Friends,
Who exercises in a snow storm?
Hard working, determined, highly motivated people with MS who wants to beat MS and volunteers to help us on our journey. I think we were all a little surprised last Wednesday when so many people showed up despite the snow storm and forecast. We had fun! Many people left before we took this picture. Truly inspirational! THANK YOU…to All!
Circuit training program
Dr Kate Kern continues to bring variety and fun to the gym while getting people to work HARD “together”. I love it when people are working out together despite their ability level.
Standing Balance Class
The standing balance class is a lot of fun when it’s done on the Bellicons. The pliable surface makes balance more challenging which requires our bodies to compensate in many ways.
Dr Kate makes all the classes fun and effective for everyone. I love how many people are engaging in these even when the weather is below zero…amazing!
National MS Society presentation last Friday
Joe and Erika from the National MS Society gave us a very informational presentation on the exciting research they are supporting, their mission and some of the events they put on. I was especially excited to hear about the research that is being done with exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness. These are all things we can engage in if we choose to. I like Dr Motl’s quote on this slide…I agree.
Joe and Erika did a nice job educating us about all the events they do for all of us living with MS as well as all the local happenings in March for MS awareness month. It’s good to see how they are connected and make connections in so many ways in the MS communities. Some of you asked for a link to the presentation slides. Joe was kind enough to share this with us after the presentation. Here’s a link to the presentation.
National MS Society Presentation 2-14-2024
Thank you, Joe and Erika for putting this presentation together for us and for coming here to present it. You both did a nice job and answered many questions…THANK YOU! It’s good to see the National MS Society doing so much for all of us living with MS.
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 nice conversation with Ron. I didn’t get a chance to listen to this one yet. Enjoy it 
Here’s the link:
A Conversation With Ron by Positive Vibes Living with MS
Thanks Adam, Ed and Ava for doing these podcasts together!
Member Spotlight
Ken is very new to our MS-Just Keep Moving family. I’m really excited to hear he’s making such good progress so soon. Well done Ken!
MS-Just Keep Moving Bowling Tournament Fundraiser
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 JKM Members, Volunteers and Supporters….The second annual winter fundraiser for our gym is fast approaching. The Bowling Tournament is just two weeks away on the weekend of March 8th and 9th. The planning committee is hard at work to hold another very successful event and we want to let you know how you can participate. Besides the top prize of the booze wagon, we have about 20 other raffles. We have lots of great items including the return of the hundred dollar scratch off basket and corn hole boards which were our top money makers in last year’s event.
As an opportunity to include all gym attendees, we are going to be pre-selling 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. We also made things simpler this year. You only have to write your name and address once then you’ll be assigned a number that you can write on all the other tickets you purchase. You then place your tickets in the bucket of the raffle prize you want to win.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!!! Stop by Friday, March 7th in the break room and buy your tickets!!!
We are still accepting bottles of donated items for the big prize of the Booze Wagon. There are only a few spots to bowl with your team remaining. Please contact Bob at the gym or at bandebeagles@wi.rr.com if interested in bowling.
Details can be found on the events page of our website:
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!
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!
I hope everyone is enjoying the start to their 2025. We have exciting things coming up at Danceworks this winter and spring.
Dance for MS- Ballet will be Monday 2/24 from 10:45-12. Spring Ballroom schedule coming soon!
Dance for MS-Ballet is a ballet style class geared towards persons with MS. Students will do a mix of traditional ballet steps along with other movements. Ballet shoes are not required but can be worn if desired. Participants will have ballet barres and chairs available for support.
We piloted this class at MS Just Keep Movin’ this past December and it was a blast! Come alone or bring a friend.
Pre-registration is not required (but is preferred). You can register via this link or give us a call at 414-277-8480 and one of our lovely front desk staff can help you get registered. Please feel free to share this information far and wide.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time! I hope to see you at the barre soon.
Sincerely,
Jessica Fastabend
Community Education Director
414.277.8480 x6005
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
This Friday, Feb 21st 11:00am – 12:00 pm- Jackie Radaj, NP, and Jenn Kolesar-Springhetti, DPT, from ProHealth Care will present to us about bone health and osteoporosis.
Friday, February 28th 11:00am – 12:00 pm- Dr Kate Kern will demo the steps it takes to get up from the ground, whether it be from a fall or on purpose!
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, February 21st, 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 587 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. We had a nice sunrise at the gym one morning while we were bouncing. We all took a few minutes to appreciate the beautiful sunrise.
We finally got some snow. Even though it was bitter cold, I decided to go out to find some of God’s beauty to share. I don’t know what I liked about this picture but I thought it was worth sharing.
I was at Lapham Peak one day this week and saw this pileated woodpecker. It was a big bird. I don’t see them very often and when I do, I usually have a hard time getting a picture of them. I got lucky.
Here’s a nice winter scene on the route of our bike ride for the Day of Endurance. It’s in Delafield.
These geese seemed to be a little cold in the below zero weather. I don’t blame them, it was cold out there.
I’ve been wanting to get a picture of a flying dove for quite a while. I’ve gotten some in the past but one day this past week, they really cooperated with me.
I couldn’t believe how they kept flying in
Of course, I haven’t seen this happen since.
They were flying in for food under the bird feeder that fell to the ground
I don’t think any of the bird food went to waste, it never does.
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.
