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Wednesday and Friday Workouts – ‘Our Friends from Bryant & Stratton . . . Thank You’!

Friends,

Let’s thank our students and leaders
Our students and leaders from Bryant & Stratton College’s Physical Therapy Assistant program will be here tomorrow and next Wednesday yet.  After that, they will be off to other classes and clinicals.  This group of students have been exceptional in many ways.  Ross is missing from this picture

We are so thankful to have the opportunity to work with such a great group of people.  I wish all of them all the best as they go forward in life.  I’m confident they will be taking experiences they had here with our friends with MS forward with them.

Let’s share our love and gratitude with them the next two Wednesdays they are here with us.

Gregory gave an interesting presentation
Last Friday, Gregory was hoping to blow people’s minds by explaining the differences of a million, a billion and a trillion just for fun.  Gregory certainly did that.  He put visuals to the difference in three different ways.

You certainly opened my eyes Gregory as well as many others.  Nice job…thanks for enlightening us!

How did Rick do last week?
Well, Rick is getting a little out of hand.  If you were there when Rick was here last Wednesday, he wanted to make an announcement and demonstration.  Rick explained to everyone that I like to encourage him to get on the trampolines, even if he’s fatigued.  He had a T-shirt made to let me know his answer to the trampoline when he’s fatigued.  All in good fun 😊

Deep down, Rick is looking forward to the day he can get on the trampoline and make improvements like others are making with rebounding.  He’s well on his way 😊

When Rick got to the gym last Wednesday, he was able to walk 300 feet in 12 minutes without doing anything else.  At that point, he was fatigued and needed to sit down.  If you’ve been following Rick’s progress, he has only been able to walk 50 feet or less when he gets here.  Rick then did 20 minutes of the rejuvenation therapy and then walked an additional 600 feet without resting.  That’s 900 feet total which, once again is by far the farthest he’s walked since we started doing this just 5 or 6 weeks ago.

Rick will be the first to admit that it’s not easy to do this but it certainly is worth it.  I checked with Rick Wednesday evening and he said he felt fine the rest of the afternoon and evening.  Excellent job Rick!  Your progress has been incredible.  I hope you continue to make this kind of progress and we get others doing the same.

I’m really thankful JoAnn Schmitz came in and taught us about the lymphatic system and what she teaches patients when they come to her.  It’s fun putting her knowledge to use and seeing the results.  Thanks JoAnn!

Nutrition Program
It made me happy this week to learn that the nutrition program is going on even though Janine is not here right now and we still have great attendance.  When we started this, we were hoping we would build a community around nutrition.  I’m thankful to know this is happening.  I hope it continues to grow and more people will benefit from the program and from each other.

This week our nutrition group discussed Ginger.  The benefits and risks of Ginger and how you can incorporate it into your life.

Ginger Tea

  1. Scrub visible dirt off fresh ginger; rinse.
  2. Slice thinly using a one-inch piece per cup.
  3. In a saucepan, combine the ginger with fresh water (one cup of water per serving).
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat then simmer for 5 minutes (up to 10 minutes, if you
    want extra-strong tea).
  1. Pour the tea through a fine sieve to catch the ginger.
  2. Add a slice of lemon or orange, and a bit of honey or maple syrup to temper the fiery flavor if desired.

From https://cookieandkate.com/fresh-ginger-tea-recipe/

Here’s a link to the handout:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ujb7UK1Vrt6tLjTkPP82q9ezLY0JZqg3/view?usp=drive_link

 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!

MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc Experience – Movement + Gratitude + Vision – Open House November 8th
Date:  Saturday, November 8th
Time: 1:00 – 4:00pm
Place:  MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI  53816

Please plan on joining us for an afternoon of activities, love and fun.

Who should come?

Member Spotlight – Linda Kasun
Linda works hard and has fun doing it when she’s here.  I love it that she is staying ahead of her MS and living an active life.

Ed and Adam’s Podcast
Adam and Ed had a nice conversation with Abby.  Abby is one of the Bryant & Stratton College PTA students.  It’s interesting to hear a student’s perspective of coming to our gym.  That podcast was quite the experience for Abby.  I hope she’ll be ok 😊

Here’s the link:

A Conversation with Abby by Positive Vibes Living with MS
Thanks Adam, Ed and Ava for doing these podcasts together!

Learn more about MS and Living with MS
We have some great learning and engaging opportunities coming up in our area this fall.  I’ve listed them by date with a link to more information.  I would highly encourage you to go to all of them.  These are experts in MS putting these on.  Knowledge is power when living with MS and these are all excellent opportunities to learn more and apply what you learn to be able to truly “live” with MS

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
9:00am – Noon – Open gym and Neubie use for independent members, or those who come with a care partner.

 8:00am – Rebounding Class
9:00am – Nutrition Program – Friends with MS, caretakers and volunteers are encouraged to engage.
10:00am – Seated and/or standing stretching, strength, and balance with Ricky

 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 and/or standing stretching, strength, and balance with Ricky
11:00am – noon:  Prayer Group

Thursdays
6:00am – 10:00am  Outdoor walking  – contact Joan, Pam or Dan to find out where we’re walking.  You can meet up with us at any time within this time period

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
We will be riding Friday morning as long as it’s not raining and above 45 degrees.  As we get into October, every Friday morning ride is a bonus.  It looks like we will have fairly warm weather Friday morning.  Let’s ride!  😊

Last week we had a nice start to our ride but got rained out around 8:00.  We stayed fairly close to the park with rain in the forecast and were glad we did.

We will 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, October 17th 11:00-12:00 – Ricky Heldt will present on the benefits of stretching for people with MS and provide demonstrations.

Wednesday, November 12th 11:00 – 12:00pm – Joy Cochran, PT, DPT Founder & Owner of Joy Explorations Joy is a credentialed balance and falls professional will present and demo how to safely fall to the ground.

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, October 17th, 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 655 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!

Metals for MS
Thank you to all who brought in aluminum cans, gutters, copper, brass, 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

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.  Monday morning, we had quite the sunrise at the gym.  When I saw it out the window, I just had to take a break from rebounding to see if I could capture the beauty.

A few minutes later, we had a rainbow in the other direction.

I didn’t get to get out in nature this week so, this morning, I thought I would go out in our yard and snap a few pictures of the fall colors.

There is beauty right in our backyards if we look for it.

Sometimes, it’s just lying on the ground.

Sometimes, it’s still hanging on the trees.

I got lucky and found a few leaves with some water drops on them.

Last night, I went out in the backyard to see if I could get a picture of the sunset.  I was a little late.  I just caught the sun before it dropped over the horizon.

After the sun set, the fog started forming in the valleys.  Kind of cool.

Sorry I didn’t share any critters this week.  Just some simple backyard fall colors pictures.  Sometimes, we don’t need to go far.

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.