 miles of blood vessels. The brain uses 20% of the oxygen in the body at any given time — three times what muscles use. And brain information travels an average of 350 miles per hour.
In this Introduction to Brain Health, certified fitness expert in brain health for seniors Amanda Strand will discuss some of the current research, and offer some simple exercises that may help us maintain our best brain health.
One in three Americans will experience some form of cognitive impairment in their later years. Some cognitive decline is inevitable, but studies have shown that there are steps you can take to delay the process or to reduce its effects, depending on individual environmental and genetic factors.
Did you know there are multiple avenues for brain health that most seniors are unaware of? One is moderate exercise and its effects on the brain, including increased blood flow, improved balance, reaction time, and spatial awareness. Another is creating new pathways in the brain with novel experiences, learning a new skill, practicing multitasking, and increasing social interaction.
Join fitness expert Amanda Strand, an American Council on Exercise-certified senior fitness specialist and brain health trainer, as she leads this lecture/demonstration and QA session. There is much more to brain health than just doing the Sunday crossword or doing puzzles! Join us to learn about some new ways to keep your brain active and healthy as you age.
Instructor: Amanda Strand is a continuing education provider for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American Aerobics and Fitness Association (AFAA), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She is a certified Senior Fitness Specialist, Brain Health Trainer, and Corrective Exercise Specialist. She is also a Yoga Alliance 200-hour certified yoga instructor, as well as a certified Red Cross Instructor of CPR, AED, and First Aid.
Class Information: This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom.
All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant. The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms. Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible. SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.
IMPORTANT: See Below
This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $15.00 fee.
Important: If at this time you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning to join as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so that we can properly bill you for this class.
Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.