Zumba class at White Rock Senior Activity Center/Photo Courtesy LARSO
BY LEAH BLACKWELL
Last month we explored Pillar One of LARSO’s Five Pillars of Positive Living: Positive Mindset and Emotional Resilience, where we heard several members’ stories of strength in times of hardship. At LARSO, we believe in the whole person approach to wellness, and each of our pillars is interconnected, supporting and strengthening all aspects of us. When each pillar is strong, the whole person thrives. This month, we’re focusing on Pillar Two: Physical and Cognitive Health. It’s no surprise that these two aspects of health are intrinsically linked. Physical health supports cognitive health, and both are influenced by mindset. Together, they create a kind of positive feedback loop. When we attend to each aspect of our lives, we cultivate wellness.
To explore how physical and cognitive health are supported by programming at the senior centers, I found myself wondering: does positive mindset actually have an impact on our physical and cognitive health? The answer, unsurprisingly, is yes, but what stood out to me is just how much. Recent research suggests that our perception of aging directly influences how we age. A common belief shared by scientists, healthcare providers, and the general public is that aging inevitably brings widespread declines in both cognitive and physical abilities. But recent studies suggest that a positive outlook on aging is predictive of greater cognitive and physical functioning. The idea that aging means certain cognitive and physical decline is simply inaccurate. Some might call it a self-fulfilling prophecy, but scientists are continually proving that how we view aging subconsciously shapes our beliefs, which directly influence our health outcomes.
However, as positive as we may be about getting older, changes in health and mobility do occur. So the goal isn’t to “think” ourselves into perfect health. It’s about believing that wellness is still possible. It’s having the mindset to continue to show up.
To learn more about how our members do this, I decided to attend some exercise classes at the centers. I got my heart rate up in Cardio Plus with Vickie, worked on my core and balance in chair yoga, tested my coordination in Zumba, and picked up some new dance moves in Intermediate Dance Class. My heart pumping alongside other members, some of whom are in their 90s–I quickly became aware of my own athletic limitations. At the same time, I was inspired by the stamina and skill around me and, honestly, elated by how much fun I was having. There’s something powerful about moving your body in a group–laughing, learning, and pushing yourself a little further than you expected.
What I didn’t expect was just how much mental effort these classes required. Choreographed movement demands focus. I had to think about coordinating my right foot with my left hand–and not always successfully. And it’s true that bilateral stimulation of the right and left sides of the brain is shown to support cognitive health as we age, regular practice acting as a preventative measure for cognitive decline. When I mentioned my coordination struggles, every instructor reassured me: that’s the point. Vickie, a former Alzheimer’s support group facilitator, states that using your non-dominant side was a key exercise in cognitive stimulation, a practice that she utilizes in every class.
That’s something that Christen Howell, dance class instructor also attests to. Christen’s motto is, “Think outside the box.” Citing research that shows that developing non-habitual movement can aid in developing new neural pathways, Christen’s classes build on technique and then switch it up. “You’ll do a sequence of movements and then once you get it down, I’ll have you switch sides.” This kind of approach stimulates regions of the brain that we don’t engage in regular activity, improving motor skills and helping to prevent cognitive decline.
And beyond the science, there’s a simple benefit of community. There’s motivation in knowing your friends will be there–and maybe even a little friendly competition. I’ll admit, I didn’t want to be the one sitting out on a move, especially being decades younger than many participants. But that shared energy is what makes it fun. As one Zumba participant told me, “You kind of forget about your troubles for an hour.” Another added, “That’s the number one rule–you have to have fun.”
My biggest takeaway? Wellness in aging isn’t about perfection–it’s about consistency. It’s about showing up, even when it feels challenging. It’s about questioning the narrative that aging equals decline. When we believe we’re capable, we keep trying. In doing so, we prove to ourselves that we are.
And take it from someone who doesn’t consider themselves particularly athletic or coordinated: you don’t have to be good at it to benefit from it and have a great time. When I shared my own doubts with instructor Priya, she told me something I won’t forget: “You don’t dance with your feet–you dance with the beat of your heart.”
LARSO is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality services to this community. Join us at your senior centers for a wide variety of exercise classes each week. Try Tai-Chi, Yoga, Line Dancing, and more! Visit us at larso.org for our weekly blog series where we’ll continue toexplore Pillar Two of Positive Living: Cognitive and Physical Health.
Leah Blackwell is the Programming and Marketing Coordinator at the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization. Leah has a background in community-focused work, including library programming for children and families, as well as experience as a hospice chaplain and grief group facilitator.