Head up, shoulders back and chest out. The classic direction elders would prompt to slouchy teens is being used to help seniors improve their awareness and balance in a self-defence program.
Starting Wednesday, April 6, Silver Harbour Seniors' Activity Centre will be hosting Stand Strong: Safety Strategies for Seniors run by Fit4Defense Program founder Suzanne Jean. By focusing on setting boundaries, increasing assertiveness and selfconfidence, Jean and her team of instructors will help seniors properly address and respond to negative scenarios in their day-to-day life.
"Self-defence is a lot about self-confidence," said Jean. "Being able to walk around with your head up and look people in the eye, it makes a big difference when you're in the community. Folks will look quite vulnerable, so a lot of it is being able to understand how to improve that stability and stance, and that ability to improve what their vital points are and to do wrist releases so people can't grab them."
Fit4Defense was originally started as an anti-bullying program for at-risk youth, but once the popularity of the program grew, Jean saw the benefits of expanding the curriculum to include seniors.
"We really saw a connection to be able to use the program to really focus on building stability and flexibility and awareness, so we modified the curriculum for that age group and it's been tremendously successful," she said.
To get the class moving, instructors have participants hit focus pads, which Jean says is a great stress buster. But physical fitness is only one part of the strategy, forming boundaries and teaching seniors how to say "no" is a large part of the curriculum to help build mental strength and assertiveness.
"That generation, being able to express themselves assertively, is not something they have a lot of practice in we've discovered," explained Jean. "We also cover things like dealing with telemarketers, saying no to somebody, setting boundaries, because there's a lot of abuse in that area as well."
Through the program, Jean hopes to improve not only personal safety but the overall safety of the community. Allowing the participants to have a common space to discuss their worries or experiences brings awareness to the larger issues at play like abuse and manipulation.
"People have definitely used the assertive skills and felt much more comfortable being able to deal with telemarketers, or in relationships," she said. "They love the discussion. They just love talking about some of these things with each other and realizing that other people feel the same way they do, that they're not alone in how they feel."
Jean says the six-week program caters to plenty of different aspects to help seniors stay strong and savvy in their daily lives, and "they get to hit things." Defending against trips, slips and falls, and potential purse snatchers, this course will allow the community's older demographic to build strength and confidence while networking with like minds. The course runs for six Wednesdays, starting April 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Cost: $10 for six classes. Registration: 604-980-2474.
