Youtube channels for staying healthy for seniors

 YouTube offers a wealth of wellness content specifically tailored for seniors, covering a range of topics such as fitness workouts, mindfulness practices, nutrition tips, and overall well-being. 

Many channels specialize in providing low-impact workouts, chair exercises, and gentle stretching routines suitable for seniors. These workouts focus on improving flexibility, strength, balance, and mobility, catering to varying fitness levels and physical abilities.

Seniors can find guided meditation sessions, mindfulness practices, and relaxation techniques on YouTube. These videos help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, enhance mental clarity, and promote overall emotional well-being.

 YouTube channels dedicated to nutrition for seniors offer valuable information on balanced diets, healthy eating habits, meal planning, and managing dietary restrictions. They may also feature cooking tutorials for nutritious and easy-to-prepare meals.

For seniors dealing with chronic pain conditions, YouTube provides resources such as gentle exercises, pain management techniques, and expert advice on coping strategies. These videos can empower seniors to manage pain effectively and improve their quality of life.

There are channels specializing in yoga for seniors and Tai Chi that offer gentle movements, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices that promote physical and mental well-being. These practices can enhance flexibility, reduce stiffness, and support overall relaxation and stress relief.

Some YouTube channels organize fitness challenges and structured workout programs specifically designed for seniors. These programs focus on progressive exercises, goal setting, and community support, encouraging seniors to stay active and motivated.

Here are some channels for seniors wellness:

SilverSneakers: SilverSneakers is a popular fitness program for seniors, and their YouTube channel offers a variety of workout videos, including cardio, strength training, yoga, and balance exercises tailored for older adults.

Eldergym: Eldergym provides exercise routines, fitness tips, and resources specifically designed for seniors to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility. They cover topics like fall prevention, arthritis-friendly exercises, and seated workouts.

Yoga With Adriene: While not exclusively for seniors, Yoga With Adriene offers accessible yoga practices suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Seniors can find gentle yoga sessions focusing on flexibility, relaxation, and mindfulness.

The Mindful Movement: This channel specializes in guided meditations, mindfulness practices, and stress reduction techniques. Seniors can benefit from videos focusing on relaxation, sleep improvement, and emotional well-being.

NutritionFacts.org: Seniors interested in evidence-based nutrition information can turn to NutritionFacts.org for videos on healthy eating, plant-based diets, and tips for preventing age-related health issues through proper nutrition.

These channels and videos on YouTube provide seniors with accessible, informative, and engaging content to support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, promoting a holistic approach to wellness in later life.

Using YouTube for learning about Tech for seniors

 Technology and gadgets YouTube channels tailored for seniors can be immensely helpful in introducing seniors to where they can learn new tech trends, devices, and digital skills. 

Introduction to Technology: Many seniors may be new to using smartphones, tablets, or computers. Channels dedicated to introducing technology basics can be beneficial. They often cover topics like navigating operating systems, using common apps, and understanding essential tech terms.

Gadget Reviews and Demos: Seniors interested in purchasing new gadgets can benefit from channels that provide in-depth reviews and demonstrations. These reviews often include considerations for ease of use, accessibility features, and suitability for older adults.

Digital Safety and Security: Cybersecurity and online safety are crucial for seniors using digital devices. Channels covering topics such as creating strong passwords, recognizing online scams, and protecting personal information can empower seniors to use technology safely.

Channels focusing on health and wellness tech can introduce seniors to devices like fitness trackers, telehealth platforms, and medication management apps. They may also cover topics like digital resources for mental well-being and staying connected with loved ones.

Seniors interested in smart home devices can learn about products like voice assistants, smart thermostats, home security systems, and remote monitoring devices through dedicated channels. These videos often provide setup guides and practical tips for using smart home technology effectively.

Examples of YouTube Channels for Seniors Interested in Technology and Gadgets are:

Tech With Brett: This channel offers tech tutorials, gadget reviews, and tips for using various devices and apps. It covers a wide range of topics, from setting up smartphones to troubleshooting common tech issues.

AARP Tech: AARP's tech channel caters specifically to older adults, offering tutorials and guides on using technology for health, safety, entertainment, and communication. It covers topics like staying connected with family, managing finances online, and using social media responsibly.

Sixty and Me: While not exclusively focused on technology, Sixty and Me's tech-related videos provide practical advice and recommendations tailored for seniors. Topics include tech for travel, managing digital photos, and using social media for networking.

EasyTechSeniors: This channel specializes in easy-to-understand tech tutorials and reviews designed for seniors. It covers topics like using smartphones, tablets, and computers, as well as exploring useful apps and digital resources.

These channels offer a wealth of information, guidance, and product recommendations to help seniors navigate the digital world with confidence and convenience.

YouTube and Gardening 2

This is a continuation of the list of great Youtube channels for seniors who want to learn more about gardening. 

6. Gardening Know-How: This channel offers a wide range of gardening tutorials, tips, and advice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. They have a specific section dedicated to "Gardening for Seniors" that covers topics like accessible gardening, mobility aids, and more.

7. The Urban Farmer: This channel focuses on organic gardening, permaculture, and sustainable living. They have a gentle and easy-to-follow approach that's perfect for seniors who want to learn about gardening without feeling overwhelmed.

8. Garden Therapy: This channel is all about the therapeutic benefits of gardening, which is especially important for seniors. They share inspiring stories, tips, and advice on how gardening can improve mental and physical health.

9. The Gardening Coach: This channel offers personalized coaching and guidance for gardeners of all levels, including seniors. They cover topics like garden design, plant care, and pest management.

10. Gardening with Renee: Renee is a passionate gardener who shares her knowledge and experience with her audience. Her channel covers a wide range of topics, from vegetable gardening to flower arrangement.

11. The Spruce: This channel is part of The Spruce family, a well-known online publication that covers various topics, including gardening. They have a dedicated section for seniors, which includes articles, videos, and tips on gardening for seniors.

12. Gardening for Seniors: This channel is specifically designed for seniors who want to learn about gardening. They cover topics like accessible gardening, mobility aids, and more.

13. The Garden Professors: This channel is run by a team of experts in horticulture and gardening. They share their knowledge on various gardening topics, including plant care, pest management, and garden design.

14. Gardening with Kids: While this channel is primarily focused on gardening with children, it also has some great content that's suitable for seniors who want to learn about gardening. They cover topics like garden design, plant care, and outdoor activities.

15. The Permaculture Research Institute: This channel focuses on permaculture, a sustainable gardening approach that's perfect for seniors who want to create a low-maintenance garden.

Some more advice

 Retirement opens up a world of new challenges and opportunities for some. I have been able to keep this perspective alive for the last 18 years. Here are some things I have learned that have helped me as I move through the stages of retirement.

Highlight the joy of learning something new every day. For example, Retirement is not just about relaxing; it's about embracing the joy of continuous learning. Whether it's learning a new language, exploring a new hobby, or mastering a new skill, every day brings a new opportunity to expand your horizons.

Retirement is the perfect time to stay active and engaged. Joining clubs, volunteering, or even starting a new business venture can keep you energized and fulfilled.

Retirement is your chance to finally focus on what you love. Whether it's travelling the world, writing a book, or starting a garden, follow your passions and make every day an adventure.

Retirement isn't just about personal growth; it's also about giving back. Volunteering, mentoring, or supporting causes you believe in can give your retirement a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

In retirement, every challenge overcome is a reason to celebrate. Whether it's learning a new skill or achieving a personal goal, take pride in your accomplishments and use them as fuel for even greater adventures."

By framing retirement as a time of endless opportunities, growth, and fulfillment, you can motivate yourself to make the most out of this exciting phase of life.

 

Going Back to School

For most of us, we hope that when we retire, we will find the time to relax, but that is really not true. My friends and I are very busy in our retirement and finding time to relax is still a problem. This may surprise many of you who are looking forward to your time to relax as you plan to or think about retirement. Let me explain, we are now busy doing things that we love, which may be pursuing our hobbies, travelling, volunteering, or working (part-time) but not many of them are just relaxing and letting life go by. 

For some of us, retirement isn’t just a time to lay the goals of life down it is a time to look back over life at our unfinished challenges and then go back and finish them.  I have two degrees and am proud of the work, time and energy I used to complete them. Many of my friends do not have a degree and they have an unfinished goal to go back and get that degree. 

When I taught at the University of Phoenix, I was not surprised to see young and senior adults, taking courses to finish their bachelor’s degree or start and finish a master's or PhD. Working with those students and helping them achieve their goals was a highlight of my career. I understand how big a challenge it is to go back to the classroom and get that certificate, especially when you do it after you have retired.

So why do it?  This may be a question your friends ask when they see you going after such an ambitious goal so late in life.  But when you think about it, you may be a bit offended by the question.  Implicit in this ageist question is the implication of, “What is the point of you getting a degree since you are not going to do anything productive in retirement and you are so close to death?”

Many of my friends started entirely new careers after they retired.  With the advances in medical science today, it is a given that most people live 20-30 years or more “in retirement”.  That is plenty of time to accomplish great things.  So, starting out this era of life with a good education makes just as much sense as it did when you left school and started out on your first career. 

 This is not to say that going back to school is going to be easy.  If finishing your high school degree is the goal, and going back to school is not an option, then taking a High School Equivalency program may be the answer. Every country has this type of program it may be called a GED or an ABD or an HSED o HED so you may have to do an online search to see what is available where you live.

The social situation you may face in a college classroom, or school may be a challenge.  You will have to get used to being in the classroom and listening to lectures, reading textbooks, taking notes, doing papers, and taking exams all over again.  If you go after an advanced degree and take several classes, you will be a very busy senior citizen just keeping up with your studies. Most colleges or universities that offer programs to adults understand that these adults may not have the skills needed, so they may offer courses on how to learn.

But there are some joys you can expect from going after an advanced degree.  If you decide to take day courses, instead of online or evening courses, college life and being on a college campus each day is by itself a very stimulating environment.  Being with young people each day can be energizing and you may find yourself looking and acting as much as the youth you “hang out with” as you do your fellow senior citizens.

When I watched students at the University of Phoenix cross the stage, I could see the pride of accomplishment on their faces. Talking to them and their family at the reception after the ceremony, I could see the pride and joy that radiated throughout the room, and it was uplifting.

 If you are finishing your high school or bachelor’s degree, congratulations, it takes hard work and sacrifice to achieve that goal. However, don’t be surprised if you fall in love with academic life.  As an educator for over 43 years, I believe that learning is tremendously addictive, and you may wish to go on for yet more studies in fields of learning that have always fascinated you. 

If you want to study for the pure joy of learning, there are free or lost cost alternatives for you, However, nobody will turn away your tuition dollars if you just want to be in college for the pure joy of learning.  And you will be an inspiration to your family and your grandchildren as well as students when they see you succeed and they tell themselves, “If Granny/Grandpa can do it, so can I.”

 

What do you learn after a disagreement?

If you are very young, in mind and in spirit, you might learn the most immediately following a disagreement or a disappointment. You will learn the most only if you keep an open mind and are open to growth.

If you are young but are approaching maturity you will usually learn the most immediately following a disagreement or a disappointment. You will learn the most only if you keep an open mind and are open to growth. 

If you are older and have kept an open mind and a youthful attitude you will definitely learn the most immediately following a disagreement... although when you disagree with yourself you do it very politely. 

As we move through life and as we end 2018 and move into 2019 challenging ourselves is important. I think we learn more when confronted by those who disagree with us and from trying and failing then we do by surrounding ourselves with those who agree with us and only trying things at which we know we will be successful.

It's a small world after all

I train or more precisely new facilitators come to my workshops to watch and learn, I hope what they should and should not do. Most of the time I hope they see how they should approach the workshop not what they should not do in the workshop. Don came to a workshop I was giving on Personal Planning and at the beginning introduced himself and gave me his card, I glanced at it and put it in my pocket as I had still not quite set up the equipment.

The workshop went well, but it was a bit longer than normal and after Don and went for a coffee, to debrief. As we were talking I took out his card and actually read it. I was impressed, on the card it gave his name and the following information: World Citizen, Educator, Traveller. I asked him and he told me he had taught in China, worked in Africa, and traveled to many, many countries so when he retired he thought he would make this card. 

We had a great conversation about his travels, his teaching experience and the fact he was raised very close to where I now live. The world is small and we all have much in common when we take time to talk and to listen to each other

Insult the dead

This from Paulo Coelho’s Warrior of Light:

A novice brother went to Abbot Macarius seeking advice about the best way to please the Lord.

– Go to the cemetery and insult the dead – said Macarius.

The brother did as he was told. 

The following day, he returned to Macarius.

– Did they respond? – asked the Abbot.

The novice said no, they didn’t.

– Then go to them and praise them.

The novice obeyed. 

That same afternoon, he returned to the Abbot, who again wished to know whether the dead had responded.

– No – said the novice.

– In order to please the Lord, behave as they do – said Macarius.

The proper function of the human spirit

I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London

How does this quote shift the way you perceive your world? 

How does this inspire you?  How does it mentor you? 

Thought for the day

Someone has said that, "99.9% of all emails are about somebody else's problem, drama, or emergency." Don't let their agenda run your business.

Be careful about the time you spend responding to emails or posts, and use the time to put more of your focus on your priorities- where it belongs!

Out of the mouths of babes

“Tomorrow’s not going to be like today…. Because every day is a new story.”  I overheard this as the little boy talked to his dad as we sat in the park the other day. 

I think he could be right. Each day we have a chance to write a new story. To seize the day and make it our own. To put positive intention together with inspired action and create something wonderful.

But too often, we let fear run the show. We let our doubt and anxiety blind us to the opportunities around us. We miss out on the miracles because we get caught up in the fear of some awful “what if?”

But fear and doubt are never “the Truth.” Your fears are always about “what may happen.” But the future is still just an idea. It’s a possibility waiting for you to put your creative energy into.

So today – and every day – you get to decide the beliefs about yourself, your business, and your life that you are going to use to shape your story.  Humans are goal driven and we love stories, and the stories we love are about heroes  and heroines who overcome obstacles to make their dreams come true. What beliefs do you have about your story that will shape your day and become your narrative. You are the author of your own story, are you also the hero?

Are you embracing an encouraging and supportive narrative? Or are you indulging in self-judgment and pessimism?

I don’t know why it is so much easier for us to believe our negative future fantasies. But since the future has not happened yet, a doom and gloom scenario is no more real or true than a passionately positive outlook!

So, is your story today going to be an Adventure? A Romance? A Musical Comedy? Or a Tragedy? 

Every day begins with Once Upon a Time and my hope is that for you your story of the day ends with They Lived Happily Ever After.

Thoughts on Post Secondary Education

The following is an interesting post fromn the disgruntled democrat  where he talks about the changes that are coming in higher and secondary education. As an early adopter of online teaching and as an early online instructor (I started teaching online in 2001) this is a topic I am interested in as we change how we learn and give credence and credibility to that learning.

As post-secondary education became part of the post war, publicly-funded panoply of social services offered to the population at large, enrollment in universities sky-rocketed. Universal accessibility became the mark of a developed country.

However, thirty plus years of neoliberal politics has brought the existing university business model to a precipice. Even with generous student aid programs in place, the cost of maintaining traditional universities has outstripped the state's capacity to guarantee universal access to post-secondary education.

The return to the user-payer model of university access is effectively reducing the numbers of lower and lower middle class students who can afford to attend university, especially when current economic conditions make it very difficult for recent graduates to find employment that generates sufficient income to repay their student loans.

Rather than accepting entry into a wage slave existence, increasing numbers of potential university students are deciding that they simply cannot afford to attend a traditional university.

Fortunately, their future need not be bleak.

In a wired world, higher education can be delivered to millions at a fraction of a cost as compared to the tradition model.

For example, Stanford's recent experiment in delivering an undergraduate course on artificial intelligence simultaneously to the 200 Stanford university students on campus and to approximately 100,000 students on line demonstrated that advances in information and communications technology make the traditional practice of bringing together a group of students in a lecture hall to hear the words to wisdom delivered by a professor appear quaint.
What remains to be done is to develop an appropriate certification process that recognizes that courses delivered via the Internet possesses the same intrinsic value of those delivered in the hallowed halls. MIT and Harvard are working together to address this need.

In my opinion, what's missing in the debate surrounding the increase in student fees in Quebec and the rising levels of student debt in the US is the notion that affordable university education can be delivered to those who desire it if the university business model is altered to take greater advantage of the economies of scale that the Internet offers.

But this means a large scale re-engineering of the present model, which will likely mean the loss of a great number of teaching positions as more and more courses migrate to the Web and an end to the lucrative business of academic publishing in favor of open access models.

Imagine being able to choose courses for credit from renown universities like Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, the London School of Economics, the Sorbonne and do the course work from the comfort of your home and the public library.

We have the technology. We just need the collective will.

Crash Course 7-Day Program to Self-Improvement

I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.

There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

Day 1: Know your purpose.

Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.

Day 2: Know your values.

What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.

Are we spending enough time with our children?

If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves." Maria Edgeworth O Magazine, April 2004

Precious moments with your children…where did they go? Lost minutes stretch into hours, then days. Lost yesterdays pass away and become weeks and months. We look back and shake our heads in disbelief, wondering where the years went. Sound familiar? 

Many parents feel they are on a path where they are losing time with their children and wish they had more time to spend with them. However, the research into time parents spend with children is encouraging. We feel more rushed and believe we have less time, but what is encouraging is that parents still find the time to spend quality time with their children.  Excerpts from the study are below or you can follow the link to the actual article.

Recently published research concludes that today's U.S. mothers and fathers spend at least as many hours caring for their children each week as parents did four decades ago during an era that in the popular imagination was a golden age of family togetherness.

It may seem contradictory, then, that many parents complain of feeling rushed and of not having enough time with their sons and daughters. One reason for this, authors Suzanne Bianchi, John Robinson and Melissa Milkie suggest in their book, Changing Rhythms of American Family Life, is that there is a gap between parents' self-evaluations and the currently high cultural expectations for "intensive parenting

The authors made extensive use of time diaries kept by parents as part of large research studies, in which a standard series of questions walk respondents through a complete day. The first national-level study was conducted in 1965, and it was replicated in 1975, 1985, and 1995. They drew on other time-diary studies from the late 1990s and early this decade, and made use of the Current Population Survey data on work hours, the 2000 General Social Survey, and other material.

Time diaries indicate that married fathers spent an average 6.5 hours a week caring for their children in 2000, a 153 percent increase since 1965. Married mothers spent 12.9 hours, a 21 percent increase. Single mothers spent 11.8 hours, a 57 percent increase.

These increases are powerful because the figures are for "primary care" where the child is the main focus of attention, not for time spent with the child while doing other things. Time-diary numbers, however, do not say whether mothers are as accessible to their children at home during as many hours as they were in the past.

Although time diaries show that mothers and fathers spend about the same amount of time doing two things at once, survey data show that mothers are more likely to report multitasking all the time as well as feeling rushed. Employed mothers feel the time crunch more than those without paid jobs, and single mothers feel the most time-pressed of all. Perhaps, the authors suggest, that is because the complex nature of running a household today means that there never is a moment when something does not need to be done.

Parents, especially mothers, may be responding to heightened expectations, the authors said. "If our interpretation is correct, the requirements for effective and good mothering have ratcheted upward at the very time when there are expanded opportunities for women to do other things with their time, such as devoting themselves to fulfilling jobs," they write.

Especially among middle-class parents, children increasingly are expected to be the center of family life. Today's parents are expected to monitor their children carefully because fears of abuse and of crime have risen. They are expected to guide and nurture their children through every aspect of growing up, and to be involved in all of their activities. Because the average family now has fewer children than in the 1960s, the investment in each child is greater.

No wonder, then, that 40 percent to 60 percent of parents feel they spend too little time with their children, the authors note. They live in a society, said Milkie, where "you can't spend enough time with your kids . . . cultural ideals are really feeding into this."

The authors acknowledge that some of their conclusions go against the grain of popular belief. Although they raise concerns about the strains on parents, especially single mothers, they conclude that some aspects of child rearing have not suffered in the transition to a world where most mothers have joined the labor force.

"Somehow, then, despite concerns of policymakers and others that children are not receiving sufficient parental time," they write, "parents seem to have compensated for family and work arrangements that at first glance should have taken away from child rearing."

Tuit

My thanks to Patrick for giving me my own tuit so I thought I would pass this on to you although I have to say I received this gift from Patrick on April 22, and I finally got around to passing it on. So some of you may be like me and have some issues with procrastination!  If so, I found just the thing for you. 

 I got you your very own tuit!  Think of it as my gift to you.

 (PS: I get the feeling that the tuit is a very old idea, but when I saw it for the first time in April I thought I'd share!)

 

American Idol and Teaching

My daughter loves watching American Idol and so when we were in Australia I started to watch it with her. I found I enjoyed watching American Idol. (My thanks to -ehanson for this post)

Being a participant on American Idol does seem to have a lot of similarities with being a teacher which I have been for almost four decads, an EA, or a teacher candidate on a 13 week Practicum 

Being on a Practicum (or in a Classroom) is Almost Like Being on American Idol

There are challenges which can really stress you out and you start to doubt yourself.

Some days you feel like a 'Rock Star', other days you think it is 'The End of the Road'.  

There are always critics that you have to face.  

Sometimes you feel it is a popularity contest.

Those that think they are 'The Greatest' are usually mediocre at best, and those that are the most Humble, turn out to be 'The Greatest'.

The judges and the audience don't want the singers/teacher candidates to mimic someone else.  The singers /teacher candidates have to find their unique voice and be themselves.  

Sometimes the participants/teacher candidates aren't ready for the day's challenge but they are encouraged to come back tomorrow or even next year and try again.

They both teach you human nature, with lots of opportunity for comedy and tragedy.

Its not just one audition, it is a series of months (or years or decades)  of dress rehearsals and job interviews.

There is much more planning and practising than being on stage.

Sometimes you feel that you are only as good as your last performance or class.

You can never rest on your laurels.

You don't know who, how, or where your influence will end up.

You have to really want to do it and really enjoy doing it to be successful.

As the song goes: "When you find yourself in time of trouble...", take the advice from another tune: "You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!

You are there to educate and to entertain.

Timing is Everything!

You are the messenger.  You deliver the message in an engaging way.

When you succeed, you know all the time, work, stress, and frustrations were worth it.

And you are amazed when, down the road,  you finally get paid, that someone actually pays you to do this labour of love.