New SBR Women’s Club members, left to right: Kim Schweitzer, Charlotte Eckmeyer, Sandy Schlage, Debbie Chapman, Helen Schleckser and Donna Pedota
Joe Pinella
Marlene Diskin
“Do you have physical challenges? Do you want to be more active? Do you just want to feel better?” With these questions, Joe Pinella opened his talk to guests at the SBR Women’s Club Luncheon on Monday, October 10.
Living at SBR we’re so lucky to have easy access to a variety of affordable fitness classes. As we’re aging, many of us are encountering some physical challenges and looking for ways in which to live happily and healthfully and combat the changes we’re experiencing. “Healing Movements System…Restoring Vitality After Injury Or Inactivity” is the program that Joe created to address these issues.
Joe has 50 years of experience practicing the ancient arts of Qigong and Tai Chi that he began as a teen studying with Chinese teachers. Years later he employed these arts to recover from a devastating accident that paralyzed him from the neck down. Told he would never walk again, Joe is now remarkably fit and healthy. His seven year journey healing from a broken neck and back gives him a unique perspective on fitness for people over 50.
“Healing takes place when we are relaxed and not stressed,” Joe said. “Even enjoyable sports and activities can put the body under the kind of stress that eliminates healing. The solution is to add healing exercise to your routine, and that is what my system does.”
Joe talked about what makes this kind of exercise different from conventional exercise. He concentrates on the fascia, the body’s biggest organ which connects everything. The Chinese have referred to it as the silk in the body. His teachings begin with the assumption that we all have some physical challenges, be it arthritis, aches and pains, old injuries, major illness, surgeries or the effects of long-term inactivity. He believes that these issues need to be addressed first if we want to stay healthy and get fit. “If you want to excel in activities like golf, tennis, softball and pickleball, you need to repair first and only after that can you rebuild. Otherwise you run a greater risk of injury,” Joe says.
There are now two different Healing Movements classes offered; give one a try.
Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. at SBR Tuesday’s Chi Gong class is called “Chi Fitness.” This class is designed for loosening up stiff joints, increasing circulation, improving breathing and feeling energized all over. It is great for people who want to take their health and fitness to a whole new level and play any vigorous sport better…and who doesn’t want that?
Fridays at 11:00 a.m. at HOA One classes are called “Foundations” and works on improving balance, increasing leg strength and improving endurance. Fall prevention is critical to our well-being, and this class helps maintain our balance.
Joe also does private lessons for people who have difficulty walking or moving due to serious injury, stroke and other issues. He can be contacted at 520-343-3523.