Legacies of songs and jazz hands

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S., M.A. in Health Education

On New Year’s Day, I fought the resolution blues by volunteering at a Manhattan nursing home. My group’s assignment was to wheel elders from their rooms to a holiday sing-along where we were asked to hold residents’ hands and be their standing dance partners.

Most of the residents had some form of dementia, but when the musicians played “New York, New York”, the place turned into Liza Minnelli Land!

When we wheeled them back, some of the residents continued to sing and move. One said to me, “I just love going to concerts. I could sing all day.”

Which led me to believe that our current jobs — teacher, banker, social worker, etc. – are really uniforms covering the music inside us. When we’re older, these melodies are more obvious. Maybe in the end, we’re left with things less tangible than money or even talent. Maybe we’re left with a couple of hairs and a shuffle ball change. Not a bad legacy, if you ask me.

The above video highlights former dancer Sarah Robichaud and her Dancing with Parkinson’s Program.

Coach surfing and reflecting

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S., M.A. in Health Education

Like the two-headed Roman God Janus – January’s namesake – I am looking forward and back, embracing my shiny graduate degree and new apartment while remembering a loveseat I abandoned in March, a piece of furniture inherited from my grandparents.

I named her Mary because she deserved a secure name. Having lived through two Iraq Wars and at least one potty training accident back in Indiana, Mary was made of solid materials: square cushions, embroidered upholstery, and a no-nonsense dust ruffle.

After nine years in New York City, shuffling dance jobs and sublets, I compare myself to Mary, made of all the right stuff but involved with all the wrong people.

One roommate, an actor, punched two holes through his door in Queens, angry he wasn’t on Broadway at age 23. Another roommate married the neighbor for a Green Card and staged wedding photos in our Washington Heights living room. In the Bronx, my super’s extended family lived, illegally, in the boiler room, near my roach-infested ground floor apartment.

But Mary anchored me, like one impressive line on a resume. While I had moved to New York to reinvent myself, Mary’s presence reminded me of my family whose help was near. From the spirit world, my beloved Grandpa Votaw sat on Mary’s right arm, offering his rural critique. “That person is a such and such,” he would say about an abusive manager or fair weather friend.

In 2011, after a long winter of no hot water in the Bronx, I found my current apartment overlooking a stretch of Northern Manhattan woods. Inwood is perfect, but Mary didn’t fit into the moving van or anyone’s Craigslist dreams.

As a last ditch effort, I called my old super who wanted her for free. It was Mary’s best offer. I returned to spot clean the floors and photograph Mary, who resembled the subject of a Victorian funeral portrait. The room, that had been my universe, appeared small and hungry in the light of a single light bulb. Its decayed baseboards had the shadowy look of a battered child with Mary as a responsible aunt. I swept the floor around her, took one last look, and locked the door.

Running toward 2012; party hat on!

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S., M.A. in Health Education

Earlier this week, my once-a-year running buddy, a wonderful coach and outdoorsman, emailed that he was injured and could not join me in the New York Road Runners Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in Central Park.

Part of me was relieved. My hamstrings and hips hate running, especially on concrete and in the cold late at night. After a few half-hearted attempts to find another partner, I opted to turn in early with a good book.

But around 9 p.m., I was dying to wear a goofy hat! With that, I locked up my apartment and headed down to the NYRR office on 89th Street to sign up last minute.

Once inside the park, near the bandshell with other runners, I found myself dancing to the Black Eyed Peas and chatting with an awesome woman who took the above snap shot. She said her name was Chris and that she was on her way to a party. Thus, her choice of clothing was running shoes and a cocktail dress.

Her plan was to run the four-mile race and continue running to a New Year’s party, which I just loved. It had been a hard year for relationships and career, she said, but she planned to plow right through accompanied by party horns and fireworks. “Me too,” I said.

I’m a fairly slow runner who gets super bored, so when the race started, I ran without the goal-oriented Chris who was somewhere ahead in the crowd, probably already at the celebration.

That left me alone. Among hundreds of sober New Yorkers of every shape and size, whom the female emcee described as “a bunch of cr-az-ies!” I started near a woman dressed as Natalie Portman in Black Swan. I ended the race close to three M&Ms!

It’s been a tough year, New York, and not everyone understood half the stuff I did, but I’m still here, and I’ll run through whatever you got. Bring it on, New York. I’m wearing a foam hat, and I boogie for free!

 

Vegetable Stalk-er

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This 26-inch brussel sprout stalk is too tall for the picture. I bought it today for $8 at the Farmer's Market along with these beautiful cranberries. The rosemary is from the local grocer and went into a lunch of pork loin, sweet potatoes, and ... brussel sprouts.

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

On the way home from the Farmer’s Market today, I turned heads while holding a 26-inch stem that looked more Sci Fi than brussel sprout.

Yes, its true! The green buds, named after the city in Belgium, are picked off tall rubbery stalks before they reach us in grocery stores. Such a shame! If we bought them looking like instruments of impalement rather than little guys with scrunched-up faces, children might find them cool. Perhaps, kids and adults would better appreciate this relative of the cabbage family if we sold sprouts in Mother Nature’s unusual packaging. How neat would it be to pass an upright jug of upright stalks rather than dreaded mini heads wrapped over foam backing? 

I bought this beauty today for $8, which seems expensive, but a package of about 15 sprouts can cost up to $3 here in Manhattan. As you can see, there are quite a few more than 15. Plus, I can incorporate the greenery into my holiday decorating.

Brussel sprouts are high in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folic acid. Each bud is a colon cancer-fighting machine that can be steamed, boiled, roasted, or sautéd with olive oil and garlic! A good batch of sprouts exhibits firmly closed leaves and a robust green color, sometimes with purple highlights, like this one.

Why dance tango?

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

After my fabulous LivingSocial purchase, $49 for eight tango classes and four social dances, I am entangled with Argentinian tango. I feel my love affair was ordained by Al Pacino, the high priest of tango scenes, who recently sat near me at Café Luxembourg in Manhattan. No joke!

Tango brings out the Pacino in me, and step names – gancho, parada, sacada — trip off the tongue, a glorious vocalization of tango’s smooth and quick steps. As a former musical theater dancer, I am particularly drawn to tango’s wine-like qualities: Rather than becoming rancid, tango dancers get better with age, as suggested by Pacino’s scene in Scent of a Woman!

Recent studies note that tango may relieve certain neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s. Explanations include tango’s use of dynamic balance, walking backwards, and movement at various speeds. As part of a healthcare movement to integrate arts and wellness, tango – like other forms of dance – could be a useful way to coordinate mental, social, and physical well-being.

A Royal Northern College of Music study went further, surveying 110 tango dancers in the Netherlands and Germany. The researcher, Gunter Kreutz, sought answers to several questions, including “Why do people dance tango Argentino?” Reasons included: (1) stress reduction, (2) fitness, (3) emotions, and (4) intimacy.

I feel all these components when I tango. Had I been more on my toes, I would have asked Al for a dance, assuming he doesn’t mind towering women.

Under Construction

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Ann Votaw is performing Shiva pose on top of Mount Algonquin in Upstate New York. Shiva represents change, something Ann wants for her website. In preparation of a new year, Ann is adding new formats and interactive features! In the meantime, why not join a health discussion on her Facebook page!?

Healthy dose of social media! Can you believe it?

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

In the early days of television, minister Fred Rogers felt disgusted at the lack of educational children’s programming. He developed Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, an immensely beloved program that first aired nationally in 1968. “I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen,” he explained in a CNN interview.[1]

Rogers’ statement gave me chills when I heard it on a random program in 2010; in the dawn of social media, his sentiments are particularly poignant, hugely influential in the topic of my graduate thesis: “College students’ perceptions of the use of Facebook for educating college students about health.”

My interest in Facebook surprised me. I consider myself a digital laggard, expecting snickers each year I upgrade my Atari-style cell phone. Also, I am a Facebook convert, having spent years thinking, “Who cares about what you ate for dinner?” Lately, I think Facebook and similar technologies can be used to help people.

For the first time, people who are “just like me,” can share health stories on Facebook pages run by trustworthy organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Red Cross. Interests drive content (consumer-to-source or bottom-to-top) and allow widespread sharing (side-to-side or horizontal communication)[7] with just the click of a mouse.

I complete my graduate thesis this December! In the weeks that follow, I will herald other health-promoting technologies! In the meantime, take a look at the Mister Rogers YouTube video. He was an example of someone use used media for the common good.


[1] Millman, J. (1999, August 10). “Salon Brilliant Careers: Fred Rogers.Retrieved July 30, 2010, from Salon Media Group.
[2] Newspaper Association of America. (2007). Readership Statistics. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from
http://www.naa.org/Resources/Articles/Circulation-ReadershipStatistics/Circulation-Readership-Statistics.aspx.

[3] Pew Research Center. (2006). Online papers modestly boost newspaper readership. Retrieved July 16, 2007, from http://people press.org/reports/display.php3?PagelD=1065.

[4] Project for Excellence in Journalism. (2007). Retrieved May 10, 2007, from The state of the news media 2007: an annual report on American journalism:http://www.stateoflhenewsmedia.org/2007/index.asp.

[5] Selkie, E.; Benson, M.; Moreno, M. (2011, July 1). Adolescents’ views regarding uses of social networking websites and text messaging for adolescent sexual health education.(Social Media and Health Education)(Report). American Journal of Health Education.

[6] Barnes, M., Hanson, C., McIntyre, E., Neiger, B., Thackeray, R., & West, J. (2011, July-August). Use and acceptance of social media among health educators. American Journal of Health Education, 42(4), 197.

[7] Thackeray, R., Neiger, B.L., Hanson C.L., & McKenzie, J.F. (2008). Enhancing promotional strategies within social marketing programs: use of Web 2.0 social media. Health Promot Pract, 9(4):338-343.

Super Yoga Playlists

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Ann Votaw demonstrates a double pigeon pose.

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

This post celebrates technology and yoga teachers short on time and money!

Spotify, a Swedish-born and UK-based music streaming service, launched its US service in July. As someone who finds herself in musical ruts, Spotify allows me to review tried-and-true-combinations. A paid Premium account enables members to access Spotify on mobile devices. A free account grants computer access to approximately 15 million songs interupted by radio-style advertising.

As of late September, all new members must have Facebook accounts. When FB friends join, their profile picture appears on the right side of the screen, along with their favorite selections. Participants can share through FB, Twitter, and Spotify. I downloaded my iTunes library and voila: most of my playlists made it onto Spotify!

To view my back-to-school semester picks, visit Ann Votaw-Wellness Education on Facebook. To hear the music, you must sign up for Spotify.

Fitness Finesse: Q & A with Peggy Levine

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

At the end of her modern dance career, Peggy Levine rode the aerobics craze into the developing field of fitness. While colleagues emphasized “sweat,” Peggy concentrated on body alignment. She opened her own studio in 1983. When the business closed in 2004, students demanded her return. “They wouldn’t let me retire,” Peggy said.

Today, Peggy teaches at Bridge for Dance Studio, Columbia University, and as a Master Trainer through Pilates Institute of America. Her style reflects shifts in her own life: Peggy has stayed fit through college years, the birth of her daughter, and menopause.

Ann Votaw: What is your philosophy on teaching fitness?

Peggy Levine: I think my philosophy on fitness is that it makes you a stronger person, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. A lot of women think they can’t do something, and it can be can’t lift their arms or can’t make enough money. I think my class teaches people to be comfortable in their bodies, so they can feel like they can. My philosophy is to make women stronger, so they can get through the next phase of their lives, not just physically, but to give them the feeling that they can conquer their fears. It’s empowering.

AV: In addition to instructing senior and pre-natal populations, you teach at the university level. What is that like?

PL: I’m tickled pink when I get positive evaluations from the kids. It validates me.  I love it when I get returning students. When you teach the same classes over and over, you wonder if you have any value. I learn from the students.

AV: What recommendations do you have for people entering the field of fitness?

PL: You have to really want this because the competition is fierce. There’s more than just being good at it yourself. You have to really want to impart knowledge to other people. You have to really want to help other people learn how to take care of themselves.

5 back-to-school tips to prevent yoga shoulder

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by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

When I first tried yoga, I developed chataranga-itis, shoulder burn caused by poor form and repetition.

By slowing down my sun salutes, I discovered grinding in every vinyasa series, the weight-bearing portion of sun salutations:  (1) downdog, (2) plank, (3) chataranga, (4) updog, and (5) downdog. [See Baptiste Power Yoga at the 8-minute mark]. When done incorrectly — arm bones rolled inward and bunched toward the ears — the pattern causes injuries like bursitis, tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, and dislocation. When done correctly — arm bones rolled toward the back wall and away from ears, vinyasas offer therapy.

In 2003, 14 million Americans visited a doctor complaining of bum shoulders.  Here’s the reason: The shoulder consists of three bones only – the arm bone, the shoulder  blade, and the collar bone. In comparison to the hip joint, also a ball and socket, the shoulder is shallow, allowing for a great range of motion. With great choice comes great responsibility.

Avoid being sidelined by practicing these 5 non-harming, or ahimsa-inspired tips.

1. When it comes to weight bearing on the shoulders, think stability rather than flexibility. 

2. Roll the upper arms outward, opening the front of the chest.

3. Press down into the hands to activate middle back muscles and keep shoulders from jamming upward.

4.  Use your abominals to hold horizontal shapes and your feet (rather than shoulders) to press from chataranga to updog.

5. When in doubt, replace updogs with baby cobra or cow pose (all fours backbend) to build strength and muscle memory.