Friends,
Kate’s Hand exercises
Wow! Kate really put on a nice hand exercise demonstration last week. She educated us on how important it is for all of us living with MS and showed us what we can do for ourselves. Thanks Kate!
Thanks for engaging in this demonstration, please put the information to good use daily. I know, we have a lot to do in order to stay ahead of our MS. It’s not easy but it’s worth it.
Kate put together a really nice handout for this as well. If you didn’t get a handout, please see Kate or e-mail her so you can use it as a guide going forward.
Golf Outing Friday, June 7th!
We are extremely fortunate that ePlatinum Health will be putting on a golf outing for us again this year. A huge thank you goes out to Jeff, Frank, Katie and the entire ePlatinum Health team.
We could use your help with the golf outing. We need donation items for the silent auction and raffle. We need golfers, sponsors and volunteers as well.
There is a sign up sheet at the gym with a list of items we’re hoping to get for the silent auction and raffle items. If you’re willing and able, please sign your name by a few things you’re willing to do or get for us.
When you bring the donations in, please put them in the fireplace room on the table marked “Donation Drop Off” and fill out the sheet with what the donation is and who it’s from.
It’s really important to us that we properly thank people for the donations. They are much appreciated!
Below are the promotional flyers for the golfers and sponsors we need. Please consider golfing with us and sign up as early as you can. The last two years, we were fortunate to fill up and have the maximum number of golfers. A huge thanks goes out to all who golfed and made this possible. THANK YOU! Let’s make it a fun event again this year.
Here’s a link to the event website. You can see pictures from last year’s event and sign up from here. https://www.eplatinumhealth.com/eph-cares/eph-msgolfouting/
Here’s the flyer for the sponsors. If you know of anyone that would be willing to sponsor a hole, please have them let us know as early as they can.
Ed and Adam’s Podcast
Ed and Adam asked to interview me last week for their podcast. We had a fun conversation. Here’s the link. I hope you’ll listen to it.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ava-g4/episodes/Just-Keep-Moving-e2hu5eg
Thanks Adam, Ed and Ava for doing all you do!
Who’s making progress?
Have you seen the progress Holly makes when she comes to the gym? Many times she can’t lift her legs very well when she comes in. She responds extremly well to the electrical stimulation and can lift her legs quite well after she does the neubie for a while. She can certainly catch fish too. Ask her to see pictures of some of the fish she has caught lately. Impressive! I love how she accepts the challenges she has with her MS and makes the best of it.
Dance Program – Who’s ready to dance and have fun? – This Saturday at our MS-Just Keep Moving gym
Dr Alex Ng from Marquette University did some studies on dance and how it’s beneficial for us living with MS. The benefits proved to be many…including benefits with memory and cognitive challenges.
Dr Ng and many volunteers want to make this a great experience for you. I hope you’ll engage and benefit from this program. Thank you Dr Ng and team for making this possible!
Dr Ian Duncan – Researcher of remylenation of the CNS
Dr Ian Duncan came to the gym a while back and did a great presentation on remylenation.
Dr Duncan is doing a fundraising bike ride for The MS International Federation in the Alps. If you’re willing and able to support Dr Duncans initiative, here’s a link to learn more about what he’s doing and support him. Cykelnerven – Ian Duncan
Day of Endurance 2024 – August 24, 2024
Another two weeks have gone by. Please turn your progress notes in to Kate or Mike. I hope your training is going well. I started out really well in January but I’ve been getting a little distracted lately. I did get out for my first 18 mile bike ride this morning. It felt good to get back out there. It was a bit cool (38 degrees), pretty windy and I chose lots of hills. It was a great ride. 😊
Consistency is key. Let’s exercise everyday. It’s the gradual, consistency that our bodies will adapt to over time. Let’s do one long workout per week so we can appreciate that we are making progress each week. Kate can certainly help you with a program based on your abilities. Please feel free to reach out to her.
It’s really important that we’re active and we enjoy the journey of training for the Day of Endurance…preferably “together”. I hope you can find some workout friends to enjoy this journey with. It can be others with MS, friends, neighbors, family members, movie stars, it doesn’t matter. It really only takes one other person to have show up and do whatever you’re going to do each day. You can pick different people different days.
Let’s make this a recreational adventure. A social adventure. A rewarding experience. And… “share” it. So, let’s start inviting friends and family members to join us on this journey and have some fun with it.
Please share your progress with Kate. Kate and Mike are working together to create a way to share our progress all year. I hope you’ll engage in the journey and make progress yourself.
Cardio and Balance 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 to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
Wednesdays 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.
10:30 – 11:45am Tai Chi led by Ricky
Fridays: Head Yoga, Spin Classes, balance training & Core strengthening Classes
9:00am – 9:30am: Head yoga led by Anne Prestwor in the fireplace room
9:30am – 10:00am: Spin Class in the front room led by Mike Beiermeister. Bikes are limited so this will be first come first served.
10-10:30 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 Kate at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday Morning Bike RideIt’s going to be too cold this Friday, perhaps a little wet and windy…no ride.
We’re in April now. We’ll be watching the weather each week. As soon as it’s 45 degrees @ 7:00am on Fridays, we’ll be riding. Let’s get our bikes tuned up, air in the tires, find your helmet and get ready to ride.
If you’d like to ride this year and need a trike or handcycle, please let me know. I want to make sure we have enough trikes / handcycles for those that want to ride. I’d like to get one assigned to you and fitted to you ahead of time. Please send me an e-mail @ dan.erschen@gmail.com.
Educational Sessions
This Friday, April 12th 11:00am – 12:00pm. Research Review – Dr Kate Kern
Dr Kate Kern will be reviewing research that has been done on the effects of Vibration Training on Cognitive and Quality of Life
Friday, April 27th 11:00am – 12:00pm. Dr Kate Kern / Dan Erschen – Introduction to “Dan’s Daily Dose”
Dan Erschen continues to make progress with his MS as a disease. Is it luck? A fluke? Or can others benefit from what Dan is doing? Kate and Dan are putting together a protocol that Dan does consistently and would like to share this with you and see if we can get a few people willing to do the same thing consistently. We would then measure and share the results of these few people with others as we go forward. Please attend to learn more.
Friday, May 3rd 11:00am – 12:00pm. Mitch Adam
Mitch is a neuro-certified physical therapist who is also a PhD student at Marquette University in the Exercise and Rehab Science program. He will be sharing information about the clinical trial he is working on. The trial is an exercise intervention study to improve walking balance in people with MS
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 Kate, Joan, Traci, Ricky or Dan know
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together from 9:00am – noon on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym. I hope you’ll join us!
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Prayer Group We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday @ 11:00am.
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, April 19th 2024. 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 491 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 Heldt
Ricky will be here on Wednesdays doing Thai Massage. Ricky will be taking Fridays off for a while. Perhaps through the summer.
Many continue making great progress with chronic pain relief, range of motion, walking better and a new sense of hope when Ricky works with them. Please keep in mind that consistency is key. Not only with Ricky…with exercise too. We need consistency to realize the benefits long term. We want you to have long term benefits and relief.
Ricky has a sign up board based on first come first serve. You can pick the time slot that works for you. I highly encourage you to take advantage of Ricky’s Thai Massages each day and sign up for your time slot as soon as you get there.
Reiki with Linda Linda will be here on Fridays doing Reiki. Many people say Linda’s Reiki work is “magical”. We’re thankful for Linda sharing her gifts and talents with us. Feel free to let Linda know you’d like to do Reiki with her. She also has a sign up sheet.
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.
Let’s keep moving, loving and smiling 😊 It helps!
In God We Trust…we are in good hands.
Dan
P.S. Sometimes I wonder why I’m lucky enough to get out in nature and see the critters and beauty I get to see. I hope I’m doing them justice by taking pictures and sharing them with you. I had a lot of variety this week. Here’s a good sign that spring is coming.
We had a little frost the other morning when Cal and I went for a walk.
And a little reflection of a stick in the still water
We had a pair of sandhill cranes do a fly over
Followed by a great blue heron
And lots of ducks circling in for a landing. I love the migration season.
These two geese were having a nice chat
And these two were enjoying each other’s company
This duck wanted its picture taken. It kept swimming back and forth out in front of me.
This sandhill crane was shaking it all out
This deer looked pretty cool at sunset
As did this one
Did you know squirrels eat buds off the trees? This one was.
I thought this dove looked pretty nice in the tall grass early in the morning as the sun came up.
This little black capped chickadee looked lice with sun coming up too
So did Sherwood, our cat.
Here’s Shyster, our other cat during the eclipse. The darkness and the heavy shadows made a nice effect.
Like I said, I got really lucky this week with all the variety. I even saw some pelicans.
Ok…I’m done now.
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.