the BODY RECALL Newsletter: Summer 2003

	*NEWSLETTER*
Volume 20 Number 2 Summer 2003

(Cover page from the paper issue)

President’s Message...

“Cold Comfort” is the way a prominent publication refers to a struggling economy that is having to deal with continuing health care issues, higher health insurance premiums, more people using workers compensation, and unexpected time off from work because of illness. Even though we live in a world of superior communication, messages fall short without a know-how way to assist people with the how-to. Healthy choices, regular exercise and the use of more incentives aimed for healthier living provide a reasonable beginning to bring us out of the quagmire. We know the crisis of healthcare is out of control. Looking for the cause has taken researchers in another direction: focus on youth! Pressure is on to get youth moving again, and BODY RECALL is a great motivator for this population.

I have spent a full year in planning programs and meeting public school students with BODY RECALL because I trust the value of deep, slow movement for all people. We have great incentive materials to use as vehicles of education and movement skills. My contact with youth this year has shown me that they receive movement education happily. They feel better, gain confidence in their body control, become aware of the need to put fitness into everyday activities, and learn to appreciate the values of exercises done slowly and even while in a sitting position. They are fascinated to learn how gravity affects their strength, or to learn how valuable deep breathing is, even if they are not huffing and puffing for air. Previously, they have not been led in lifetime skills that will preserve their mobility, strength and comfort as they grow.

Since January 2003, I have chosen to focus on the population that will face aging with fewer dependable tools and that will encounter more social hazards than ever. In the last 8 months I have worked through (1) an after-school module of Fitness (BODY RECALL) and Dance that included adult family members of the students enrolled. (2) In March I completed a 4-week module of Fitness (BODY RECALL) and dance at Williamsburg, KY High School. We ended this series with an up-beat school program. (3) At Headquarters this spring I conducted a 4-H Club module of lifetime fitness, which also included folk dances. Parents and grandparents, and great grandparents also participated. We gave a program on closing day. (4) Early this summer I successfully taught youth in a 4-H camp for 3 days, and (5) I elected to teach BODY RECALL, by popular demand, in a 2-week summer school for middle school students in Williamsburg, KY. This was a 5-days-a week offering. (I loved getting a letter from that county’s school superintendent assigning me to teach BODY RECALL in the public school.) The culminating program gave opportunity for our work together to impact parents and teachers who attended the summer school event.

Youths enjoy the BODY RECALL movements and incentives. Each group has included boys and girls, with the exception of the 4-H Club, which was all girls. Simple folk dances add the social dimension this age group needs. It gives them opportunity to move around on their feet more than the BODY RECALL program encourages in a short 4-week experience. Knowledge of dance terms and skills benefit them in their state testing programs for physical education and the humanities.

I believe the best hope of pulling out of the healthcare crisis is to begin earlier to address health and fitness issues leading to life when school days are over. Prevention skills and knowledge are the strongest tools for establishing lifetime fitness attitudes and habits. Youth should be exposed to sound, cost-efficient fitness experiences addressing life skills that are not competitive.

(signed) Dorothy Chrisman

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