See it, listen to it, touch it, smell it, and taste it.  If you can do all that, you can improve your memory.  When you need to learn new information incorporate as many senses as possible.  Sight:  This is the most valuable sense to use when improving your memory skill.  Write it down, write it on a really big piece of paper, use bright bold colors to write it down, make a chart, draw a picture, use highlighters, categorize with shapes (circles, triangles, boxes).  Sound:  This is the second most valuable sense in improving your ability to remember.  Say it out loud to yourself, close your eyes and repeat the information out loud again to reinforce your thought, talk about it, make up a rhyme.  Touch:  Touch the information you are trying to learn, outline the words with your finger, trace the data on a chart with your hands, imagine the information has textures (velvet, sandpaper, pudding), walk around while you are learning new facts, re-write it yourself (incorporating sight and touch), write it BIG so your brain has to “feel” the information it is trying to process.  Smell and Taste:  These two senses generally call to mind memories.  The smell of pine trees remind you of summer vacations in the mountains, eating pumpkin pie reminds you of visits to Grandma’s house.  If you can associate the information you need to learn with a smell or taste you will be able to increase your retention of the infomation.  If you want to remember to bring the homemade banana creme pie in the refrigerator to an afternoon party; visualize the inside of your car filled with bananas.  You can smell the bananas as you walk up to the car, when you open the door you grab one of the smooth cold bananas and take a big tasty bite out of it.  By taking a few moments to “visualize” yourself smelling and tasting the bananas, this will trigger your memory to bring the pie. 

If you read it, you will remember 20%; if you hear it, you will remember 30%; if you see it, you will remember 40%; if you say it out loud, you will remember 50%; if you touch and feel it, you will remember 60%.  Utilize all the above and you will remember 90%!

 To your good times and good memories…

Booklets available:  Memory Improvement Tips for Active Adults Volume I and II

Memory lapses occur at all ages, but each age group reacts differently.  Youth sees memory lapses as simply annoying.  Older adults may react with embarrassment and fear, responding to the false stereotype that age causes loss of memory, and a faulty memory is evidence of the onset of senility.  Recent studies at the University of Florida have shown that older adults retain the same number of acts under the same circumstances as younger people, and are capable of equal learning, just at a s98lightly slower pace.  Is their rate of learning slower because the brain is older?  Or is that brain filled with a life’s worth of information tht must be categorized, organized and classified…and that just takes time?

Research in the field of “Brain Fitness” recommends physical exercise to keep the body and brain healthy.  The best exercise to enhance brain cell activity includes: 1) The social aspect of a group class.  Interesting and provocative groups of people pleasantly challenge your mind.2) Music that activates the left and right brain, thus increasing your ability to process information.3) Learning a new skill, such as a dance move!4) Cross-lateral movements. This is when the arms and legs cross over from one side of the body to the other. These movements help energize your brain. The Annals of Internal Medicine found that older people who exercised at least three times a week are one-third less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than people who exercised less. 

Jacki Sorensen’s Aerobic Dance taught by Debbi Harper

Do you look forward to your workout each week?  Do you have so much fun you just can’t wait for the next class?  We do!  Come to a few classes and you too will begin the joyful addiction to the original “Aerobic Dancing.” Catchy music, fun steps, a complete workout and FUN!  Work out at your own pace; get lost in the music while strengthening your muscles and your heart. 

Hurry, the music is about to start!

Sun City, CA - Sun City Civic Association - North Town Hall - Tuesdays 7:45 – 9:00 a.m. and Thursdays 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.  Menifee, CA - The Oasis - Mondays 7:25 – 8:25 a.m. and Thursdays 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.   info@debbiharper.com  Email me with any questions!

Chair volleyball gets our muscles and smiles warmed up.  A beach ball is used and participants must “keep their cheeks on the chair!”  Then it is on to the original Jacki Sorensen’s Aerobic Dance fitness program.  (www.Jackis.com)  The steps are simple and easy to follow.  Emphasis is on a healthy, sweaty, and fun workout.  It is the class that whispers exercise and shouts FUN!

Wellness Seminar on “Memory Improvement Tips for the Active Older Adult - Session I” on the lovely island of Kauai.

The seniors from the Lihue Neighborhood Center were a delight to spend the morning with discussing ways to improve memory skills.  This lively group illustrated how joyful attitudes, music, and an enthusiasm for exercise can keep minds alert and eager for continued learning.  I sincerely thank them for the opportunity to speak at the center, join them for a delicious lunch, and of course the beautiful lei they presented to me.  Mahalo nui loa!