Friends,
Fayth Caruso rebounding last Friday – Awesome Experience
It was awesome to see so many people engaging and being able to learn from and experience Fayth Caruso’s knowledge and gifts. Fayth shared so much with us about the benefits of rebounding. She also showed us so many things we can do to help our balance even if we can’t get on a rebounder. I’m glad you were able to experience this if you were here.
Since some of us have already made positive life changing improvements by rebounding consistently. We will be making more opportunities available over the fall / winter. We will be starting at a beginner’s level and moving to more challenging as improvements are made. It will take time but I am very confident more of us with MS will adapt to it and make life changing progress…especially when you combine it with our other programs like our cardio workouts, sitting and standing balance classes, water aerobics, high intensity circuit workouts, etc.
A huge THANK YOU goes out to Fayth for leading us through this and sharing her gifts. Thank you Fayth! Thanks go out to all those who participated as well. Let’s do our best to stay ahead of our MS.
Fayth offered us a 10% off discount code if anyone who wants to order a Bellicon for at home. Go to https://www.bellicon.com/en-us/ Fayth said to put in DANEMOVES which will give our community 10% off till this Friday – Fayth is happy to help if you run into issues! Thanks Fayth!
Let’s Dance!
Dancing has so many good and healthy elements for all of us living with MS. Dr Alex Ng from Marquette University has proven this through some of his studies which include many of our friends with MS and their loved ones.
Dr Ng and Jessica Fastabend are creating some more dance opportunities for us living with MS. Here’s a message from Jessica. I highly encourage you to engage in this!
Good afternoon everyone!
I hope each of you has been enjoying your summer. We are bringing back social dance class series in August.
Dates: 8/13, 8/21 and 8/27
Time: 6p.m.-7p.m.
Location: Casa Collective Studios 21415 W Greenfield Ave, New Berlin, WI 53146
Cost: Pay what you can.
Let us know you are coming by signing up HERE. Pre-registration is not required but highly recommended.
There is ample accessible parking near the studio entrance. If you have any questions you can refer to our FAQ’s or reach out to me at any time.
I look forward to dancing with you soon.
Sincerely,
Jessica Fastabend
Community Education Director
414.277.8480 x6005
1661 N. Water Street | Milwaukee WI 53202
Day of Endurance – This Saturday, August 23rd 2025
Did you notice we are on the last page for our Day of Endurance Progress Notes? On the line for Saturday, 8/23…it says SHOWTIME!! Record what you performed. I hope you have been keeping track all year. If not, please be sure to record what you do on Saturday. That will be your goal for next year…to do better than this year. Hopefully we all stay ahead of our MS.
Where? Naga-Waukee Park, Delafield, WI (Need park pass, see info below)
When? Arrive in time for your events
- Swimming: 6:00am start – arrive by 5:45am
- National Anthem – 8:45am – arrive by 8:00 or 8:15
- All other events start after the National Anthem and a few words of gratitude and encouragement
I hope you enjoyed the journey leading up to this day, trained with some fun people and do great on Saturday. Hopefully the weather stays like the forecast says and we all do great. I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited for this day.
Our goal is to keep everyone safe and to not have anyone swimming, kayaking, rolling, biking, walking, bouncing, etc. alone. Let’s help each other do that.
Here are the links with more info:
Park Pass: Be sure you get your park pass for Naga-Waukee Park for August 23, 2025 if you are going to come in a vehicle. You cannot get a park pass at the park. You either need to get it online at this link or go to the Waukesha County Courthouse – Park and Rec office. If you have any questions about the park pass, you can call 262-548-7801
Dishes to pass: In order to keep our costs down and have a great day together, we are asking people to bring a dish to pass. We want to be able to eat together all day 😊.
Let’s make this journey and experience the best yet and have some fun…together.
Endurance Walking Opportunities
Walking is a very functional and sought after level of mobility for all of us living with MS. For those who cannot walk, my heart is with you. I do not forget for a minute the days I could not walk and I have you in mind on each walk. I wish we had quicker ways to get people who cannot walk, walking. Let’s keep working at it.
For those who can walk, let’s focus on keeping our walking abilities and try to improve upon them.
Our endurance walking group is training for the Day of Endurance. These are on Thursday mornings starting @ 6:00am. This Thursday, we will only be walking four miles, tapering for our long walks on Saturday.
Last Thursday, Joan, Pam and I had a good walk. We had a chuckle as we started. Joan said she had an important meeting and had to cut it short this week stopping at noon. Something didn’t sound right with that. A six hour walk is cutting it short? Kind of funny. We made it 12.4 miles with no falls…another great walk together. 😊
Even if you can only walk a few steps, I would highly encourage you to try to walk a few steps each day and then one long walk per week – whatever that distance is for you. Consistency is key.
We are walking different segments of the Lake Country Trail. Whether you have MS, are a family member or friend, a volunteer, etc. if you want to join us, please let me know and I will include you in the communication of where we will be walking. We are planning on continuing these long walks after the Day of Endurance.
If you want to join us at a shorter distance, we will loop back at whatever distance you’d like to walk or we can meet up with you a little later if you want to join us for a while. I would encourage you to start where you are and gradually make progress like we are. I hope you’ll join us. We do it early to beat the heat and get it done as early in the day as we can.
Nutrition Program
This week Janine discussed what qualifies food as organic and why it is beneficial. It was great to hear we had so many people there benefiting from this nutrition program.
Here is the nutrition link for this week.
Janine puts a lot into these presentations. It’s wonderful for her to share these presentations with those who can’t be here. It’s even more impactful for people who can be here in person to get the information first hand and be able to get questions answered and learn from others living with MS.
I would highly encourage you to engage in our nutrition program Monday mornings @ 9:00am so you can benefit at a high level. All are encouraged to come; people with MS, loved ones, care takers, volunteers, etc.
Thank you Janine!
Metals for MS
Thank you to all who brought in aluminum cans, gutters, copper, etc. Please keep bringing them in…you are helping us.
Parking
If there are able-bodied people willing to park across the street in the Acuity lot so people with mobility challenges can park in our lot, please do so. We want to make it easy for people with mobility challenges to park and get into our building safely. Thank you for doing that!
Gym Open and Close Procedure
If you’re the first to come or the last to leave the gym, please use this procedure for opening and shutting down.
Open and closedown procedures.docx
Member Spotlight – Dale Smithy
Dale is always accompanied by her husband Tom who helps so much. I’m so happy to hear that Dale is making such significant progress with gaining strength. Dale is showing us that the body does adapt to what we put it through if we stay consistent. Dale works hard…I’m thankful her body is adapting to it. Well done Dale and Tom!
Ed and Adam’s Podcast
Adam and Ed had a conversation about all the flooding we had last week.
Here’s the link:
Talking About Flooding by Positive Vibes Living with MS
Thanks Adam, Ed and Ava for doing these podcasts together!
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together from 8:00am – noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at the gym. Plus, Monday evenings from 4:00pm – 7:00pm and Tuesday afternoons for the aquatics program. I hope you’ll join us!
Where:
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Exercise Programs
These classes are aimed to get everyone exercising together. I like that word “together” 😊. We’ll need help from volunteers before and after the cardio class on Wednesdays and Fridays to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join…friends with MS, volunteers, and caregivers.
Monday Mornings
8:00am – Rebounding Class
9:00am – Nutrition Program – Friends with MS, caretakers and volunteers are encouraged to engage. Here’s last week’s presentation:
Nutrition link: MS 2025.08.11 Seasonal and Local.pdf
Monday evenings (open from 4:00pm – 7:00pm)
5:00 pm: High intensity interval training (HIIT)
5:30 pm: Standing balance
6:00 pm: Seated balance
Tuesday afternoons
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm: Aquatic exercise program held at Wildwood Lodge – Pewaukee
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm: Aquatic exercise program held at Wildwood Lodge – Pewaukee
Wildwood Lodge has a lift available to get people in wheelchairs in and out of the pool safely
Wednesdays
8:00am – Rebounding Class
8:30am – 9:00am: Cardio exercise
Location: in the big room using aerobic equipment in front of big TV
Pick your favorite piece of equipment to use, bring a water bottle, and arrive a few minutes early to get the equipment set up to your height.
9:30am – 10:00am: Seated Balance
10-10:30am: Cardio exercise
Location: in the big room using aerobic equipment in front of big TV
Pick your favorite piece of equipment to use, bring a water bottle, and arrive a few minutes early to get the equipment set up to your height.
10:30am – 11:00am: Seated / Standing Stretching Class
Fridays:
7:00 – 8:45am: Bike Ride from Nettesheim Park – Pewaukee – see address below
9:30 – 10:00am: High intensity interval training (HIIT) body weight circuit class. Great for those who aren’t attending Friday morning bike rides and want to get their heart pumping! Geared to intermediate to advanced ability level. Class may be indoors or outdoors depending on weather. Find Dr Kate at the start of the class time.
10:00 – 10:30 am: Seated balance class
10:30 – 11am: Standing balance class
Pick the class / classes you feel most able and comfortable participating in. We will have chairs set up to sit on and/or use for balance support.
Email Dr Kate Kern at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday Morning Bike Rides
NO bike ride this Friday – saving our energy for our Day of Endurance on Saturday 😊
Please note that there is construction on Hwy SS. There will also be detour signs. You will have to either come in from the route we usually ride by the lake or from the west. Please leave your home early and allow a little more time for the construction detour.
We had a nice ride together again last week. Thanks to the volunteers that showed up. We need you and you sure helped the ride go smoothly.
We will NOT be meeting Friday morning at 7:00am at Nettesheim Park in Pewaukee. It’s on the SE corner of Hwy SS and Oak Street. The GPS address is: N26W27495 Prospect Ave, Pewaukee, WI 53072.
Come a little early so you can get your bike out of your car and be ready to ride as close to 7:00am as possible. We’ll ride until about 8:45. Let’s ride and have some fun!
For those who wish you could join us but can’t; please know we have you in our hearts on these rides. We’re riding with you and for you. I hope you too can join us someday.
Educational Sessions
Friday, August 22nd 11:00 – 12:00pm Pack up for Day of Endurance
Friday, August 29th 11:00 – 12:00pm: Come sing with us! Join a fun, informal group singing session, mixed with vocal and respiratory exercises. The session will be led by speech therapist Evelyn Pollock, a former professional singer. No need to know how to read music — all the songs will be ‘oldies but goodies!’ Please bring your instrument if you’d like to strum along! Later this year, she and her colleague Dr. Alex Ng of Marquette University will be studying the effects of group singing on the breathing, voicing, and socio-emotional well-being of adults with MS.
Friday, September 5th 11:00 – 12:00pm: Come learn some simple strategies for dealing with persistent swelling in your legs. Lymphedema can be managed. JoAnn Schmitz is an Occupational Therapist and a Certified Lymphedema Therapist at ProHealth in Mukwonago who would like to give you some tools to help you in this area.
Friday, September 12th, 11:00 – 12:00pm: Kim and Emily are both MS certified physical therapists that currently work in the outpatient physical therapy department at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. They will talk about the balance triad and how this plays a large role in dizziness and imbalance with mobility.
Future topics could include: emotional health, nutrition, yoga, tai chi, wellness topics, safe use of gym equipment for your body, best exercise for you and more. What topics would you like to see? Please let Dr Kate, Joan, Traci, Ricky or Dan know.
Prayer Group We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday from 11:00am – noon.
I just love the way we share, pray and laugh together while we witness prayers being answered weekly. It’s truly amazing!
Thanks goes to God and to everyone that joins us. Let’s get together to share, listen, talk, give thanks, and pray however God leads us.
MS-Just Keep Caring – Our Caregivers support group will be the first and third Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30am. The next one will be Friday, September 5th, 2025. If you’re a caregiver of someone you love with MS, please join us and share your experience of caring for your loved one. This has been very helpful for many. Thanks to all who participate!
Our Facebook page is private. That means you’ll need to join if you want access to all our fun and progress. We’re now at 644 members. That’s awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709
Our Facebook page is active and fun. Lots of people are doing more and sharing their journey on Facebook. Feel free to join, post and share your experiences and comments.
There were some awesome pictures, videos and comments shared again this past week. Thank you to all who are sharing!
Thai Massage with Ricky and Nyani
Ricky will be here on Wednesdays doing Thai Massage.
Nyani will be here on Fridays doing Thai Massage
Our goal is to serve as many people who come to the gym consistently as we can with these Thai Massage services. Going forward we will be doing a rotational schedule to accommodate as many people as we can who need and want a massage.
There are some guidelines written up at the gym. Please respect the guidelines so we can serve as many people as we can. Please sign up according to the guidelines.
Here’s a link to the guidelines: Thai Massage at MS-Just Keep Moving
Reiki on Wednesdays and Fridays
Reiki is available at the gym, for FREE, on Wednesdays (Mary B, Jill K) and on Fridays (Linda C and Mary R), 9:30am until noon. Sessions typically last 20-30 minutes. Sign up for a session on the white board.
Reiki (ray-kee) relaxes the body so that healing can occur! The “magic” of Reiki has helped some of our members with pain, insomnia, constipation, and so much more! Try it the next time you are at the gym!
Inspirational Humor with Adam Wollert
We’ll be having our inspirational humor zoom call with Adam again next Tuesday. Adam is a gift to all of us. Thanks to all who joined us today!
Please join us if you can.
Tuesdays @ 1:30PM
Here’s the link to join us…I hope you do!
Join Zoom Meeting with this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9431389152?pwd=bWlYbFNaazVnM1M1cWxWMitlODdXUT09
Meeting ID: 943 138 9152
Passcode: 3qP2hu
Phone: 1-312-626-6799
Let’s reach out
I encourage you to share a smile and encouragement with someone. Perhaps you could call someone that you have not talked with for a while just to say hi and see how they are doing. We all could use a little extra love and encouragement.
MS is tough. Let’s have faith, remain calm, be flexible, help each other and learn as much as we can about the challenges of each day as we make good choices and take action.
Let’s keep moving, smiling and loving 😊 It helps!
In God We Trust…we are in good hands.
Dan
Our Website: http://msjustkeepmoving.org/
P.S. Last week, I shared some sunflower pictures with finches and bees. This week, I saw a nice barn with some nice clouds.
And a bald eagle enjoying a meal
This Great Blue Heron was hoping for a snack
These turtles were enjoying some sun
This Seagull came flying right at me
I saw another busy little finch. They sure like the sunflower seeds. It’s not that easy to get close to them.
This fisherman was in a pretty nice spot with the egrets surrounding him. I didn’t see him catch any fish.
This little hummingbird has been fun to watch
This monarch butterfly picture came out a little soft. Still kind of nice.
For those who can’t get out and enjoy nature due your challenges with MS…my heart is with you. You are with me every time I’m out there. I enjoy being out there and I also enjoy sharing with you. I know how hard it is not to be able to get out and enjoy nature. Let’s enjoy nature and God’s beauty together this way.
