Friends,
Let’s not fall…if we can prevent them
Dr Kate gave us a nice presentation and demonstration on how to get up from a fall if we would happen to find ourselves on the ground for any reason. This is great information for all of us living with MS. Thank you Dr Kate!
Anything we can do to prevent falls in the first place is well worth the effort. I’m really thankful for all the strength and balance programs we have and for all the people who engage in these opportunities. Who benefits the most from these programs? The people who engage in them consistently.
Day of Endurance Training
I hope your training is going well. I know some are hitting it hard already and are well ahead of what they were doing last year at this time…good job! We get out of it what we put into it. Please turn your first two weeks of progress notes into Dr Kate.
Let’s make this journey and experience the best yet and have some fun…together. As we begin our training, let’s enjoy each day and record what we do on the packet we put together for you. If you didn’t get a packet, please see Dr Kate or me for your packet. We’re trying to make it really easy for you to record what you’re doing on a daily basis. These will be interesting for you to look back at a year from now. Hopefully, you can do more next year than you can this year.
Remember, try to do daily workouts and just one LONG workout each week. It’s on the one long day that you want to do just a little better than the week before and gradually build up each week.
Ed and Adam’s Podcast
This week, Adam and Ed had a conversation with Matt Panelli who climb Mount Kilimanjaro this past August and is making a documentary to share his experience. Here’s link to Matt’s Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHgoxi7V548
Here’s the link:
Chatting with Matt by Positive Vibes Living with MS
Thanks Adam, Ed and Ava for doing these podcasts together!
Member Spotlight
Mike Beiermeister volunteers in so many ways for us. We are so fortunate to have him as part of our MS-Just Keep Moving family. Thank you Mike!
MS-Just Keep Moving Bowling Tournament Fundraiser – This weekend
We are going to be pre-selling raffle tickets on Friday, March 7th from 11 AM to 12 PM in the gym break room. All the raffle items will be available to view and tickets can be purchased. Tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 7 for $20. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!!! Stop by Friday, March 7th in the break room and buy your tickets!!!
A huge thanks goes out to Bob and everyone helping to plan for our bowling tournament March 8th and 9th along with everyone that is participating in some way.
MS Zoomers – New program facilitated by our friend Tom Holtackers
Many of us have met Tom Holtackers as he has been here, participated in our Day of Endurance from Minnesota the past two years, written two books about living with MS and has presented here in the past. I would highly encourage you to login and join Tom if you’re able to. At a minimum, please-mail Tom and ask to be on the distribution list so you are in the loop. Tom is a physical therapist from Mayo Clinic who has specialized in people living with MS and lives with MS himself…a VERY knowledgeable person.
Here’s a message from Tom about the program he is starting:
MS Zoomers: We Speak MS!
We discuss different aspects of the concepts of self-management of our MS. A topic is presented and then we provide support for each other through sharing our life experiences related to that topic. We do not give medical advice as we are not medical providers.
We meet the first Saturday of every month at 1 o’clock via Zoom. Our meetings last approximately 90 minutes. The group is facilitated by Tom Holtackers who has lived with MS for over 50 years.
If you are interested in joining the group, please send Tom your email address and he will put you on the distribution list His address is mssux@mac.com -Tom Holtackers-
Dance for MS Ballet and More – New information!
We had fun in the two dance workshops we had in December. Here’s a message from Jessica with more opportunities to dance. I hope you’ll engage in these opportunities…I would highly encourage it!
Good afternoon everyone,
First and foremost thank you to those of you that attended our first session of Dance for MS- ballet. It has been so well received that we are extending it for the month of March on March 3, 10, 17 (feeling lucky?!) and 31. Danceworks is closed March 24-30 so there will not be class on March 24. Classes are from 10:45-12 and take place at our studio location (1661 N Water).
Also coming back for spring is the social dance series. Classes will be from 1:30-2:30 on Saturdays March 1, 8, and 22 at Danceworks Studio location (see above) There will be no class on 3/15 due to our annual Gala and we are closed on 3/29.
Pre-registration is preferred but not required to attend any Dance for MS class. For help registering you can call our front desk 414-277-8480 M-F between 9-7 or Saturdays 8-2.
Speaking of our Gala– Danceworks is hosting its first annual Gala on Saturday March 15 from 4-7 at Calvary Presbyterian. The Gala boasts, a wine pull, silent auction items, open bar, delicious hors d’oeuvres and a show put on by Danceworks Performance Company. For tickets and other ways to get involved click here!
I am looking forward to seeing you in class soon!
Keep Dancing,
Jessica Fastabend
Community Education Director
414.277.8480 x6005
1661 N. Water Street | Milwaukee WI 53202
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 and Fridays to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join…friends with MS, volunteers, and caregivers.
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
Wednesdays
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.
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.
Fridays:
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 at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Spin / Cycle Classes Friday’s @ 9:00am
Mike Beiermeister is offering to lead some spin / cycle classes again this year on Friday mornings @ 9:00 in the front room.
Please be prompt and ready to start riding @ 9:00am. Spin bikes are limited so it will be on first come first serve. We did pick up one more used spin bike since last week so let’s put it to good use. Let’s get ready for spring bike riding.
Thanks, Mike for offering to lead these classes again!
Friday Morning Bike Ride
We are done for the season. Let’s work hard over the winter so we can pick right back up where we left off. Let’s enjoy our winter together and think Spring!
Educational Sessions
Friday, March 14th 11:00am – 12:00pm Fayth Caruso from Bellicon will zoom in with us to do an educational presentation on the benefits of rebounding (workouts on the mini-trampoline), the science behind it, share some success stories, etc. Who knows, maybe we can even bounce with Fayth a little.
Friday, March 21st: 11:00 – 12:00pm Sarah Pfeiffle, marketing and outreach coordinator from the Waukesha County Aging and Disability Resource Center will talk to us about resources offered at our community’s ADRC.
Friday, March 28th: 11:00 – 12:00pm Dr Kate Habanek will be back again to go a little deeper into the vestibular exercises and teach us about the Z Health balance program.
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.
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. 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 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 this Friday, March 7th, 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 589 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.
There is a sign-up board to be used to accommodate your needs for your exercise plan. Some people with spasticity need to be massaged / stretched out before they can exercise. Some people need a massage after a hard workout to loosen up their tight muscles or relieve pain.
We have limited spots for massages, please be considerate of people that need the massage the most in order to do the exercises they need to do or recover from the exercises they just did.
You can pick the time slot that works for you.
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. This past week, I went back out to the Mississippi River and had a little fun with the camera. Unfortunately, the weather is warming up so I thought I should capture some more ice formation beauty while I can.
When I got up Sunday morning, I had a lot of frost on my windshield. The sun was coming up and I thought I would see what kind of a picture of it I could get. Kind of different.
I happened to see a little muskrat sitting on a stick in some calm water. Nice reflection.
I got lucky and caught this young eagle grabbing a fish out of the river
These eagles were having some fun out on the ice
I saw a Northern Pintail duck.
I had some nice lighting for these geese
This young eagle was flying through the sunset
I walked up pretty close to this eagle but couldn’t get a clear shot with the branches in front of it. Still beautiful.
I went for a walk with Cal and Larry and saw a couple snowballs melting away
This little squirrel was hanging out on someone’s stairs leading to their deck
Here’s a picture of the water coming over the dam in Oconomowoc between Fowler Lake and LacLabelle.
Kind of fun
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.
