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| Coming Fully Alive as You Age Series |
Coming Fully Alive as You Age
- Finding Meaning in Life: Finding purpose; living life to the fullest; being versus doing; positive
aspects of aging; becoming a "sage." - Being Fully Alive (Mind, Body, Spirit): Meditation; care of the body, mind and spirit; coping with
physical limitations; passion for life. - Aging as a Spiritual Journey: Finding hope; letting go of expectations; making sense of suffering;
forgiveness and healing. - Uplifting Power of Humor: Uplifting of spirit; use of humor; enjoying the present moment; looking at
the positives in our lives.
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Looking Forward, Looking Back
- Meditation, Movement and Dance: Try
meditation styles in a supportive context,
extend this time into movement and dance
experiences. - Journaling for Life Discernment: Explore
various approaches, including Open and Free
Writing, in order to discern positives of aging
and how to become a “sage.” - Rituals in Later Life -- A Path to
Developing Inner Life: Rituals to transform
ordinary experience into a means of growth.
Examine our everyday lives and then explore
the potential role of ritual in life celebrations. - Relationships: Communication and
Intimacy: As we age, we realize that our key
values center more around relationships and
less around acquisitions and professions.
Enhance your communication skills with
friends and loved ones. - Capturing our Life Stories: Guidance in
reflecting on our life often brings back
forgotten memories and meanings. Join us as
we create and share our stories with others,
get to know ourselves and peers in a more
intimate way. (See Also Listening and
Capturing Memories)
Creative Aging for a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit
- Laughter and Brain Fitness: Learn how laughter, exercise, rhythm, and meditation affect memory and
brain functioning. Practices and exercises. - Aging as a Spiritual Journey -- Going Deeper: Achieve balance in later life; moving meditation/sign
cho do. - ABCs of Fitness: Write your own ABCs to fitness and nutrition; variety of fitness exercises and practices;
behavioral change measures. - Creativity and Aging: Explore creativity in later life with the works of Gene Cohen and Julia Cameron.
- Elders as Earth Advocates: Explore ways elders can help heal the earth. Discuss civic engagement
opportunities.
Elders as Earth Advocates and Partners with Youth
- Introduction to Elders as Earth Advocates: Explore the idea of Tikkun Olam, the healing of the world,
and what elders can do towards sustainability and to help rebalance the earth. Civic engagement. - Most Important Things in Life: “The most important things in life aren’t things.” Discover true passions.
Discuss slowing down, minimizing waste and consumption of resources, teaching others to do it, being a
role model. - Simplicity: Discuss voluntary simplicity, the works of Jose Hobday and Duane Elgin on different kinds of
simplicity. Share ideas. - Where Do We Go from Here? Brainstorm Green Action ideas; gifts of nature; decluttering; growth in
awareness. - Brain Fitness and Healing the Envirmment: Benefits of studying the environment, landscaping and
gardening on brain fitness.
Coming Fully Alive in Assisted Living
- Coming Fully Alive as You Age Series: The same four topics as Coming Fully Alive As You Age,
designed especially for assisted living residents. - Communication in Later Life: Enhance communication skills with loved ones and caregivers. .
- Laughter and Brain Fitness: Explore the ways laughter enhances brain functioning.
- Spiritual Balance in Later Life: Experience various ways of keeping balance spiritually, including a
moving meditation practice (Sign Chi Do). - Cultivating Joy: Learn how attitudes affect your feelings and emotional state of mind. Practice
affirmations and gratitude. - The Gifts of Age: Develop new views of aging, emphasizing the gifts rather than the losses, hope rather
than suffering. - Simple Abundance: Develop ways to be aware of blessings in the present, to reminisce in healthy ways
about the past. Use a gratitude journal. - Living with Passion: Explore ways of teaching by example. Discuss living with passion and pursuing your
passion. - Advocating for Yourself: Learn what you CAN do. Avoid learned helplessness. Exercise power through
letter-writing. Share stories of inspiring elders. - Leaving a Legacy: Begin to develop your spiritual legacy. Answer the question, How is the world better
because I have been given the gift of a long life? Learn about writing down or taping your legacy. (See
also Listening and Capturing Memories) - Transitions: Review your life, noticing special transition points and reflecting on how you survived them.
Consider skills for making transitions. - Elders as Earth Advocates: Explore ways elders can help heal the earth.
- Coping Skills in a Crazy World: Make sense out of everyday events by focusing on gratitude, blessings,
hope. - Self-forgiveness: Consider aspects of your life which need the healing of self-forgiveness.
- Wisdom of the Later Years: Harvest your life experiences.
- Creativity and the Brain: Explore Gene Cohen’s work, create something in class.
- Balance and Falls Prevention: Learn the importance of preventing falls and discuss suggestions.
Practice balance techniques. - Who Sang It? Music from the 30's - 60's
- Who Sang It? Music from Movies: Movies and theme songs.
- Who Sang It? Music for Seasons: Become nostalgic with songs about different seasons
- Who Sang It? Love Songs (Valentines, graduation memories)
- Birthday Music and songs with our names (custom, for each group)
- Music and Our Memory: Explore recent research and practice.
- Music from the Heart to Feed the Soul: Explorations in traditional and improvisational music with the
Native American flute, Irish Whistle, and frame drum. - Therapy of Pets: Tickle your funny bone and warm your heart with stories of the healing value of pets.
Share your own pet stories, learn about therapy pets and pet training programs.
Coming Fully Alive with Music and Pets
These courses can be modified for a one hour format and for Assisted Living, including the use of chair
movement to the music.
These courses can be modified for a one hour format and for Assisted Living, including the use of chair
movement to the music.
- Who Sang It? Music from the 30's - 60's: Guess who sang old songs which make you smile with
memories. - What Movie Was It? Movies and Music from Movies
- Who Sang It? Music for Seasons: Become nostalgic with songs about different seasons
- Who Sang It? Love Songs (Valentines, graduation memories)
- Birthday Songs & Songs With Our Names (Custom for each group/session)
- Music and Our Memory: Explore recent research and practice.
- Music from the Heart to Feed the Soul: Explorations in traditional and improvisational music with the
Native American flute, Irish Whistle, and frame drum. - Therapy of Pets: Tickle your funny bone and warm your heart with stories of the healing value of pets.
Share your own pet stories, learn about therapy pets and pet training programs.
NEW: Coming Fully Alive for Jewish Sites
- Laughter and Jewish Humor: Enjoy Yiddish humor and share favorite Jewish comedians' stories and
jokes. - More classes to come: Currently under development.
Brain Fitness Alive!
- Coming Fully Alive As You Age for Brain Fitness: Uses the four classes from Coming Fully Alive as
You Age above but incorporates in related brain fitness exercises.
Homebound to Come Fully Alive
- 4 classes or six-hour workshop
